Primal Chocolate Muffins

My husband and I have been following the Primal diet for a while now. (If you haven't heard of Primal, Mark's Daily Apple is a good place to start.)

The hubster started before I did, and, for quite some time, I attempted to "primalize" our dinners so he could eat what I cooked and maintain his diet. I made pasta or pizza with lots of veggies and he ate what I called "Italian stir fry." He's eat my chicken curry on it's own while I ladled it over rice to sop up the gravy. After a few months, I stopped making a dinner roll with our steak and tried his cauliflower rice. It wasn't long before I was on the bandwagon.

There are some things I don't even think about anymore: bread with dinner, sandwiches, rice, and pasta, for example. However, I really do miss other things: pizza and chocolate (more on that later).

The hubster and I are slowly moving the kiddo away from wheat and grains, at least, in what we make at home. Almond flour pancakes and muffins have become a breakfast staple for her. And she absolutely loves them.

Sometimes, though, she just needs a treat (as do I). Enter the chocolate muffin. These may not be strictly paleo, but these muffins are certainly a treat. They break up the breakfast routine and the kiddo has such fun helping to make them.

Don't they look yummy?

Primal chocolate muffins

(makes 12 regular size muffins)

2 cups almond flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

3/4 cups cocoa

3/4 cup coconut oil

3/4 cups plain yogurt

4 eggs

1 - 2 tblsp honey

1/4 - 1/2 cups carob or mini chocolate chips (optional)

Mix almond flour, baking soda, baking powder and cocoa in one bowl. In a second bowl, melt the coconut oil. When it cools, add yogurt, eggs and honey. Mix well. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir just until mixed. Fold in carob/chocolate chips, if using.

Pour into the tin muffin cups. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes.

A few notes:

• These stick to muffin pans. They also stick to paper liners. Use the tin liners. I promise, you'll be happier.
• The carob/chocolate chips are not strictly primal, but the kiddo likes them
• The same goes for the baking powder and baking soda. I've tried the muffins without and they didn't quite rise. I figure the small amount is worth the end result (something the kiddo LOVES)