Gluten free chocolate secret muffins

I call these chocolate secret muffins because they contain courgettes and if I had told the children they did before they tasted them they probably would have given them a wide berth!!! As it was they absolutely loved them and so they now know that they have vegetable matter in them but the name has stuck.........These are gluten free but as with most of my recipes it is very easy to switch back, just switch in self raising regular flour for the gluten free flour.

Ingredients

250g self raising gluten free flour (I use doves farm)

375g caster sugar

65g cocoa powder

1/2 tsp salt

4 eggs

350ml vegetable oil ( I use grapeseed oil)

340g finely grated courgette

120g chopped chocolate

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180c / gas mark 4

2. Line your muffin tin with muffin cases.

3. I use a mixer with a paddle attachment for this but you can use a bowl and a hand mixer or whichever process you prefer for mixing cakes.

4. Into a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, salt and cocoa powder. 

5. In a separate bowl beat the eggs in with the oil

6. With the mixer running add the oil and egg mix into the dry ingredients and beat until well blended, then mix in the courgettes and again beat really well so they are well distributed throughout the mix.

7. Add in the chopped chocolate and again beat.

8. Spoon the mix into the muffin cases so they are 3/4 full, you should get at least 15 out of this although it depends on how deep your cases are so you may get less or more. 

9. Bake in the preheated oven for about 15-20 mins. I always test mine after 15 mins as have an aga so they can bake quicker. They are baked as soon as a sharp knife or skewer poked into the middle comes out clean. 

10. Place on a wire rack to cool. Enjoy either slightly warm or cool and store in an air tight tin.