Tuesday 6 May 2014

Choc Chunk Muffins with Brown Sugar & Choc Chip Frosting

Choc Chunk Muffins with Brown Sugar & Choc Chip Frosting

Chocolate chip, the quintessential baker's classic. Simplicity in its finest form.

Choc Chunk Muffins with Brown Sugar & Choc Chip Frosting

In all honesty, I prefer my sweet treats rich and decadent to the point of near sickening. I've heard my husband complain of desserts being too rich and this is something I truly can't fathom. Granted, he also doesn't like cake so I'm pretty sure he's certifiably mad.

Choc Chunk Muffins with Brown Sugar & Choc Chip Frosting

Even though I will usually opt for 'chocolate mud' I still hold a warm place in my heart for 'chocolate chip'. Choc chip cookies sing of comfort and lazy childhood afternoons, they're unparalleled as a nostalgic treat. Whether it's choc chip cookies, ice cream, cake, or muffins, it's guaranteed to be a crowd favourite.

Choc Chunk Muffins with Brown Sugar & Choc Chip Frosting

I wanted the joy of chocolate chip cookies in a more substantial form, but it had to be compact enough for me to lug down to the park for an impromptu picnic with my son. Muffins fit the bill perfectly! I still have a glut of Easter chocolate left over so I chopped some of it up and made these 'choc chunk' muffins. I then grated a bit more of the excess chocolate and mixed it through brown sugar frosting for a choc chip overload. The result? A perfect picnic indulgence!

Choc Chunk Muffins with Brown Sugar & Choc Chip Frosting

I'd love to know, what's your most nostalgic treat and are you a 'choc chip' or 'choc mud' kind of person?

Choc Chunk Muffins with Brown Sugar & Choc Chip Frosting



Choc Chunk Muffins with Brown Sugar & Choc Chip Frosting

Recipe by A Rhubarb Rhapsody
Total time: 40 minutes
Yield: 12 muffins

Ingredients for the Muffins: 
  • 3 cups plain flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup oil or melted butter
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup plain yoghurt
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 1/2 cups chocolate chunks or chips (I used a mix of dark and milk choc)
To make the Muffins:
  1. Preheat oven to 180°C (355°F)
  2. In a large bowl sift together flour, baking soda and baking powder. Add salt and sugar. Set aside.
  3. In another large bowl whisk together oil, vanilla extract, egg, milk and yoghurt. Add the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
  4. Add chocolate chunks to the batter and gently stir until just incorporated.
  5. Pour batter into well-greased muffin pan. 
  6. (Optional) Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of raw/turbinado sugar over the top of each muffin (this will make the top nice and crunchy). 
  7. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and cooked throughout, let them sit in the tin for 5 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
  8. Once completely cooled pipe choc chip frosting (recipe below) on top of each muffin and serve immediately.

    Ingredients for the Brown Sugar & Choc Chip Frosting:
    • 250g cream cheese (at room temperature)
    • 7 tablespoons brown sugar
    • 2 tablespoons butter (at room temperature)
    • 40g dark chocolate (grated finely)
    To make the Brown Sugar & Choc Chip Frosting:
    1. In a the bowl of your mixer or food processor add the cream cheese, brown sugar and butter. Mix/process until completely smooth.
    2. Add the grated chocolate and gently stir through until it's evenly distributed.

    20 comments:

    1. These look awesome! Chocolate in anything is perfectly fine by me! So glad I found your blog!

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      Replies
      1. Fine by me too, Mallory! Thanks for dropping by! :)

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    2. My mom always says things are too sweet. I just don't understand that. These muffins look awesome!

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      1. My Mum's the same. I think I get my sweet tooth from my Dad, his love for ice cream and chocolate is boundless!

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    3. Hehe I have heard friends talking about something being too rich and I think that they're just perfect! :P What adorable muffins!

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      Replies
      1. We must have built up a higher sugar tolerance. ;) It's an achievement, right?

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    4. Gorgeous muffins! They look like a proper dessert instead of just a typical afternoon treat.

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      1. Thank you! I'm just really, really bad at piping, hence the chocolate shavings and squiggle- I needed to hide my baking shame. ;)

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    5. wow..looks like a product from a gourme bakery..so adorable and love the flavours in it.. beautiful clicks as well

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    6. Love the chocolate frosting on this :) they look absolutely fantastic!

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      1. Thank you! I was very happy with the frosting, I made sure to taste-test it VERY thoroughly. ;)

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    7. My favorite nostalgic treat is boring ol chocolate chip cookies. These muffins look fantastic, love the chocolate flecked frosting.

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      Replies
      1. Thanks Sherri! Everyone seems to have a bit of a soft spot for the good old choc chip cookie. The sheer joy of pulling a tray of perfectly cooked choc chip cookies out of the oven is easily one of the best things about baking.

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    8. These look lovely. Even though it is warmer finally, I am finding I want to bake. This recipe certainly inspires.

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    9. These look absolutely divine. I'm a huge fan of cakes & dessert, but differ from you in that I prefer them light and not too sweet... unless they're balanced out with a savoury element to them (like peanut butter!!!!).

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    10. Absolutely stunning muffins, I love the decorations (and the piping! Piping is a bit beyond me, although I do try on occasion).

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    11. This looks magnificent! Such stunning muffins. Almost too pretty to eat (almost :) )

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