Healthy and delicious come together in these decadent 100 calorie chocolate muffins. Made with only five ingredients, this recipe uses box chocolate cake mix and chocolate pudding for a super moist muffin. Miniature chocolate chips provide a finishing touch. These muffins will be ready in minutes, and I challenge you to stop at just one!
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Are you the type of person that can't resist when a moist piece of chocolate cake is staring you right in the eye? Welcome to my world. What would you do if I told you there was a muffin that was only 100 calories that also tasted delicious?! I'm not pulling on your heartstrings. These muffins are a lifesaver for me. No, they aren't as tasty as my Girl Scout Samoa Cookies and Starbucks Cake Pops, but they still do a pretty good job satisfying my sweet tooth. In this post, I'm sharing one of my best-kept secrets.
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Why This Recipe Works
Level of Difficulty: These muffins also come together super quickly with only five ingredients. We cut some corners with box cake mix and instant pudding, and no one will know the difference! You don't need to spend forever in the kitchen to produce quality baked goods. This recipe delivers on two fronts: it's healthy, and it's simple. Not too much better than that!
Taste & Texture: These muffins are packed with chocolate flavor which is enhanced by the espresso powder. They are light and fluffy on the inside, once you bite into them. The recipe is for 24 muffins so they are medium-sized and perfect for a snack.
Key Ingredients and Why We Use Them
- Box Cake Mix: A chocolate box cake mix is a solid base for these muffins. With our add-ins, no one will know that you didn't make these muffins from scratch. I'm all about saving time in the kitchen, and using box cake mix is a favorite trick of mine.
- Instant Pudding: Adding instant pudding to this batter is a wonderful way to add some moisture to your muffins. I used sugar-free and fat-free pudding in this recipe to cut down on the calories (there's a reason these are 100 calorie chocolate muffins)! However, you could use regular chocolate pudding if you desire.
- Pumpkin Puree: Pumpkin puree, along with water, provides even more moisture for these muffins. Pumpkin is also packed with fiber, antioxidants, and vitamin A. Who says that chocolate muffins can't be healthy?!
- Espresso Powder: Adding a teaspoon of espresso powder to these muffins dials up the chocolate flavor. Espresso does an amazing job of highlighting chocolate in most recipes, and the best part is you can't even taste it!
What is the Best Box Cake Mix?
This recipe is pretty forgiving, so the type of cake mix you use shouldn't matter. I actually used Duncan Hines Devil's Food Cake Mix when I made the recipe. Just make sure that you don't grab a brownie mix by accident! If that happens, your muffins will be way too moist.
Step by Step: How to Make these Muffins
The entire recipe is below and can be printed to save for later. But, before you get there, let's walk through it step-by-step, so you understand what you're doing beforehand.
1. In a large bowl, combine chocolate cake mix, instant pudding, and espresso powder. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk pumpkin puree and water together until incorporated. Pour wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
3. Mix batter together until incorporated a few lumps remain-about 1 minute. The batter will look glossy when finished. Fill your cupcake liners about ⅔ full.
4. Sprinkle muffins with miniature chocolate chips, if desired.
5. Bake each batch of 12 muffins separately in the oven for about 24-28 minutes. Muffins are done when a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Remove muffins to a wire rack and cool for 10 minutes. Enjoy!
Storage Instructions
How Do I Store These Muffins?
These muffins will last at room temperature in an airtight container for up to three days. Feel free to pop them in the refrigerator for a few extra days to extend their shelf life.
You can store the muffins in the same way that you would store cupcakes. Keep in mind that you will want to freeze muffins or cupcakes after four days at room temperature or the fridge.
Can You Freeze These Muffins?
If you know you won't be eating them all, wrap each muffin individually in plastic wrap, place them in a freezer bag, and store them in the freezer for up to three months. Let them come to room temperature before popping them in the microwave for a few seconds before enjoying.
Recipe Variations
There are a number of different ways to switch up this recipe according to your tastes! Feel free to top these with regular-size chocolate chips or white chocolate chips too. Maybe even get fancy and use a combination of the two!
Heather's Helpful Hints
- Try using an ice cream scoop to measure out your batter for the muffins. This ensures even cooking for each muffin.
- Be sure to use baking spray (which includes flour) to coat your muffin liners. I like to use Baker's Joy or PAM Baking Spray with Flour.
- Make sure you do not use pumpkin pie mix in this recipe. While delicious, it has lots of extra sugar added in, and that's not what we want in order for these to be 100 calorie chocolate muffins
Related Muffin Recipes
Recipe
100 Calorie Chocolate Muffins
Equipment
- 12-count muffin pan
Ingredients
- 15.25 ounce box chocolate cake mix
- 1.3 ounce box instant chocolate pudding sugar-free and fat-free
- 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup miniature chocolate chips optional, for topping
Instructions
- Place a rack in the center of your oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit 20 minutes before baking your muffins. Line a 12-count muffin pan with liners and spray with baking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine chocolate cake mix, instant pudding, and espresso powder. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk pumpkin puree and water together until incorporated. Pour wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
- Mix batter together until incorporated a few lumps remain-about 1 minute. The batter will look glossy when finished. Fill your cupcake liners about ⅔ full.
- Sprinkle muffins with miniature chocolate chips, if desired.
- Bake each batch of 12 muffins separately in the oven for about 24-28 minutes. Muffins are done when a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Remove muffins to a wire rack and cool for 10 minutes. Enjoy!
- Store muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.
Notes and Tips
- Try using an ice cream scoop to measure out your batter for the muffins. This ensures even cooking for each muffin.
- Be sure to use baking spray (which includes flour) to coat your muffin liners. I like to use Baker's Joy or PAM Baking Spray with Flour.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted in January 2012. It was updated in January 2021 with new pictures and a few updates to the recipe
surprisebjg says
You made me get up and make those delicious things mouth watering yummm!
Tracy Lee Karner says
Yummy!
Yep, I'm the one who can't resist chocolate.
I've taken care of the "eat-it-all-up" syndrome by giving most of it away. Dale Carnegie was wrong about what wins friends and influences people. It's baked goods that sway the world in your favor. ;)
Heather @ Sweet Precision says
Thank goodness that I'm not the only one! If I know that there is chocolate in my pantry, I can't help but want it immediately. And I couldn't agree more, there's no better way to win someone over than with baked goods :)
Just Add Attitude says
I know exactly what you mean because when I bake a cake 'for the blog' I often end up eating most of it myself! And that is most definitely no5 good for my waistline. I didn't know that one calorie chocolate muffins existed, so it's good to hear that they do. ;)
Heather @ Sweet Precision says
I'm glad that I'm not the only blogger that eats all the dessert she makes! Thank goodness we're not posting a new and delicious recipe multiple times a week :)
Teasha says
If the box of cake mix says 292 calories per serving how are these calories so low?
Heather says
Hi Teasha! Usually, the box of cake mix lists nutrition for 10 servings. This recipe makes 24 muffins so the calories per serving are much lower! I hope you give these a try and definitely let me know what you think!
sprinklesandsauce says
low calorie donuts is what i need to satisfy my snack and sweet cravings ;)
Heather @ Sweet Precision says
You and me both! Now that would be a true culinary feat :)
Lilly Sue says
Yum, they look great! I can't bake things unless I have a plan to take somewhere and give away! Lol
Heather @ Sweet Precision says
I know exactly what you mean! I love Christmas time because I always have an excuse to bake a ton of cookies and take them somewhere :)
MOM says
MORE MUFFINS! Heather, how you tempt me and now with one that practically makes itself and leaves sO few calories that you hardly have to worry about them! THANKS
Heather @ Sweet Precision says
You actually tried these when you came to visit me! It's the same brand and mix as the frozen muffin tops if you remember?! I finally found the mix on Amazon which is much more affordable. The only difference is that these are muffin shaped :)
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Sherri says
I wonder if I can get VitaMuffin mix here in England? These muffins would be a dream come true for us if so. In fact, I'm going to take a look on Amazon and see and then definitely try this recipe if so. Great idea that you can freeze them too! Thanks Heather for this marvellous idea, as I've never heard of it :-)
Heather @ Sweet Precision says
I hope that you can get them delivered from Amazon Sherri! I was somewhat skeptical at first but nowadays I absolutely love them! I like to have a little something chocolate every day so in the evenings I'll pop one in the microwave and eat it for dessert. It's a great treat :) You'll have to let me know if you can find them!
Sherri says
That's the thing, you can have something chocolatey without feeling guilty! I certainly will let you know Heather :-)
Ayesha (Miss Spicy Hat n' Sugar Socks) says
Heather.....naughty woman!! Now, I want these.....I'm going baking... :D
Heather @ Sweet Precision says
Yes! You can even buy pre-made ones in the grocery store. They usually keep then in the aisle by the ice cream treats!
tableofcolors says
I usually just freeze most of my things that I bake, that way they don't get all eaten right away! Of course, we have a crowd so I'm usually doubling my recipes so they would last at least a little while :) Your muffins look like a great mini chocolate fix!
Heather @ Sweet Precision says
I would love to cook for a bigger crowd! It was the worst when I lived all alone because then I was the only person eating my desserts! Freezing is a great option too. I have some leftover cookie dough from Christmas that I have to put to good use.
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