There’s a giant box of VitaMuffins in my kitchen.
And it is not my fault.
In fact, I’ve never tried a VitaMuffin in my life. The giant box belongs to my roommate, who would eat deep chocolate vitatops every single day if they weren’t so expensive ($17 for twelve muffin tops?!). She’s always asking me to “please come up with a copycat recipe so I can stop giving Costco all my money.” And therefore, I dedicate the following recipe to her:
Copycat chocolate vitamuffin tops: healthy enough for breakfast.
And decadent enough for dessert.
Muffin Monster.
Spawn of Cookie Monster.
Copycat Chocolate VitaTops
(makes 12)
- 2 tbsp milk of choice (30g)
- 2 tbsp oil, or 2 more tbsp milk of choice (30g)
- 1/2 tbsp pure vanilla extract (6g)
- 1 tbsp ground flax (6g) or 1 tsp energ powder (Can omit; they will just be a little denser.)
- 1/2 cup pureed prunes or pumpkin (120g)
- 1/2 cup spelt flour (all-purpose flour works too, and a reader says you can use Bob’s gf mix.) (65g)
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder (10g)
- 2 tbsp xylitol or sugar (25g)
- 1 to 2 more tbsp sugar or 1 to 2 nunaturals stevia packets (scant 1/16 tsp uncut) (Add 1 tbsp if using prunes, 2 if using the pumpkin.)
- highly recommended: 1/4 cup chocolate chips or mini chips (mixed into the batter)
- optional: 2-4 chocolate chips per muffin, for decoration
Preheat oven to 350 F, and grease a standard-sized muffin pan. In a mixing bowl, combine first 5 ingredients and whisk. In a separate bowl, combine all remaining ingredients except the decoration ingredient, and stir well. Now mix wet into dry and stir until just combined. Don’t over-mix. Distribute batter evenly among 12 muffin cups, and—if desired—place two or three chocolate chips on the top of each muffin. Bake 12 minutes, then allow to cool 5-10 minutes before removing from the muffin tins.
Is it just me, or does my chocolate VitaTop look like a Pacman ghost?
Question of the Day:
Have you ever tried a VitaMuffin?
Do you think they’re good enough to be worth the expensive price tag?
Link of the Day:
I made these this afternoon as an after school snack for my kids and they loved them! Having tried vita muffins long ago I can say that these were so much tastier and better for us. Great recipe. Keep up the good work!
I made these with applesauce instead of pumpkin or prunes because that was what I had on hand. Also left out the oil and used the extra milk as recommended. These were so good. I’ve never had VitaMuffins so I can’t compare to that. I will make these again for sure.
Thank you so much for trying them :).
These look delicious! I’ve never had the real ones, but if they are expensive, I’ll take these any day.
I have tried Vita- tops. They have a vitamin taste. Your recipe sounds great.
I have never actually tried one!
But your look soososososososoososoosossoosoososooooooo yummy!I am drooling!:)
These rock! I did substitute oat flour (gf) (made from my of oats I had on hand, processed in the food processor) because I did not have spelt. Did use less xylitol and less sugar (rapadura). Oh, used coconut oil. These will be my little pieces of heaven when I need chocolate! Hopefully they make it to the freezer!!!! Thanks!
Thanks for trying them, and I’m glad to hear they work with oat flour!
Mmmm I love VitaMuffins but 100% agree with your roommate – they are so expensive! I make some pretty good protein ones at home myself but I love the look of yours and the fact that they are just tops! Everyone loves a muffin top, right (to eat, anyway!)??
i went vegan 2 years ago and the last thing i gave up was vita tops !! i loved them i usually waited for a sale or Costco was 12.99 i think back then …. so THANKS for this recipe 🙂
I would like to tell you how delightful you and your recipes are. Everyday I check your site, and I am never disappointed. Thank you for being so creative, positive, and just cool!!! Have a super day. 🙂
Hi Katie,
Maybe I’m missing something (and the name seems to imply this), but do you cut the tops off of the muffins once you’ve made them? Your recipe says to use a standard-size muffin tin, so I’m a little confused. What do you do with the rest of the muffin? Thanks for the clarification!
Nope, no need to cut them. You fill a standard-sized muffin tin evenly, and they only puff up enough to make tops.