My fingers have been itching to type out this recipe & post it for a while now. I just can’t seem to resist baking and although I made these muffins in about 10-12 days after I had tried the Zucchini & Choco Chip Loaf Cake, it took a while to actually get the post together. It was my first experience baking with Zucchini and I had more than enough for the cake & so I put away some in the deep freezer to make something else with it.
Since I have always wanted to bake with my favourite chocolate & hazelnut spread – Nutella, I thought it was the perfect occasion to try out some muffins with dollops of Nutella spread on top. Babble.com which has some great recipes for every occasion & every need published one such article on healthy snacks for kids & I found this recipe from one of the links showcased in that article. Incidentally Ruchik Randhap has also been nominated as Babble’s Top Mom Food Blogger nominees for 2011, so please do vote for me by clicking here and then scrolling down to #43 (which is my current ranking) – I have been listed as ‘ruchikrandhap’ – please cast your vote by clicking on the thumbs up symbol. Thanks in advance!
Getting our little ones to eat some vegetables seems to be the top priority for us mothers. I am glad that my son accepted these muffin very well both the times – yes, the first time they were loved so much that I made them again for some friends. It was well received the second time around too as our friends as just as health conscious as I am. The use of olive oil instead of butter made these muffins very light & delicately tasty. I also replaced part of the all purpose flour (maida) with whole wheat flour (atta) just to make the health scales tip a little in my favour.
The above picture is from the first batch of muffins where I was extra generous with Nutella. You see, my son has this habit of asking me to buy random things whenever we are shopping & Nutella was one such obsession. Since I love it too, I bought a bottle which went untouched after 2 spoonfuls slathered on bread. We have a saying in Konkani called ‘Ghare Kodu’ which roughly translates to ‘grapes are sour’ although the metaphor refers to a case of eating too much of something & then never ever wanting to see it again. That’s exactly what happened to sonny boy who ate too much Nutella & gave up one fine day.
That’s when I decided to make something out of Nutella and what better than to bake & share it with friends? Psst! Technically I shared the calories too! Haha. But then, I wouldn’t mind eating these muffins again as they are far healthier than the other bakery trash that we sometimes buy. Baking muffins (or cupcakes) at home is always a great experience that I look forward to. Although it is easier to bake a cake by just dumping the batter into one single tin & waiting for the cake to rise, it is a more enjoyable task to lay out individual liners in the muffin tin (my son patiently does that) and drop portions of batter into each liner and serve perfect little portions to little ones or those who claim they can’t have more than a bite (referring to those who halve even a slice or sliver of cake because they can’t or don’t want to eat more)
Make these muffins with or without the Zucchini. Skip the Zucchini & add raisins or grated carrots or chocolate chips. You still have a win-win situation on your hands as the Nutella is enough to tickle anyone’s palate. You can add melted chocolate or chocolate ganache as a topping if you do not have Nutella. Try these as the festive season is just round the corner and I am sure these babies will be well received by your guests as well!
Zucchini & Nutella Swirl Muffins
Yield : 15-18 medium size muffins
You Need:
- 1 cup maida (all purpose flour)
- 1/2 cup atta (whole wheat flour)
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder
- 1/2 cup olive oil (or any odourless oil)
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 large or 2 small eggs at room temperature * see notes
- 1 cup grated zucchini
- zest of 1 lime (or lemon)
- 1/2 cup (approx) Nutella (or as required)
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 175 C. Line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper liners.
2. Sift together the dry ingredients a couple of times – flours, baking soda & baking powder and cinnamon. Keep aside
3. In a large bowl mix the sugar & oil and beat well until the mixture looks pale. Add the eggs one at a time and beat well. Add in the sifted dry ingredients in parts and mixing well till all the flour has incorporated into the egg, oil & sugar mixture. Mix in the grated zucchini & lime/lemon zest.
4. Use a tablespoon to scoop out the batter into the paper liners. Each liner should be 2/3rd full. Use a teaspoon and scoop out approx 1/2 tsp Nutella each into each of the liners. Add more if you wish.
5. Use a wooden skewer or toothpick to swirl the nutella (form circles with the tip of the toothpick)
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
Notes:
- The original recipe calls for butter which will result in richer muffins.
- The first time I tried these muffins I made a smaller batch with 1 cup flour & 1 medium size egg. For 1-1/2 cups flour you may need 2 medium size eggs. If the batter feels a bit runny after using 2 eggs, it is ok, the muffins will turn out fine.
- If you are using frozen grated zucchini you may want to drain the excess water a bit before you add them to the batter
- On completion of baking time, while inserting the skewer – do so right in the centre of the muffin & go all the way down, if you poke just the surface which has the Nutella it will look as if it is uncooked – so don’t be tempted to cook for more time – the muffins will dry up
Adapted from: A Spicy Perspective
you make everything sound so easy 😉 I'm sure going to try this one,although I have never baked in all my life.- Michelle Pinto
Thanks Michelle 🙂 they are easy & tasty, call me if u need any help 🙂
this one is a bliss for nutella lovers..looks superb
Thats a very nice combo..I love nutella.the muffins looks great
Yummy yumm. Nutella is my fav. The swirls look so good. Congrats dear! Great going Babble Mom 🙂
oh my god…nutella and muffin…sinful combination.looks amazing Shireen…your passion for food reflects in your pics…there is so much love in those swirls (hope iam making sense:)
and abt my improvement in taking pics and backgrounds….thanks to you ..or i would be stuck to my normal black background:)
cherie
can i make these muffins without Zucchini?
Wow…fabulous and perfect cupcakes…
thats really awesome. love this recipe and these gorgeous cuppies.
Omg, seriously am drooling over that incredible swirl muffins..fabulous.
A perfect treat to the tummy and the eyes. Awesome muffins,with goooey nutella, a sure try in my kitchen soon.
Btw, just voted for u :):)
Oh looks divine Shireen. I have some half jar nutella sitting on my countertop too.. Must try something.
This looks really good..Mouthwatering dear..Thanks for the recipe .will try soon..
My Blog
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Hi Shireen, you have a lovely blog..keep up the good work. I have tried a few Mangy recipes from your blog and they all turned out super. Especially kori ghassi! Thank you for sharing these recipes.
Would you have the Mangalore masala pitto recipe? It is added in everything – kolmbo, sprouts ambat etc…I think the ingredients are chana dal, urad dal, coriander seeds etc. Would loooooove it if you could post a recipe? Many thanks and keep up the good work!
– Ashwini
absolutely yummy swirl muffins, they look so gorgeous, you have done a wonderful job Shireen 🙂
Thanx a lot for trying out the Egg Puffs and letting me know that u liked it..sad that u dont get readymade puff pastry sheets there, but very happy that u managed to make it with the melted dough :))
This look fantastic and sure kids love it…
Glad to have found your blog, great collection here. The muffins look incredible, nutella makes it even better.
I was very scared to add zucchini to the cupcake but wanted to try and hurrah it was so good … thank u once again
So glad to know that the cupcakes turned out well! Thanks for the feedback!