Very aromatic and soft, these chocolate orange muffins are great for snacking and days out. Free from processed sugar, they’re a kid-friendly treat the whole family will love.
I absolutely love the combination of chocolate and orange! In these muffins, I’ve brought together these two favorite flavors while making them a bit healthier by skipping processed sugar and using dates instead. They have a soft, moist texture with a subtle hint of orange from the zest and juice.
My kids enjoy these chocolate orange muffins too, whether as a treat at home or on the go. They still contain some natural sugars, so I offer them in moderation.
If you are looking for more sugar-free muffins to make at home for your little ones, then you could try my sugar-free apple muffins, one of my kids favorite, or double chocolate banana muffins.
Jump to:
👩🏻🍳 Why you should try my recipe
- No processed sugar added.
- Suitable for babies and toddlers.
- Easy to pack for days out and as a treat.
- Freezable for up to 2 months.
🥘 Ingredients
To make these sugar-free chocolate orange muffins, we are going to use 5 pitted dates, eggs, butter, orange jest, orange juice, flour, baking powder and chocolate chips.
- I'm using all-purpose flour and baking powder as a rising agent.
- For a strong citrus flavor, I'm using orange zest and orange juice.
- You could use semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips.
For full quantities and to print the recipe, see the recipe card below.
🔪 Step-by-step Instructions
So get your ingredients ready and let's get started!
01. In a bowl, I add the pitted dates cut in half. I add ⅓ cup of boiling water and let them sit for 10 minutes to get soft. Next, I add them to a food processor with the water and orange juice and blend them until I have a smooth paste.
02. I add the dates paste to a bowl with the two eggs. I add the melted butter and orange zest and mix to combine.
03. We are now done with the wet ingredients. I add the flour and baking powder, then mix with a spatula until fully combined. The batter should be thick yet slightly runny when lifted with the spatula.
04. Finally, I stir in ⅓ cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips. You can also use dark chocolate chips or chop your favorite chocolate into small pieces.
05. I place the batter in my silicon muffin cases using a scoop or a tablespoon, filling the cases to the top. The recipe makes about 9–10 muffins. They stay in the oven until they have a nice golden brown color. You could always use a little toothpick or skewer stick to check if it comes out clean, and then they are baked all the way through.
HealthyBitesForKids Product Picks
These reusable silicon muffin cases are great and my little one loves all the different colors.
Buy On Amazon🍽 Serving suggestions
We enjoy these sugar-free chocolate orange muffins as a delicious treat at home or on the go. They also make a great dessert for special occasions and kids' parties.
For babies under 12 months, I’d offer them in moderation since they are still a sweet treat, and it's best for little ones not to develop a preference for sweet flavors too early.
🧰 Storage
The recipe makes about 10 regular-sized muffins. You could store any leftover chocolate orange muffins in an airtight container and consume within 1–2 days, or in the fridge for up to 3–4 days.
❓ FAQ
Yes, you could use the same amount of self-rising flour and reduce the baking powder to 1 teaspoon instead of 2.
📋 Recipe
Chocolate Orange Muffins (sugar-free)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 dates pitted
- ⅓ cup orange juice
- 2 eggs
- orange zest
- ⅓ cup butter softened
- 1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Cut the dates in half and add them to a bowl. Add ⅓ cup of boiling water and rest for 8–10 minutes.
- Add the dates to a food processor with the water. Add the orange juice and blend until smooth.
- Add the mixture to a bowl. Add the eggs, butter and orange zest. Mix to combine.
- Add the flour and baking powder. Mix gently until it's incorporated.
- Add the chocolate chips and combine.
- Place the mixture in muffin cases, filling them to the top.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes in a preheated oven to 350℉ / 180℃.
Video
Notes
- I like to zest the orange first and then squeeze it to get the orange juice. One orange gives about a third cup of orange juice.
- You could use semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips.
Nutrition
🥣 More to try
If you liked my kid-friendly chocolate orange muffins, you should try some of these recipes too:
Julia Droulia
My kids love these chocolate orange muffins! They are moist and soft. I hope you make them and enjoy them as much as we do. Please leave me a comment here and share your feedback with a star rating as well