Earlier this year, our husband gave ourselves a challenge to eat real food only throughout the period of Lent (and hopefully beyond!) We are fed up with the impact that our diets have on our family and health. I was tired of the junk food marketing to kids, and tired of my own disordered eating and food addiction.

So, we decided to do away with processed foods and eat real food only. We’ve had some slip ups during that time, but overall it has been such a wonderful change for our family.

We didn’t cut out sugars, but we limit them and stick to natural ones, which we consider to be maple syrup and honey. This was especially fun since we harvested and cooked our own maple syrup this year!

Anyway, so I have been modifying recipes left and right to accommodate our new eating standards and thought I’d share this one with you today. Don’t let the “real food” or “healthy” labels fool you–these are delicious! They are light, and sweet, but not too sweet.

Chocolate Applesauce Muffins

What you need:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 1 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 3/4 cup whole wheat flour (I use white whole wheat)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt

What to do:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and maple syrup. Add eggs and beat well. Add cocoa and mix well. Fold in applesauce.
4. Add dry ingredients to wet mixture and stir until just combined.
5. Spoon batter into muffin tins and bake at 325 degrees for 25-28 minutes.

Enjoy!