Chocolate Muffins

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Calling all chocoholics! These tender chocolate muffins with a double hit of chocolate make a delicious breakfast or after-school snack.

Chocolate muffins on a countertop.

The men in my family all have one thing in common: they are serious chocoholics. Growing up, my dad lived on a steady diet of chocolate cake and chocolate chip cookies, and he always kept a stash of Hershey’s Kisses in the back corner of the freezer, where my sister and I couldn’t reach them.

My son has clearly inherited this chocolate obsession, and he knows that flattery and praise are all it takes to get me into the kitchen, covered in cocoa powder. These tender chocolate muffins with a double hit of chocolate are one of his all-time favorites. They are easy to whip up with everyday ingredients. If you don’t have any buttermilk on hand, or don’t want to purchase a whole carton, see how to make buttermilk using milk and vinegar or lemon juice.

“These muffins are spectacular! They come out beautiful, moist and chocolatey every time I make them.”

Carol

What you’ll need To Make Chocolate Muffins

Muffin ingredients including vanilla, cocoa, and eggs.
  • Eggs: Provide structure and moisture, contributing to the tender texture.
  • Buttermilk: Adds moisture, enhances the muffins’ flavor, and interacts with baking soda to help the muffins rise.
  • Vanilla Extract: Elevates the chocolate flavor and adds depth to the taste.
  • All-Purpose Flour: Forms the base of the batter. Measure it by spooning it into the measuring cup and leveling it off to ensure accuracy.
  • Natural Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Provides intense chocolate flavor without excess sweetness.
  • Light Brown Sugar: Adds moisture, sweetness, and a subtle caramel note. Because it tends to clump, gently pack the sugar into the measuring cup to ensure you’ve got the correct amount.
  • Baking Powder and Baking Soda: Leavening agents that help the muffins rise and achieve a fluffy texture.
  • Semi-Sweet or Bittersweet Chocolate Chips: Introduce pockets of melty chocolate for a double hit of chocolate.
  • Butter: Contributes to tenderness and richness in flavor.
  • Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements

Step-by-Step Instructions

Begin by combining the eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract in a medium bowl.

Bowl of eggs, vanilla, and buttermilk.

Whisk well.

Whisk in a bowl of buttermilk mixture.

In another large bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Bowl of unmixed dry ingredients.

Whisk well and then rub the mixture through your fingers to break up any lumps of brown sugar.

Whisk in a bowl of dry ingredients.

To the dry ingredients, add 3/4 cup of the chocolate chips, the buttermilk-egg mixture, and the melted butter.

Bowl with chocolate chips, dry ingredients, and buttermilk mixture.

Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, mix until just combined.

Spatula in a bowl of chocolate muffin batter.

Using an ice cream scoop or two spoons, fill the muffin cups to the brim with batter.

Muffin pan full of chocolate muffin batter.

Distribute the remaining 1/4 cup of chocolate chips evenly over the muffin tops, pressing them lightly into the batter.

Muffin batter topped with chocolate chips.

Place in the oven and bake for 8 minutes at 425°F (220°C), then turn the oven down to 350°F (175°C) and bake for about 12 minutes more, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean (check a few spots as the melted chocolate chips will make the tester look wet). Transfer to a wire rack and let cool for about 5 minutes before removing the muffins from the pan; cool on a rack.

Chocolate muffins on a wire rack.

Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Dutch process cocoa powder in place of natural cocoa powder?

Natural cocoa powder is acidic and has a more intense, slightly bitter flavor, while Dutch process cocoa powder is treated with an alkali to neutralize acidity, resulting in a milder taste and darker color. Dutch process cocoa powder is not used quite as often but if you bake for chocolate lovers, it’s good to have in your pantry for recipes like flourless chocolate cake or this double chocolate skillet cookie. Dutch process and natural cocoa powder are not always interchangeable in recipes due to differences in acidity and leavening properties, so, for optimal results, it’s important to use the type specified in the recipe.

Can I make chocolate muffins ahead of time?

Muffins are always best enjoyed fresh on the same day, but they’ll keep nicely in an airtight container for up to 3 days. 

Can I freeze chocolate muffins?

Sure! The muffins can be frozen in an airtight container or sealable plastic bag for up to 3 months. Thaw for 3 – 4 hours on the countertop before serving. To reheat, wrap individual muffins in aluminum foil and place in a 350°F-oven until warm.

Chocolate muffins on a countertop.

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Chocolate Muffins

Calling all chocoholics! These tender chocolate muffins with a double hit of chocolate make a delicious breakfast or after-school snack.

Servings: 12 muffins
Cook Time: 20 Minutes
Total Time: 40 Minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup low fat buttermilk (see note)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1¾ cups all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off
  • ⅔ cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder, such as Hershey's
  • 1¼ cups light brown sugar, packed (be sure it is fresh with no hard lumps)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips
  • 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

Instructions

  1. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 425°F. Line a standard 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
  2. In a large measuring cup or bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract.
  3. In another large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Rub the mixture through your fingers to break up any lumps of brown sugar.
  4. To the dry ingredients, add ¾ cup of the chocolate chips, the buttermilk-egg mixture, and the melted butter. Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, mix until until just combined.
  5. Using an ice cream scoop or two spoons, fill the muffin cups to the brim with batter. Distribute the remaining ¼ cup of chocolate chips evenly over the muffin tops, pressing them lightly into the batter. Place in the oven and bake for 8 minutes, then turn the oven down to 350°F and bake for about 12 minutes more, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean (check a few spots as the melted chocolate chips will make the tester look wet). Transfer to a wire rack and let cool for about 5 minutes before removing the muffins from the pan; cool on a rack.
  6. Note: If you’d like to make your own buttermilk, check out the easy method here.
  7. Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The muffins can be frozen in an airtight container or sealable plastic bag for up to 3 months. Thaw for 3 – 4 hours on the countertop before serving. To reheat, wrap individual muffins in aluminum foil and place in a preheated 350°F oven until warm.

Nutrition Information

Powered by Edamam

  • Serving size: 1 muffin
  • Calories: 324
  • Fat: 14 g
  • Saturated fat: 8 g
  • Carbohydrates: 50 g
  • Sugar: 31 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 5 g
  • Sodium: 293 mg
  • Cholesterol: 52 mg

This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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Comments

  • Are you able to provide the ingredients in grams? I have no idea what is the size / definition for cup, thank you

    • Hi, The great majority of my recipes (including this one) include conversions to metric/weight measurements. To view them, scroll down to the recipe, and immediately under the recipe title on the right side, you’ll see a little toggle. If you move it from “cup measures” to metric, you’ll see measurements that will work for you. Hope you enjoy the muffins if you make them!

  • Absolutely wonderful recipe! I have food allergies, so ended up making my normal substitutions and left out the chocolate chips and they still turned out great. I will be recommending this to friends.

    {2T flax seed and 6T water for the 2 eggs}
    {1T white vinegar with a scant cup rice milk for the buttermilk}
    {1/2 tsp baking soda and 1 tsp cream of tartar for the 1 tsp baking powder}

  • What a wonderful chocolate chip muffin. I made a jumbo muffins (a total of 6), and they turned out delicious.
    I have 2 questions:
    1. What is the easiest way to get jumbo muffins out of a tin in one piece? I did not want to cool in muffin tin since the directions said to take out of tins after a specified amount of time, and I did not want muffins to be over baked and dry.
    2. Should I let jumbo muffins cool completely in tin?
    Any tips you can send my way is much appreciated. Thanks again for sharing this awesome recipe.😊

    • Hi Hope, glad you liked the muffins! I’d recommend sticking with the instructions and removing the muffins from the tin after about 5 minutes. (If you leave them in there for too long they can get soggy.) Did you use paper liners in the muffin tin? That’s really what keeps them from sticking.

      • Dear Jenn,
        Thanks for the tips. I did not use liners, as my jumbo liners did not reach top of cupcake insert. Next time I’ll use the liners even if they do not reach the top of the cupcake compartments.
        Thanks again for sharing this recipe and for responding to my questions.
        Have a nice day😊
        Regards,
        Hope

        • Made these in large muffins… following the times and temps for cooking. At the end of time mine were still like batter in the middle. Leaving them longer at 350… Afraid of the out come.

          • Hi Stef, Do you mean jumbo muffins? If so, they usually take 5 to 10 minutes longer to bake. Hope they came out okay!

            • — Jenn
      • Best recipe I also added chopped walnuts which was a hit but other than that I followed recipe to the tee excellent

  • Have you ever tried adding bananas to this recipe? If so, how much and at what point and did it change the baking time?

    • Hi Jenny, I wouldn’t recommend adding bananas to this recipe but I do have a chocolate banana bread that you can use for muffins. Hope you enjoy if you try it!

  • Best chocolate muffins. I used golden brown sugar, that’s all I had, and it was just so delicious and just the right amount of sweetness.

  • While mixing these up I knew they were going to be delicious! I could smell the chocolate and the richness of the batter. I baked them and after waiting about 10 minutes of cooling time my husband and I split one! They are absolutely delicious! Thanks for another winning recipe!

  • These are delicious but have the texture more like a cupcake than a muffin. How could I make them a little more dense, like a muffin?

    • Hi Laura, You could try adding a little more flour, but I’m concerned that would make them dry. I’d probably just look for a different recipe that will give you a denser texture.

  • Like some reviews I thought these were a bit on the dry side. I made adjustments to my cooking time per other reviews and the fact that my oven runs on the hot side. Good flavor but to dry for us.

  • Great recipe. Loved it. Very easy and delicious.

  • Delicious! My family and I have fallen in love with so many of your baked treats! This is at the top of our list. It’s not too sweet, fluffy, and moist!

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