Name: Beetroot Chocolate Muffins with Avocado
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 28 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour; 2 tbsp ground flax seeds; 1/2 cup cacao powder; 2 tsp baking powder; pinch of salt; 1/2 cup vegan milk; 1/2 cup maple syrup; 1/3 cup mashed avocado; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1 cup shredded red beets; 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips (plus more for topping)

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These fudgy beetroot chocolate muffins are such a great wholesome snack to enjoy when craving chocolate. They are super moist, oil-free, extra easy to make and made with veggies! And you won't even need to cook the beets first!

Showing are 9 beetroot chocolate muffins that are in a oval container that's covered with a blue hand towel. On the side, there are empty glasses, a jar with vegan milk, small white and blue plates and a few fork rolled in a blue hand towel.

I had to buy a large bag of big & juicy red beets when testing my beetroot sandwich recipe. I dragged the large cluster of beets on the counter and could see my husband staring while wondering what he was going to eat over and over again that week to suit my blogging extravaganza.

So yes, we had a bunch of bright red sandwiches for lunch that week. But as I was shredding beets for the sandwich recipe, it also inspired me to come up with something sweet that's made out of beets. Beets are naturally high in sugar, which pairs very well with dessert.

So, shredded-beets-hiding-in-chocolate-muffins it is!

And what's even more amazing about these healthy vegan muffins is that they are made using mashed avocado in place of oil or added fat. My baking-intuitive-minded sister actually brought that idea to me, thinking that the avocado would help create a great moist texture to this wholesome oil-free muffin recipe. And it worked out so well.

I also noticed how many desserts including beets requires to actually cook the beets first. This adds an extra step that I wanted to avoid. This recipe is easier and quicker as you will use the shredded beets that are still completely raw. I hope you like them!

Showing are 9 beetroot chocolate muffins that are in a oval container that's covered with a blue hand towel.

What's to love about these vegan beet muffins

They are nutrient dense and completely made using wholesome ingredients (ok, sure, minus the chocolate chips...).
Oil-free, nut-free (choose oat milk and allergen free chocolate chips) and sweetened with maple syrup instead of refined sugar.
They have a great cake-y texture and intense chocolate flavor, which feels a little like an indulging treat (but really, you are eating vegetable, omg).
They are rich in fiber and makes for a great filling snack, breakfast or dessert.
Well, did I mentionned that they are made with veggies?

Front view of 9 beetroot chocolate muffins that are in a oval container that's covered with a blue hand towel. You can see empty glasses and a jar filled with vegan milk in the background.

Can you taste the beets and avocado in these beetroot chocolate muffins?

You might taste them a little, but the predominant flavor is definitively chocolate, which mostly hides the beet and avocado taste. Also, beet is naturally high in sugar and known to work well with chocolate flavor, which you will really enjoy in these muffins.

Benefits of making these chocolate muffins with beets

Other than trying to sneak in extra veggies in your kids's dessert or impress friends with your healthy vegan baking skills, there is a lot of great things that beet does when baking with them.

Texture. Shredded raw beets will release some of their juice while baking. This helps to create a moist and fudgy texture.
Color. The unique deep red color from beets combined with the dark raw cacao powder creates a beautiful red velvet appetizing color.
Flavor. Beets are so sweet! Their hearty sweet flavor also pairs so well with the chocolate.
Nutrients. It goes without saying that beets will adds extra health benefits to these muffins (oh hello fiber, antioxidant betalaine and healthy carbohydrate).

Close up on 9 beetroot chocolate muffins that are in a oval container that's covered with a blue hand towel.

What you'll need

Whole wheat flour. You can also use all purpose flour is that's what you have.
Ground flax seeds. I grind mine in a high speed blender, but you can also buy already ground flax seeds (store ground flax seeds in the fridge).
Raw cacao powder. You can also substitute 1:1 with cocoa powder.
Baking powder + Salt
Avocado.
Maple syrup. Can also substitute for another liquid sweetener like agave nectar. Do not substitute for granulated sugar.
Vanilla extract. Can omit, but helps to enhance the chocolate flavor.
Vegan milk. Any kind works. Choose oat-milk for a nut-free recipe.
Red beets. Use the classic juicy red beets as the other kinds can have more or less water content and would change the texture of the muffins.
Chocolate chips. I love these semi-sweet vegan chocolate chips from Enjoy Life. They are nut-free, so I can squeeze the muffins in my son lunch box.

Close up on a vegan beetroot muffins that was opened up to show the middle texture. There is one more muffin on the same plate as well as a fork on the side of the plate. You can also see a glass of milk in the background.

How to make beetroot chocolate muffins

Start by mashing the avocado until very smooth and almost no chunks anymore. Use a fork and simply mash on a plate. Also, peel and shred the beet.

Combine the dry ingredients (flour, ground flax seeds, cacao powder, baking powder and salt)

Combine the wet ingredients (mashed avocado, maple syrup, vanilla extract and milk)

Transfer the wet to the dry ingredients and stir to combine. The dough will looks a bit dry and thick, but use a spatula to scrape the bowl and include all dried pockets.

Add the shredded beets and chocolates chips and stir until just combined.

Divide the dough between 9 muffin tins and bake for about 18 minutes.

Close up on a white bowl containing a dark redish batter that's being stirred with a spatula.

Showing is a muffin pan that filled with a redish dark batter in 9 of the holes.

Over head view on a white and blue plate that contains 2 vegan beetroot chocolate muffins with a fork on the side of the plate. There are more muffins rolled in a blue hand towel on the side as well as a few forks and glasses of milk.

Watch how to make them

Baking tips

When combining the dry + wet, the dough will look drier than it should be. This is because you will add raw shredded beets to the dough also, which will release some extra liquid while cooking.
If you do not want to see/feel the shredded beets in the muffins, then I recommend to also chop the beets in very small pieces after shredding them using a knife.
You will want to use a ripe avocado for this recipe and avoid any brown/dark bitter spot as well. And, make sure to really mash it well so you don't end up with avocado chunks in your muffins.

Storage

Let the muffins completely cool down first, then store them in a air-tight container at room temperature for about 1-2 days. If you want to store them longer, them transfer to the fridge (you can reheat in the microwave for a few seconds before eating).

They also freeze really well. Simply transfer them to a air-tight container and keep them in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can let them thaw at room temperature before enjoying, but what I do is I transfer them straight from the freezer to the microwave and thaw them for a few seconds. They are really good slightly warm as they get super soft and the chocolate chips melts!

There is a vegan beet muffins opened up on a white and blue small plate with a fork on the side. You can see a few forks rolled in a blue hand towel on the side as well as glasses of milk and more muffins.

Other recipes with hiding vegetables that you might like

*THANKS TO MY SISTER SONIA WHO HELPED DEVELOP AND TEST THIS RECIPE*

I hope you enjoy these beetroot chocolate muffins as much as we do! If you try them, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!

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Beetroot Chocolate Muffins with Avocado

PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time18 mins

Total Time28 mins

Servings 9 muffins

Author plantbasedjess

Ingredients

1 ½ cups white whole wheat flour
2 tbsp ground flax seeds
½ cup cacao powder
2 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
½ cup vegan milk
½ cup maple syrup
⅓ cup mashed avocado
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup shredded red beets
½ cup vegan chocolate chips - plus more for topping

Instructions

Line a muffin pan with 9 muffin liners. Pre-heat the oven to 375°.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, flax seeds, cacao powder, baking powder and salt.
In a medium bowl, combine the mashed avocado, maple syrup, vanilla extract and milk. Stir to combine.
Transfer the avocado-milk mixture to the dry ingredients and stir to combine. Make sure there are no dry pockets left (use a spatula if you need), but try not to overmix as well. Then, add the shredded beets and chocolate chips and stir until combined.
Transfer the batter equally in between the prepared 9 muffin tins and cook in the oven for 18 minutes. I like to use a ice cream scoop as the dough is sticky.
Once cooked, let them cool down in the muffin pan for about 10 minutes before eating. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

When combining the dry + wet, the dough will look drier than it should be. This is because you will add raw shredded beets to the dough also, which will release some extra liquid while cooking.
If you do not want to see/feel the shredded beets in the muffins, then I recommend to also chop the beets in very small pieces after shredding them.
You will want to use a ripe avocado for this recipe and avoid any brown/dark bitter spot as well. And, make sure to really mash it well so you don't end up with avocado chunks in your muffins.
To store, let the muffins completely cool down and then, transfer to a air-tight container. You can keep at room temperature for 1-2 days, but if you need to store them longer, then transfer in the fridge.
They also freeze really well. Simply transfer them to a air-tight container and keep them in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can let them thaw at room temperature before enjoying, but what I do is I transfer them straight from the freezer to the microwave and thaw them for a few seconds.
They are really good slightly warmed up as they get super soft and the chocolate chips melts!

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