Protein Muffins
Double Chocolate Chunk Protein Muffins are a quick and easy breakfast that packs in the protein and looks way more sinful than it really is!
I have two dogs.
If you have been reading long you already know this. I am the crazy dog lady and I am 100% okay with that.
When we got our second dog, Copper, a yellow labrador retriever it was under the intention that he would be a duck dog. If you are not from the South and are not familiar with the gravity of the term “duck dog” let me just give you a quick run down.
Duck season is November-January. Duck hunters are super crazy men who get up at 3am (or EARLIER) and get in a boat in the freezing cold weather, climb into a duck blind (this is a fancy name for a stick house or hut of some sort) and wait for shooting time (sun rise) and then try to kill as many ducks as possible before they “limit out.” Endless hours are spent mapping the land and monitoring the migration patterns of ducks. Hundreds Thousands of dollars are spent on this hobby. The wives of duck hunters know far more than they should about waterfowl. They endure endless quacking by their husbands, patch waders, undoubtedly have a frozen duck in their freezer, and have more hunting magazines delivered to their house than any other item. The holy grail of duck hunting is to have a duck dog. A lean, mean, duck retrieving machine. A dog that is as dedicated to the hunt as the hunter is, a dog that eats, sleeps, and breathes waterfowl.
It isn’t a hobby, it is a way of life, at least that is what my husband tells me.
When I started dating Mr. Maebell we were in high school, and I was totally sure his passion for this would wear off. Keep in mind I was a vegetarian at the time and was totally disgusted with this. I had my animal cruelty speech down pat. I am fairly certain he had it memorized. Time went on and every year he was more excited than the year before. College didn’t change it and moving away didn’t change it. Alas, I eventually accepted the fact that I married a man who will read the Cabela’s and Mack’s Prairie Wings catalog religiously and will own more duck calls than I own shoes.
So, last year we got Copper. For the last year the two have been inseparable. He has worked with him and trained him all in hopes he would someday have the reputation of a true “duck dog.”
Last weekend, was the opening of wood duck and teal season. It is kind of like a warm up for the real thing which starts in two months. Personally, I didn’t care a thing about it. I also don’t care if Copper ever retrieves a single duck in his life. But watching the excitement and anticipation that my husband had over the last few weeks was a bit contagious. I found myself secretly being very hopeful. Luckily, I think Copper lived up to the grand expectations that Mr. Maebell had. Â Here are a few pictures from the weekend.
 
So, since it looks like I will have two very busy fellows this winter I have been working on good grab and go recipes. I really love these peanut butter protein muffins, but I have been experimenting with other muffins that are packed with protein. I have got to tell you. These take the cake.
Actually, they taste like chocolate cake, to be exact. 🙂 They are super simple and can be thrown together in no time at all. It is a one bowl, no mess kind of recipe you will love!
Get the Recipe: Protein Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 cup of gluten free Bisquick
- 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
- 1 (3.9 ounce) package of chocolate pudding mix
- 1/3 cup protein powder
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 1/3 cup milk
- 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
- Spray a standard size muffin tin with cooking spray and set aside.
- Mix the flour, oats, pudding mix, protein powder, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the milk and eggs until the batter is well combined.
- Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Scoop into muffin tin (an ice cream scoop makes this easy) and bake for 20 minutes.
My family was a family of hunters and my husbands is as well. We had a lab that would go pheasant hunting. Your dog is adorable and I miss my lab! These muffins look so perfect, Annie, and I’d love one right now! Pinning.
Dogs do have a special place in you family don’t they?! I love our boys!
I’m not really familiar with duck hunting at all, but it sounds like your dog lived up to the expectations! He’s so adorable! And these muffins sound delicious. I love easy, grab ‘n go recipes, especially ones that can be made with just one bowl!
Yes! One bowl is always better! 🙂
Ooo, chocolatey and healthy! Yes please!
It’s the perfect mix!
Cooper looks like he is having the best time! He is about to have a great fall going duck hunting with your mister. He is just too cute! These muffins sound delicious : )
Thank you Natalie! I am glad they have something they enjoy doing together…they are “team Dad” Zink, the Husky and I are on “team Mom” and we thoroughly enjoy sitting on the couch! ha! 😉
Copper is adorable!!! 🙂 Sounds like you had a great time and these muffins look delicious – like the perfect snack!
You can never have too many good snack recipes! 🙂
Aaaw Cooper is so adorable! Gorgeous pictures and gorgeous muffins! Sounds like the perfect grab and go snack 🙂
Thank you Kelly! I am pretty fond of him! 🙂
Gorgeous pictures! The muffins look great!
Thank you!! 🙂
These look like a chocoholic dream! And Copper is so adorable!
Thanks Michele, I think he is awfully cute too!
Aww, what a sweet dog! Beautiful photos too. And these muffins, they look decadent and brownie-ish. Awesome!!
I love making protein muffins, but haven’t tried a chocolate one! Definitely need to give these a try, pinning 🙂
Me too Danielle!! They are a tasty breakfast that you don’t have to feel too guilty about! And I love that these keep me full until lunch!
These look so good Annie! All I know about duck hunting is from Duck Dynasty (so probably a lot. lol), but he sure is cute!
Oh Ashley please don’t think we are that redneck because he is a duck hunter! hahaha! We are classier than Duck Dynasty, I promise! 😉
I am in love with your dog!! He reminds me of our yellow lab “Leo” who we sadly had to put down a couple years ago. These chocolate protein muffins look delicious!!
Oh Renee that makes me so sad! Your “fur babies” really do become part of the family, don’t they?!
Cooper is adorable and your pictures turned out wonderful! Both of the dog/scenery and the muffins. And the muffins look and sound just wonderful. YUM!
Thank you Amy! My husband took the outdoor photos, aren’t they amazing?! (I don’t get up early enough to take these kinds of pictures…HA!) 🙂
Dark chocolate is my favorite! And I like the addition of the protein powder in these muffins. I need to try them with my favorite protein powder, Skoop. Also…I’m in love with your dog. We have always had labs in our family for dogs and they’ll always hold a special place in my heart.
Oh Kaylin I hadn’t heard of Skoop, maybe I should look into it! I love playing around with protein powder in baked goods. I like seeing how much I can pack in there without noticing! ha! And aren’t labs wonderful?! They are the most loving, loyal animals!
Definitely check Skoop out! The company is wonderful as well with great customer service and PR. If you reach out to them, they might offer to send you a free sample by mail. And yes, I’ll always be a lab lover!
Thank you Kaylin! I will! 🙂
Girl, I too, am a crazy dog lady, so naturally this gets me so excited! Really. Nothing makes me smile more than dog photos. They just light up my screen! Your dog is adorable! I wish I lived closer so I could arrange a play date with my pooch.
And the muffins? GORGEOUS. Chocolate muffins are pretty much the best thing I’ve heard all week.
Oh Allison I am so glad someone understands my obsession! ha! I grew up on a farm and animals, especially the dogs are just part of your family. My first year of college I lived in a dorm and was “dogless” it was so depressing! I had nothing to greet me when I got home, nothing to take care of, oh it was just terrible. The next year we got Zink our Husky and then got our lab. The more the better I say! 🙂
Awww Copper is such a cutie!! How could you not absolutely adore him?
Also, DOUBLE CHOCOLATE. I’m in love.
YES! You can never have too much chocolate!! 🙂
What a great recipe. Love the added protein too.
Awwwh, such an adorable dog. I would love a dog.
Oh Dannii go get one! 🙂 I love my wild things!
What a beautiful dog!! And these muffins look to die for – I can’t believe they have protein in them because they look totally like a super sugary bakery style muffin! Awesome recipe! Pinned 🙂
Thank you Chelsea!! I was impressed with how perfectly round and chocolaty they came out!
Ha, duck hunting sounds like the opposite of fun to me! (I am NOT a morning person). However duck eating sounds like fun to me! I love duck 🙂 And these muffins look like perfect outdoorsy food. Love these!
Doesn’t it sound terrible?! I do not understand the attraction! Maybe someday common sense will kick in and he will take up golf or something! 🙂
I’m in trouble now! Chocolate with protein will be my new favorite excuse of all time!
I agree! 🙂
Here’s my train of thought… OOOOOhhhh dark chocolate! Mmmmm muffin! Breakfast!! OOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Protein! That means healthy breakfast! Hahaha, just go with it. These look amazing!
Your dogs are adorable! And these muffins are just the thing I need, healthy and delicious.
Muffins that taste like chocolate cake?! I’m totally in love with that 🙂
Thanks Julie!! 🙂
Copper is such a beautiful dog! I love adding protein powder into sweets! I don’t feel as guilty that way. These muffins look incredible!
Oh I agree! Much less guilty when protein powder is added!
Such an adorable dog! Those muffins look so delicious. I love the addition of protein powder 🙂
Thank you Ashley! That practically makes it a super healthy food, right?!
I knew I was going to love this post just by your opening sentence! I’ve heard quite a lot about duck hunting over the past few years as my boyfriend and his family are hunters. Their black lab is their duck dog. 🙂 Copper is so handsome and the scenery looks unbelievable! I bet these muffins are the type to keep you full for awhile and taste so great while doing so. Yum. 🙂
So you understand how important duck dogs are! 🙂 I was so worried he just wouldn’t be very into this and my husband would be crushed, but so far they are a pair! 🙂
Yum! I love grab-and-go muffins like this and love the double chocolate action you’ve got going on there! Also, your pup is the cutest thing in the universe. The end. 😀
Thank you Sarah! 🙂
I love gluten-free Bisquick! I couldn’t believe how yummy biscuits made with it taste! I love that you used it to make muffins.
I REALLY love it! I buy it in bulk from Amazon because we go through it so fast! 🙂
First of all…love the pup! And the muffins are a must-try! Thank you for sharing your story!
Thank you Annie!
Wow. I’ll never complain about my husband watching football again. Seems pretty low-key compared to duck hunting!
Love the recipe! I need more protein-filled goodies in my life!
Mir I have to say there is NOTHING low key about duck hunting!! I would gladly make him a football convert if I could! 😉