I bake a lot. However, not every bake is a successful one. Naturally, the unsuccessful bakes and the so-so (okay but not great) bakes don’t make it onto my blog.
But once in a while, I bake something that gets me really excited.
I had about an hour to spare this morning so I thought I would bake some muffins because I didn’t want to wait for the butter to come to room temperature. Muffins are great for times like these because they are so quick and easy to bake.
I picked a muffin from my current favourite muffin book, The Ultimate Muffin Book. I really have no idea how much time Weinstein and Scarbrough spent writing this book, but it sure is the best book of muffin recipes ever.
At the rate I am going, I really will end up baking every type of muffin from this book.
And I am looking forward to doing that because every bake has thus far been perfect. Nothing is sweet (hurrah!) and every muffin has been moist.
Today I baked a batch of Chocolate Chocolate Chip muffins. After reading this post, go make some. I guarantee you will love them as much as I do.
Here’s how.
In the bowl of a mixer, whisk the eggs and brown sugar until they are well-blended. This would take about 3-4 minutes.
While that happened, I measured the dry ingredients into a large bowl.
And stirred until everything was well-combined.
I added the cooled melted butter to the egg and brown sugar mixture, and continued to mix.
This was followed by the buttermilk.
And vanilla extract.
Once everything was well-combined, I added the wet mixture to the dry ingredients.
I mixed this with a wooden spoon until everything just came together. Do not over-mix! Over-mixing results in tough and hard muffins. YUCKS.
Using an ice-cream scoop, I dished the batter into muffin liners. If you like muffins with domes, make sure the liners are three-quarters full.
Once baked, the muffins were allowed to cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes before I transferred them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
I made 17 muffins.
I ate one immediately. Just for quality control purposes, you understand.
6 went to my manicurist, Stefanie; 6 to my butcher, Andy; and the final 6 went to Ronny who operates the dry goods store I regularly patronise.
The LAM was pretty upset because he didn’t get any.
Opps.
See what happens when one is not quick enough?
Hehe.
- 2 cups (250g) plain flour
- 1/2 cup (100g) caster sugar
- 1/3 cup (39.3g) cocoa powder, sifted - I used Valrhona
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (152g) semisweet chocolate chips - I used Ghirardelli
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup (50g) packed dark brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups (360ml) buttermilk
- 1 stick (113.3g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Preheat the oven to 200ยฐC (400ยฐF).
- Whisk the flour, caster sugar cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a medium or large bowl until uniform. Stir in the chocolate chips until well-coated. Set aside.
- In a large bowl (or bowl of a mixer) whisk the eggs and brown sugar until thick and pale brown. Pour in the buttermilk, melted butter and vanilla. Whisk until smooth. Using a wooden spoon, stir this into the flour mixture until moistened.
- Fill the prepared liners three-quarters full. Bake for 20 minutes or until the muffins are lightly browned with rounded tops. A toothpick inserted into the centre of one muffin should come out clean, unless you hit a chocolate chip.
- Set the pan on a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. Transfer the muffins onto the wire rack to cool for an additional 5 minutes before serving.
- If storing or freezing the muffins, cool them completely before sealing in an air-tight container or in freezer-safe plastic bags. The muffins will stay fresh for up to 2 days at room temperature or up to 2 months in the freezer.
A giveaway!
I have tons of kitchen equipment and one of the things I cannot do without when I cook or bake are my measuring cups. Not just any old measuring cups, mind you. OXO Good Grips Angled Measuring Cups! A patented angled surface lets you read measurement markings by looking straight down into the Cup and eliminates the need to fill, check and adjust the amount of liquid you are measuring. The handle is soft and non-slip for a firm grip, and cup, ounce and milliliter measurement markings increase convenience. The set includes 1-cup, 2-cup and 4-cup versions.
Here’s how to take part!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Giveaway ends on Friday, June 27, 2014 at 12:00 a.m. Pacific time. The winner will be selected by random.org and contacted by email. If there is no response after 48 hours, another winner will be selected. Open to overseas entrants.
This post is linked to Cook Your Books, hosted by Joyce from Kitchen Flavours.
I am also linking this post to Little Thumbs Up, hosted by Zoe of Bake For Happy Kids, Doreen of My Little Favourite DIY, and Jozelyn of Spice Up My Kitchen.
Last but not least, I am linking this post to Say G’Day hosted by NatashaInOz.
Diana…these choc choc muffins definitely looks great…i can imagine in indulging in tis fabulous rich choc nuffin…plus it will be a hit with the kids:)
And I hope I will be one of the winner too…oops:))
Heya! Good luck to you ๐
Yay! Something new to bake and this one’s great cos I never have time to wait for the butter to come to room temperature. I’m a random baker, you see. So when the bake bug hits, there’s never any butter at room temperature available!
make when you come back to SG ๐
Hi, Diana. I could see that this muffin looks so good. I am not sure whether the buttermilk make it taste better but according to other bloggers who make their cakes with buttermilk, all turn out so good. And I will keep this recipe for sure because you say it is not sweet ^_^
Thanks for linking up with LTU!
Hi Jozelyn, buttermilk seems to really made moist muffins. weird, but true!
This looks so yummy. So gonna bake this for the family
Hi Esther, thank you!! I hope you do and that they love it too!
Oh i nearly bookmark most of ur recipe as all looks delicious and tempting !! Dont even have enough time to bake them all but for sure i will !
Hi XF, thank you so much ๐
I haven’t had time to bake anything this month. There were too many celebrations and holidays and I’ve been putting on weight too. But this looks too good to resist. I will bake it for our belated Anniversary celebration. Thanks Diana!
๐ Happy Anniversary (belated)!!
Nice one.. chocolate is always my favourite! You have got so many recipes to refer, and I will love to see if you have a carrot cake or sugee cake! I tried a few but still can’t find the ones that replicate the European way of doing.. hmmm..
ooh, i shall put it onto my to-do list!
Hi Diana, you have a good resource of cupcakes and muffins recipes here. I like and will try.
Thanks Kimmy!
I would love to see a recipe for hummus!
My girl would be so happy if I make this…Double chocolate = Double the joy for her =)
That is so sweet!! ๐
Forgot to add in that I would like to see more recipes for brunch ideas…thanks!
OK!
How to make a good bread pudding! – Meiyi (littledetour@hotmail.com)
You know, this one is coming up REAL soon!
Looks really delicious!
Thanks Michal!
Is buttermilk same as milk? If dont have it can i use milk instead?
Hi it is not the same and no, you cannot substitute milk for buttermilk. For how to make buttermilk, please see here: http://www.thedomesticgoddesswannabe.com/p/whys.html
Hi Diana,
Such lovely muffins! Now I am regretting for not buying this book when I saw it at the bookstore ages ago, and it was a real bargain! Sigh….!!!
aiyoh. I don’t blame you – the book has no photos. It really does not look interesting. I guess you cannot judge a book by its cover (and insides) huh?
I love chocolate muffins! Yums! And these look really good ��
Thank you so much, pohken! ๐
Wow, these look so yummy. I love chocolate chip muffins and yours look so good. I am going to tr these.
Have a great weekend,
Bev
Hi Bev, good luck!! Thanks for stopping by!! xx
Yummy
Thanks Gene – you made them and they were yummy too!
Go make steak and kidney pie leh… :p
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!
Recipe for an easy prata or naan to go with your drool-worthy butter chicken please!
This one is coming up soon too!!!
chocolate chocolate chocolate
Would like to have more cookies recipes, thanks ๐
Linda
wfclinda@yahoo.com
Sure Linda!
I would like home made granola receipes!
i try!
I am so into baking lately… was browsing for recipes on what to bake today and TADAH You posted a must-bake recipe!!! ๐ *drooling*
hehehe it was fated!
how about some meat pies and quiches? ๐ also more baked rice and pasta recipes please ๐ i’m a fan of your blog!
Fran
http://www.frannywanny.com
Thanks Franny! Lemme get a pie pan first ok! ๐
I would like to see the recipe for Blueberry Cheesecake. Thanks ๐
OK!
Hi Diana! hah…hah…I too must eat one muffin for quality control purposes! Your chocolaty muffins are really calling out to me ๐ And hey, I also like to give away my bakes. So who is this LAM? Lord and Master? hah,,hah…
Yah my hb = my Lord and Master. LOL!
More recipes on One dish meals please … working daily .. but still hope to have home cook food for dinner .. time limitation .. so one dish meals are the best type of help ! .. thanks Diana …
For sure Cheria!
1st time visiting your blog and I had already bookmarked few to try! Clear cut steps and best when you attached step by step photo!
Thanks a bunch Agnes!
Lasagna!!
Ok!
i love chocolate muffin! ๐
Hi Andrew, me too!
Hi Diana! Glad meeting another awesome chef! ๐ About what I want to see. Perhaps one pot meals? Those good for adults and kids at the same time. ๐
Hi Joyce! Thank you!! Yep yep more one-pot meals coming up!
Hi Diana,
Thanks for organising this giveaway! I have entered myself in this competition and hope that I can be lucky!
Zoe
Heya Zoe, may the random.org god smile upon you ๐
Hi Diana, I’m new on baking. I like your blog and I hope I will be one of the winner…
Thank you.
Regards,
Yvonne from Singapore
Thanks Yvonne! Good luck!
Hi Diana,
I will like to see more 1 dish meal that is nutritious and yet easy to make. ๐
Thank you for all the awesome recipes you been putting up.
Hi Ser, thanks!! You got it! One -pot meals to come soon!
Love how your recipes are so easy!!
Thanks Eliz!
Hi diana,
Thanks for sharing the recipe. It’s just right for a beginner in baking like me! ๐
You are welcome, Hwee Choo ๐
Thanks for sharing at the Say G’day party. I’ve just pinned your post to the Say G’Day Saturday Board – they look so delicious!
Hope you can join us again this weekend.
Best wishes,
Natasha in Oz
Thanks Natasha, for sure I will join again!
Look yummy I will try soon!
I’m a big fan of your bakes, would love to win the measuring cups to make my bakes more successful! ๐ Thanks for hosting!
Love your bakes…hope to see one pot dish and some pastry goods. ๐ Thanks for the giveaways.
Would love to see even more of your super easy to bake recipes !!! Thanks a lot ๐
Fell in love with your cupcake swirl. Shall try it when I entertain adults.
Definitely a must try for chocolate lover!
Love all your bakes, keep up the good work ๐
Love all your bakes, yummy !
More cakes!
More cakes!
Maybe making peanut butter
Hi Diana, I baked them yesterday, they are very moist and fluffy.Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe.
Thanks for the feedback, Lian!! ๐
Hi Diana, may I ask what do you mean by large eggs? 60g, 70g or 80g? Thank you.
Hi Joanne, usually for baking 60-65g is good enough!
Hi Diana, may i know what is buttermilk?
Buttermilk is the liquid left behind after churning butter out of cream.
Can be bought from the store or have to do ourself?
What can I replace it with if I can’t manage to get it?
Hi Melinda you can buy it at supermarkets. It is usually found at the milk/yogurt/sour cream section. Otherwise you can make your own. There is a recipe here : http://thedomesticgoddesswannabe.com/tell-me-why/
Diana, thanks a lot for the information.
Hi Diana, where do your get both your chocolates from? Poh Huat/Red man?
HI Ally, I get mine from Sun Lik (Seah Street). I mostly use Valrhona chocolate.
was surfing around for a muffin recipe and came upon your recipe….studied the recipe and it seems doable..took a calculated gamble and made double portions of this…resulting in 24 soft and moist but not sweet muffins…a keeper for sure…
HI Francis, I like that you read the recipe and decided it was worth taking the risk to make double the portion! And I am really glad it worked out well for you in the end ๐
Really love your recipes! can I use brown sugar instead of dark brown sugar?
Hi Diana, your chocolate chip muffin looks really yummy!! Can i ask if you grease the muffin tray and muffin liners? Thanks! ๐
Hi Ash, thank you. No I do not grease at all.
no, never!