First ice cream for dinner and now chocolate for breakfast? Why, yes. Because “chocolate for breakfast” sounds much more fun than “beans for breakfast” and these muffins are that as well.
Muffins and African-style chai are a regular and favorite breakfast for us. They’re cheaper than cereal and, while a little heavy on the sugar, there’s fiber, protein and veggies in these ones, a recipe I developed a couple months ago out of sheer determination to make a wheat-less muffin using garbanzos. For no real reason other than the principle (and chemistry challenge) of it.
I usually bake a batch one morning, eat what we want, and stick the rest in the freezer to thaw another morning. The African chai is just milk with a bit of water simmered over the stove with a pinch of tea and spices. And then of course we add sugar prior to consuming.
Chocolate Garbanzo Muffins
1 1/2 c. (approx. 1 can) garbanzo beans, cooked
1 1/2 c. milk
2 1/2 c. quick oatmeal
1/2 c. unsweetened baking cocoa
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
3/4 c. milk
2 Tbsp. ground flaxseeds
3/4 c. shredded carrot or pumpkin puree
1/4 c. chocolate chips
1. Puree the beans and 1 1/2 c. milk in a blender/mini-blender.
2. Blend dry ingredients (oatmeal, cocoa, salt, baking powder, baking soda, brown sugar) in a mixing bowl.
3. Add the wet ingredients (vanilla, eggs, milk, flaxseeds) and bean puree.
4. Mix in shredded carrot and chocolate chips.
5. Bake at 350 for 14-18 minutes.
Another variation we have, on the days I insist start without chocolate, are apple-carrot muffins. Or sometimes blueberry.
Apple-Carrot Garbanzo Muffins
1 1/2 c. (approx. 1 can) garbanzo beans, cooked
1 1/2 c. milk
3 c. quick oatmeal
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 c. brown sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 c. milk
2 Tbsp. ground flaxseeds
3/4 c. shredded carrot or pumpkin puree
1 c. teeny apple chunks (1 small apple)
1. Puree the beans and 1 1/2 c. milk in a blender/mini-blender.
2. Blend dry ingredients (oatmeal, salt, baking powder, baking soda, brown sugar, cinnamon) in a mixing bowl.
3. Add the wet ingredients (vanilla, eggs, milk, flaxseeds) and bean puree.
4. Mix in shredded carrot and apple chunks.
5. Bake at 350 for 14-18 minutes.
