Chocolate Chip Muffins

Chocolate Chip Muffins

Adapted from Nigella Lawson’s recipe on Food Network

Ingredients:

1 ¾ cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. baking soda

2 Tbsp. cocoa powder

¾ cup sugar

¾ cup chocolate chips plus ¼ cup for sprinkling on top

1 cup milk

1/3 cup plus 2 tsp. applesauce

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and prepare muffin tin.

Combine dry ingredients and the wet separately.  Then mix them together and add the chocolate chips.  Spoon into muffin tins and sprinkle the ¼ cup chocolate chips on top of that.  Bake for 20 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

Banana Nut Bran Muffins

I'm posting this recipe because I need a copy of it for myself.  I got it off the back of a box of Millville Bran Flakes.  They turned out great.  The baby loves them.

Banana Nut Bran Muffins

1 cup flour

1 Tbsp. baking powder

¼ cup sugar

½ tsp. cinnamon

½ tsp. nutmeg

2 cups bran flakes cereal

1/3 cup milk

1 cup ripe bananas

2 egg whites

¼ cup butter, softened

½ chopped walnuts

Combine the flour, baking powder, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  Set aside.

In a large bowl combine the cereal, milk, and bananas.  Let it stand for two minutes until the cereal is softened.

In another bowl beat the egg whites until foamy.  Add this and the butter to the cereal mixture. 

Add flour and walnuts.  Stir until just combined.  Pour into greased or lined muffin pans.  Bake at 400 for about 20 minutes. 

Muffins

My husband was in charge of coffee hour at school last week and we decided to make tons of muffins.  Here are our favorite recipes from the event:  (All from one of my favorite blogs Get off Your Butt and Bake.)

Buttermilk Bran Muffins

Brown Sugar Crumble Banana Muffins

BLUEBERRY COFFEE CAKE MUFFINS

MINI MONKEY BREAD

Definitely try her idea of adding orange rind to the butter to make orangey monkey bread.  It was so good!  I used my recipe for monkey bread dough though:

Monkey Bread 
First boil together:

2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup water

When butter is melted take off the heat and place in the bowl you will be using to mix for it to cool completely.

Meanwhile dissolve 2 Tbsp. yeast into a cup of warm water. Let that sit for 10 minutes.

When the butter mixture is cool add the yeast, 2 beaten eggs, and six cups of flour.

Beat together until it is a uniform ball and place in the fridge for four hours.

Chocolate Chip Muffin Trial

So I've been looking for the best recipe for Chocolate Chip Chocolate Muffins so I tried two different recipes and made my family pick. The problem is we all liked a different one. So you decide. Which one is better.

I modified both recipes.
My favorite was this one by Nigella Lawson

Preheat your oven to 400.

Mix:
1 3/4 cup flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 Tbsp. cocoa powder
1 cup sugar

Then add:
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Don't over mix. Pour into well greased muffin pan. Sprinkle with a few more chocolate chips. Bake for 20 minutes.

The next is from the Food Network Kitchens and was my husband's favorite.

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix:
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Then add:
2 eggs
4 Tbsp. butter or margarine melted
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup sour cream
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 tsp. vanilla extract

Then mix in 1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips.

Bake for about 20-25 minutes in a greased muffin pans.