Thursday, June 12, 2014

chocolate chocolate chip muffins

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.

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.

RECIPE
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffins (Makes 17-20)
Adapted from The Ultimate Muffin Book by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough

Ingredients:
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

Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
Note: 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.

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.
Say G'Day Saturday

86 comments:

  1. 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:))

    ReplyDelete
  2. 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!

    ReplyDelete
  3. 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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jozelyn, buttermilk seems to really made moist muffins. weird, but true!

      Delete
  4. This looks so yummy. So gonna bake this for the family

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Esther, thank you!! I hope you do and that they love it too!

      Delete
  5. 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 !

    ReplyDelete
  6. 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!

    ReplyDelete
  7. 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..

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Diana, you have a good resource of cupcakes and muffins recipes here. I like and will try.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I would love to see a recipe for hummus!

    ReplyDelete
  10. My girl would be so happy if I make this...Double chocolate = Double the joy for her =)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Forgot to add in that I would like to see more recipes for brunch ideas...thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  12. How to make a good bread pudding! - Meiyi (littledetour@hotmail.com)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Is buttermilk same as milk? If dont have it can i use milk instead?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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

      Delete
  14. 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....!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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?

      Delete
  15. I love chocolate muffins! Yums! And these look really good ��

    ReplyDelete
  16. 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

    ReplyDelete
  17. Replies
    1. Thanks Gene - you made them and they were yummy too!

      Delete
  18. Go make steak and kidney pie leh... :p

    ReplyDelete
  19. Recipe for an easy prata or naan to go with your drool-worthy butter chicken please!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Would like to have more cookies recipes, thanks :)

    Linda
    wfclinda@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I would like home made granola receipes!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I am so into baking lately… was browsing for recipes on what to bake today and TADAH You posted a must-bake recipe!!! :D *drooling*

    ReplyDelete
  23. how about some meat pies and quiches? :) also more baked rice and pasta recipes please :) i'm a fan of your blog!

    Fran
    www.frannywanny.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. I would like to see the recipe for Blueberry Cheesecake. Thanks :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi Diana! hah...hah...I too must eat one muffin for quality control purposes! Your chocolaty muffins are really calling out to me :) And hey, I also like to give away my bakes. So who is this LAM? Lord and Master? hah,,hah...

    ReplyDelete
  26. 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 ...

    ReplyDelete
  27. 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!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hi Diana! Glad meeting another awesome chef! :) About what I want to see. Perhaps one pot meals? Those good for adults and kids at the same time. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Joyce! Thank you!! Yep yep more one-pot meals coming up!

      Delete
  29. Hi Diana,

    Thanks for organising this giveaway! I have entered myself in this competition and hope that I can be lucky!

    Zoe

    ReplyDelete
  30. 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

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hi Diana,

    I will like to see more 1 dish meal that is nutritious and yet easy to make. :)
    Thank you for all the awesome recipes you been putting up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Ser, thanks!! You got it! One -pot meals to come soon!

      Delete
  32. Love how your recipes are so easy!!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hi diana,
    Thanks for sharing the recipe. It's just right for a beginner in baking like me! :)

    ReplyDelete
  34. 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

    ReplyDelete
  35. I'm a big fan of your bakes, would love to win the measuring cups to make my bakes more successful! :D Thanks for hosting!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Love your bakes...hope to see one pot dish and some pastry goods. ;) Thanks for the giveaways.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Would love to see even more of your super easy to bake recipes !!! Thanks a lot :)

    ReplyDelete
  38. Fell in love with your cupcake swirl. Shall try it when I entertain adults.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Definitely a must try for chocolate lover!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Love all your bakes, keep up the good work :)

    ReplyDelete
  41. Love all your bakes, yummy !

    ReplyDelete
  42. Hi Diana, I baked them yesterday, they are very moist and fluffy.Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Hi Diana, may I ask what do you mean by large eggs? 60g, 70g or 80g? Thank you.

    ReplyDelete