Bursting with mint and hazelnut flavor, these low calorie Mint Chocolate Hazelnut Muffins are dairy and oil free. Made with applesauce, bananas and whole wheat flour this every day muffin is about to be your new favorite.
Happy Muffin Monday!
I’m happy to tell you guys I’m in much less pain these last few days. The last two weeks have been rough. I haven’t wanted to do or eat much. All I want to do is sleep. Whoever said recovering from an injury was easy, was wrong. Dead wrong. It plays mental games with you too. I keep fearing I’m going to hurt myself every time I try something new or feel some hurting. I wonder all the time how long I’ll have that fear with me and if at any point I’ll feel safe to begin training again. Since no doctor can answer why my estrogen mysteriously disappeared, I’m not sure I’ll ever feel safe. It’s incredible how fragile our bodies really are.
Amongst the pain of recovering in my right leg, my left heal’s now been hurting. It’s been going on for two weeks. My PT’s been monitoring it. She’s better than any doctor I see. The pain’s similar as what I felt in my right heal last year when all this began. I can’t wrap my brain around whether it’s real pain or imaginary pain. You know like the kind when an amputee feels pain in a limb that’s not there. I hope I’m imagining it. How could this happen to a person in both feet? Only to me…
My workouts haven’t even been intense. I’ve been focusing mainly on strength training and lifting weights. I’ve lost so much strength being injured so long. I can’t imagine how much more I would’ve lost had I not did what I could do while I was injured. For cardio, I’ve been mostly walking and stairclimber with an occasional spin class here and there. I had to stop swimming to let my tennis elbow rest.
It’s the day before St. Patty’s Day what else would you expect from me other than a muffin? I’ve been somewhat uninspired with muffins lately. Now that I’m focusing on recovering my weight I’ve been less inclined to bake. No bake granola bars have been happening a lot lately. The office peeps were getting a little antsy for some and I’d been wanting to do something with mint for the green month, but couldn’t quite put my finger on it until I was cruising past the nuts and spotted hazelnuts. Hazelnuts are the forgotten nut. They’re delicious and don’t get enough attention. Paired with mint something magical happens. It’s like a party in your mouth. Enjoy the muffins and all the green stuff!
- ⅓ cup applesauce unsweetened
- ¾ cup Truvia baking sugar
- 1 egg white
- 3 very ripe bananas
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 ½ cups GF oat flour (or whole wheat if not gluten sensitive)
- ½ tsp mint extract
- ½ cup mint chocolate chips
- ¼ cup toasted hazelnuts
- Preheat oven 375 degrees
- Toast hazelnuts on medium heat in a small pan on the stovetop ~5-7 minutes or when you just smell the nuts
- Remove nuts from heat, allow to cool then chop nuts into fine bits
- Meanwhile mash bananas, add sugar, egg, mint extract & applesauce in a large mixing bowl
- Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients
- Mix chocolate chips & hazelnuts
- Fill muffin liners ½ way
- Bake 15-18 minutes at 375 degrees
Have you felt scared you might get re-injured again? How were you able to move past it? Have you had imaginary pain?
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About Megan
Ooooh what a great combo! I do not use hazelnuts enough, in fact I often forget they exist, until smart cookies like you come along 🙂 Thanks for sharing, and thanks for joining us!
Thanks Tina and thanks for another great linkup!
I tweaked my back a couple years ago and its never been the same since — I still have to be careful with it and when I feel it get tight while I’m exercising, I definitely lay up and let it rest more. It’s a little annoying, but I’m afraid of getting back to where I started (which was that I could barely move). So, I totally understand the feeling. I promise that it will get better — you just need time to heal.
The muffins look delicious – I think your officemates will be happy.
Thanks Meg! I really hope this is the turning point. I’m feeling really good now just scared about going back to the bad pain I had before. Knowing when to rest is key and good for you for doing it when you need to.
These look delicious! I may have to sub the mint chips though..I’m not a fan of mint chocolate! These seem really customizable though so I’m sure they’ll still be great! Love a good recipe on a Monday 🙂
Thanks and I’m sure any chocolate would work well with these. I’m thinking white chocolate and hazelnut as I type this. Yum!
WOW, what an amazing combo! These are like all my favourite ingredients bundled into one snack of joy! YUM!
ok I am right there w you on the injury. I keep thinking I will re injure myself and I am scared to start running again bc I think it will hurt. It’s really frustrating. Sorry you are going through it too. Anyway-the muffins look super yummy and thanks for linking up w us again.
Recovery does not hurt. Everything is weak and things have been compensating. Fortunately I’ve had excellent care from my PT. She’s given me a lot of pilates exercises to strengthen imbalances and also referred me to a pilates personal instructor who I’m going to continue working with. Things are feeling good, but I still don’t trust myself. Not sure I ever will again. Hopefully yours will be much faster than mine.
Hazelnut and chocolate are always a good idea – adding mint just gives it a little extra oomph!
It’s a unique flavor. Good for a special occasion like St. Patty’s Day!
These look super tasty! I love your muffin recipes, they give me so many ideas. I modify with stevia instead of sugar, which isn’t the same, but they still taste great! I hear you on having baking around, if it’s not the super healthy kind I will replace all of my meals with it 😛
Happy Monday!
Thanks Jill! I modify with stevia too. The consistency is not always the same, but most of the time I’ve had good luck with it. I like having muffins around that way I know that’s my “treat” for the day. If I don’t, I over indulge.
These muffins look amazing! Hopefully the pain continues to subside. I’m pretty scared to get reinjured or injure something new because my body compensates pretty easily. I start training this week for a race on Memorial Day weekend. Wish me luck!
What distance are you running? Good luck! I’m jealous…run for me.
These looks delicious but I hear you on the no-bake! I’ve been wanting to make some homemade type lara bars lately. I wrote a post on the mental side of getting over injury a while back, it definitely takes a while to develop confidence and not constantly be scared of injuring yourself again. In a way you never get back to where you were beforehand, mentally, and that’s not really a bad thing if it means you’re more careful and less inclined to push it too far. I totally know what you’re saying though.
I have mixed feelings about the fear. I know it will make me listen to my body more, but I also don’t want to become paranoid with every ache and pain. Recovery hurts. Other parts of my body are still or have compensated. Things are coming along, but the heel pain has me worried. At least now I’m on the right meds & getting enough estrogen. Hopefully my body is absorbing it.
Your muffins looks amazing! Thank you for sharing! I’ll try them around here 😉
Enjoy the recipe!
I’m going to start calling you “Muffin” from now on. They look awesome, btw. 🙂
You wouldn’t be the first!
Now I want some muffins! I’ve never tasted hazelnut muffins before. Must be good!
Try toasting them a little then put them in the batter. Even better!
Yes yes yes, I will be making these asap! I really love mint chocolate and never thought to put it with hazelnut! I would love if you would stop by and share on my Friday Favorites linkup!
Glad you loved them and will do!
These look so,delicious! I have not,gone though an injury but have seen many and it does not look very appealing! Hope your recovery goes,well and quick!
Thank you! I’m getting there. Slowly…
Your Muffins look delicious. Your post is awesome and thanks so much for sharing it with Full Plate Thursday!
Happy Spring!
Miz Helen
So delicious! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!