- 1/2 cup organic coconut oil, softened to room temperature or melted
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 4 medium overripe bananas, mashed
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
- 1/4 cup good-quality cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup wheat germ
- 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips, pulsed in food processor or chopped
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a large muffin pan with paper liners.
- Using the paddle attachment on a stand mixer, a hand mixer, or two forks, cream the oil and sugar. Add the bananas, applesauce, vanilla, and water and beat until smooth. Beat in the eggs.
- In a separate large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, wheat germ, flaxseed, baking soda, and salt. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Spoon the batter into the muffin liners until they are almost full. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out just damp with small crumbs attached. Place the muffins on a cooling rack and let them cool for at least 5 minutes before digging in!