Thanks to our bountiful zucchini plants this year, I have been challenged to get creative with this green vegetable. This recipe falls somewhere between a cupcake and a muffin on the treat spectrum. No sugary frosting, but enough sweetness (& chocolate!) to satisfy a craving.

Decadent Zucchini Muffins 

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt

• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup coconut oil (melted)*
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 14 ounces zucchini (about 3 to 4 medium zucchini), ends trimmed, grated on the large holes of a box grater (about 3 cups)
• 1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F and arrange two racks to divide the oven into thirds. Line muffin pans.
2. Mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt in a medium bowl and whisk or sift to ensure there are no lumps. Set aside.
3. In another bowl mix the eggs, sugars, oil, and vanilla in a large bowl and whisk until the eggs are broken up and the mixture is thoroughly combined. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the flour mixture until just combined. Fold in the zucchini until evenly mixed. Finally add in the chocolate chips. Be careful not to over mix.
4. Fill the muffin wells about two-thirds of the way and cover the tops with the walnut topping. Bake about 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool and enjoy!

Topping

• 1 c. coarsely chopped walnuts
• 4 TBL. Cold butter
• ½ c. packed brown sugar
• 1 TBL. Flour
• 1 tsp. cinnamon

Chop the butter into little pieces. Mix all ingredients together by hand. Get in there and squeeze all the ingredients together like you are squishing one of those stress balls. Mixing by hand will incorporate the butter best. Alternatively, you could pulse it in a food processor until the butter looks like small beads (but be careful not to over do it and turn it all into a paste!)

**To melt coconut oil, just measure out one cup and microwave for about 30 seconds in a glass cup. When it looks like most of it is melted, but there are a few chunks just swirl in until everything is melted. This will ensure that you aren’t putting in molten hot oil. Alternatively, you can use vegetable oil!

This is Berk. He is our charismatic coonhound. He can be found doing something silly or flashing his big eyes to get his way. It usually works… Here he is showing off his “I don’t like the rain, but could model for Pendelton” look.