Cereal Chocolate Muffins

 

It all started with a cereal.

A hot cereal, named Coco Wheats.

Maybe you've heard of it, maybe you've even eaten it.  For me, it was a disaster turned good fortune.

You see, I bought Coco Wheats from Walmart in the uber mark down section. You know, that section where they put a pile of "stuff"" that was either returned and the box is ripped, or the plate has scrape, or maybe, in my case, they just have too much product; Coco Wheats was one of them.

Now I am not the fan of hot cereal. Now don't get me wrong, I do love me some oatmeal, but other than that, I'm an decadent omelet type girl for breakfast. So why did I go for this hot cearl that was on mark down for 2 dollars? We,ll it's becuase I read the label.

Simple, readable incrdients that included chocolate; A health-nut's dream.
Ingredients: What Farnia, Cocoa, calcium Phosphate, artificial flavors, vitamin C, Niacin, iron, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12, B6, B2, and B1. Done. 

No enriched flour here.

I was quite hopeful for this cearal and was excited to try it.Unfotrunaltly it didn't turn out so good.
I followed the directions for the most part;
It states 3 tbs of the cereal for 1 serving, plus one cup of milk or water. I choose to do half cup almond milk, half cup water,  and added a scoop of protein powder just for kicks, then microwave for 1 min, stir, and continue microwaving, and stirring until desired thickness (mine was about 4 min).

Maybe it was the protein powder that through this cereal off, but I highly doubt it, but it turned out aweful! Taste, texture, overall look. Gross.

I was quite sad as I dumped the bowl of mush in the trash and starred at the box for fear that it was now going to be that one thing in your pantry you know you should just throw out because no one in your house likes it and it's been there for ages type of thing.

Then a lightbulb hit. On the side of the box was a recipe for chocolate brownies using the coco wheats. And I got to thinking, that hey, I've read that wheat farnia* does well used as a whole wheat type flour subsitute....and I have 2 overripe bannas, and one needs-to-be-used today zucchini in the fridge....so I'll MAKE MUFFINS!!!! (Didn't think that was coming did you?)

And that's exactly what I did. And guess what?
They are wonderful, very filling, chocolate, healthy, muffins! Miracles do happen.

*(Wanna know what the heck Wheat Farnia is? Click HERE)

Ingredients: 
1 1/2 cup Coco Wheats (or regular What Farnia)
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 bannanas, very ripe
1 cup shredded zucchini
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbs coconut oil
3 tbs butter
1/2 cup honey
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda

Chocolate Drizzle (optional)
3tbs chocolate chips
1tsp coconut oil

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 425 F. (YOU WILL BE LOWERING THE TEMP)*
Mix the coco wheats, flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, and baking powder in a bowl.

Beat together the banans, zucchini, eggs, vanilla, coconut oil, butter, and honey in another bowl.

Add the wet ingredients into the dry and mix very well. The mixture will be thick.

Spray a muffin tin with non-stick spray and evenly scoop the mixture into the muffin cups. Fill the cups all the way to the top.

Place your filled pan in the oven for 5 min at the preheated temperature and then reduce the heat* to 325 F. and bake for another 10-12 min, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Remove from pan and let cool for 10 min.

while, cooling, melt chocolate chips and coconut oil in the microwave in 30 sec intervals until fully melted.

Drizzle chocolate over the top of the muffins.

*(starting the cooking temp high and then lowering flash cooks the mixture

Enjoy!!!!