Muffin Monday...Chocolate Pecan

Livi was taking a late nap, so Will and I got to cook together. It is so much easier to bake with just one kid!! He stirred all the liquid ingredients together as I measured them.

Chocolate Pecan ....these were actually pretty good. The were a light chocolate batter with a crumble topping with nuts and cinnamon.

This is the only picture of Livi I could get where it didn't look like a "special" ingredient was added to the muffin.

By now, I had taken so many of Will that he just shuts his eyes and says, "Cheese"....Since the kids have eaten about three mini muffins each we are just having a simple PB&J dinner!

Here is the recipe:

Crunchy Topping: In small bowl, microwave 1T butter for 15 seconds. Add 2T. cocoa; blend until smooth. Stir in 1/4 c. packed light brown sugar, 1/4 c. chopped nuts ( I used pecans), 2 T. all-purpose flour, and 1/4 t. ground cinnamon. Set aside.

In small bowl, combine 1/4 c. cocoa and 1/4 c. vegetable oil, stir until smooth.

He tried to crack the egg, but was afraid. One time he smooched the whole thing and we had to dig all the shells out. So all you neighbors who get muffins....know that the kids really do all the prep work! So I did it for him.

Add 3/4 c. applesauce and one egg; blend well. In medium bowl, combine 1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour, 3/4 c. sugar, 3/4 t. baking soda, 1/4 t. salt, and 1/4 t. cinnamon. Stir in applesauce mixture just until moistened. Fold in 1/2 c. chopped pecans.

Spray mini muffin pan with cooking spray. Fill each 2/3 full. Sprinkle about 1/2 t. of crunchy topping on each. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Serve warm.

Makes about 30 mini muffins.