Favorite Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

These muffins are some kind of wonderful. Why? For two reasons really: 1) Kids devour them, despite the fact that 2) They are totally magic and can withstand all sorts of modification and tampering. In fact, the original recipe was from one my oldest sister, Darla found years ago on the Nestle site. She had been searching for recipes that used whole wheat flour and that her kids would actually eat. I used this recipe for the same reason for years, until I found out all that wheat was making my family sick. Ooops. But I returned to the basics of the recipes and altered it to make it gluten free -- and once again my kids LOVED them.

Enter vegan baking. I wanted to see if these delicious muffins could withstand more tampering. And good news folks, they can -- AND they're better than ever. This recipe is so good, you can even put in other things beside pumpkin, like mashed yams, a little zucchini, really whatever you want. Enjoy!

Favorite Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Ingredients

3 cups all purpose gluten-free flour (I use Bob's Red Mill)
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon guar gum (If you don't have it, don't worry, omit)
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tablespoon chia seeds (or flax seeds)
3 tablespoons water
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup honey or agave nectar
1 can (15 oz.) packed pumpkin
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) vegan chocolate chips

Directions
PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease thirty-six 2 1/2-inch muffin cups or line with baking cups.

COMBINE flour, baking soda, baking powder, guar gum, cinnamon and salt in medium bowl. In a large bowl, combine chia seeds and water. Then add applesauce. Next, stir in sugar and agave (or honey). Add pumpkin and oil; mix well. Stir in flour mixture until moistened. Stir in chocolate chips. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.

BAKE for 20 to 25 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched. Cool in pans on wire racks for 5 minutes; remove from pans.