Joyful Heart Chocolate Muffins (gluten-free)

This is a recipe from Mary that I changed just a little bit. They are delicious and light and fluffy. I love them because they use applesauce instead of oil or butter. I make mini muffins and they totally satisfy that craving for a little bite of chocolate.

Igredients:
1 cup applesauce
1 tsp canola oil
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup gluten-free flour blend (I use Mama's Gluten-Free Coconut Blend but you can also use GF Oat Flour)
1/3 cup Ghiradelli Cocoa Powder
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/2-3/4 cup dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease or line a muffin tin. 24 mini muffins or 12 regular muffins.

In a small bowl mix applesauce, oil, sugar, and vanilla.

In a larger bowl mix the GF flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spice.

Gently fold the applesauce mixture into the flour mixture. Do not over mix. Add the chocolate chips and gently fold them in.

Place the batter into the muffin tins and bake. I fill the muffin tin all the way to the top because these muffins don't seem to rise that much.

For regular size muffins: bake for 10 minutes then turn them and bake for another 8-10 minutes
For mini-muffins: bake for 8-10 minutes total. Check them often and turn if needed.

To serve: sprinkle with powdered sugar or a nice powdered sugar frosting would be good, too!

Enjoy!!!