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

  • Kids loved the muffins. They are so moist and chocolatey (is that a word?). Really good.

  • oh my gosh, these are so delicious. the batter is super fluffy and they make big, beautiful muffins. GOOD JOB

  • Chocoholic heaven! Love these muffins for breakfast, dessert, snack – you name it. I only had salted butter and was too lay to go out so just cut back the salt to 1/4 t in the recipe and they turned out great.

  • I found the yield on these to be just a bit off. When I filled the muffin tins as directed, the muffins overflowed the pan. I’ll try filling less next time. And I think I’m due for another batch soon! Love these!

  • You named these for me!? I’m touched, really I am! :-)Anything chocolate with buttermilk gets my vote.

  • Made these, they are awesome!

  • I make these often. I am such a crazy person about chocolate that I even add a chocolate icing. Oh my, right?! It is more of a chocolate glaze. YUMMY!

  • I finally made these today and oh my goodness! They are light, moist, and filled with decadent chocolatey delishousness! My friends are going to love them! Thanks for a great recipe. I skipped the muffin liners because I ran out…also made some mini ones. They did stick to my pans even with a good coat of olive oil, so the liners are definitely needed.

  • My daughter sent me your blog site. I had some buttermilk left over from another recipe so I went and made these muffins. They took care of my need for chocolate. Nice and light but satisfying.

  • I’m drooling at the thought of these muffins! I’m going to make some for my kids and hubby to eat for breakfast (egg free of course because of my son’s allergy)

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