Light Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
• 1 egg
• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 (1 ounce) package sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 (6 ounce) package semisweet chocolate chips, divided

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 16 muffin cups with paper liners. Spray liners with cooking spray.

Mix pumpkin puree, egg, sugar, vegetable oil, applesauce, and vanilla extract together in a bowl.

Mix flour, pudding mix, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda together in a large bowl. Add about half the chocolate chips; stir. Pour pumpkin mixture into the flour mixture; stir to combine. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups; top with remaining chocolate chips.

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.