Chocolate Chip Muffins with Streusel

Valentine's Day is right around the corner and it's right after the beginning of Lent this year. So while we may not be feasting on chocolate all day, here's a great (and easy) recipe to make for your little love muffins!

To form the muffins into hearts, ball up some tin foil and pop it in between the muffin cup and the muffin paper, then scoop in your batter!


Mom's Super Easy Chocolate Chip Muffins (w/ Streusel)2 cups flour1 cup sugar1/2 cup butter2 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar1 cup milk1 egg1 tsp baking soda1/2 - 3/4 cup chocolate chips1) Preheat oven to 3502) Combine milk and lemon juice in a bowl, set aside.3) In a medium microwaveable bowl combine flour, sugar, and butter. Microwave on high for 30 seconds. With a fork crumble. Set aside 1/2 cup of mixture.4) Beat an egg into milk. Add baking soda, let froth. Add to flour mixture. Add chocolate chips. Stir until just combined - do not overmix.5) Divide evenly in paper lined muffin pan (12). Sprinkle with set aside streusel.6) Bake 20 minutes.

Eggnog Muffins~ 1.12.13

One of my favorite things to on the weekend is to rise just a bit earlier, grab a cup of tea, muffin and a good book and ease into my day. Usually that lasts for all of 10 minutes as my kids are ridiculously early risers (why!?! why?!?!). However, from time to time, I do get those few early morning moments of peace and quiet. This is especially lovely during the Christmas season.

Every year we buy the traditional quart of eggnog and every year, we're left with 3/4 of the quart still full. So, I'm always looking for ways to use up that extra nog.
This year it was a toss up between these muffins and eggnog pancakes. Both recipes are winners and this one was made three times, which required the purchase of MORE eggnog specifically to make it!

This comes from the files of my deceased Aunt Lynnie. She had many wonderful muffin recipes that I've grown to love and make over the years and it I'm glad I gave this one a try. The original recipe called for dark rum in place of some of the eggnog, but as she suggested, I went with all nog.
She also added a streusel topping to her muffins which was a lovely addition to these rather "white" looking muffins. My kids and husband thoroughly enjoyed these!

Eggnog Muffins
adapted from Bon Appetit, it appears (I only have a small clipping, but I recognize the style of the recipe from their magazine)

2 cups of all purpose flour (or 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour and 1 cup all purpose)
2/3 cup sugar
1 Tbs baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cup eggnog
5 Tbs butter, melted
1 egg, beaten
1/4-1/2 tsp nutmeg (depending on your taste, I go a little less than 1/2)

Streusel topping
2 Tbs Flour
2 Tbs brown sugar
dash or so of nutmeg
1 Tbs butter

For the muffins, preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 12 cup muffin tin or use papers.
Sift flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl- I simply measure into the bowl then stir to incorporate with a wire wisk.  Stir in eggnog, butter, egg and nutmeg. Spoon into prepared tin. Top with streusel topping. Bake until tester comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins ~ 11.5.10

I know I have mentioned before my love for the book, Cupcakes from the Doctor, but in case you missed out on that... hear me now... I LOVE THIS COOKBOOK. Go treat yourself and pick it up, will you? Because several of my favorite recipes are tucked inside it. I go to it all the time and I went to it yesterday to make a simple  ridiculously simple pumpkin chocolate chip muffin recipe.


The secret ingredient is Chocolate Chip Muffin Mix. I happened upon a box of Martha White 17.9 (or so) oz.  They were incredible! I have used other mixes before, but I'll be on the lookout for the blue box of Martha White Muffin mixes in the future!

This is so quick you'll have hot and delicious muffins ready to warm the bellies of all those you love in no time flat!








Pumpkin Muffins with chocolate chips

1 pkg chocolate chip muffin mix
1 cup canned PUMPKIN
1/2 cup milk
1 large egg
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (if you don't have that- mix 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ginger, 1/8 tsp allspice or cloves and 1/8 tsp nutmeg and then use HALF  of that in these muffins)
optional: extra chocolate chips

Prehat your oven to 400. Line your muffin tins with papers or spray them with veg oil spray.

Place the muffin mix in a large bowl and take a whisk to it a couple of turns. Sometimes there are large clumps in boxed mixes and I find this step helps with incorporating all the ingredients later.

Make a well in the dry mix and add the rest of the ingredients. Mix until combined- about 20 strokes. Don't go all crazy on your batter, you want it just mixed and you don't want to beat the heck out of it!

Using a measuring cup or a handy dandy ice cream scoop (my favorite tool!), fill your muffin cups three quarters of the way full. Add a few more chocolate chips on top of each- everyone loves a little extra chocolate on top, right?

Pop them in the oven and bake about 18-21 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. If it has chocolate on it, get another and test another spot!

Cool on wire racks and then eat them up or place in a ziplock bag in the freezer. Thaw overnight in the fridge or pop your frozen muffin in the toaster oven to thaw!

MUFFIN TIP--- the last time I made these I got 14 muffins instead of 12. Do you know the trick to baking those 2 little extra muffins in that BIG 'OL 12 cup muffin tin? Just add your extra liners to the pan and then scoop in your batter. Then carefully add a little water to the remaining EMPTY muffin cups. This will prevent burning and allow for even cooking of the muffins throughout!

I love Basil ~ 2.3.10

My favorite scent, flavor and herb is BASIL! And seeing this photo reminds me that spring is not too far away and that in the not so distant future, I'll have pots of beautiful basil blooming all around my deck!

Here's a tried and true recipe from my files that uses basil in a muffin! I'm including a lightened up version that I've yet to try- so if you do, before me, post a comment with your review. These muffins are great made MINI- perfect for afternoon tea.

Zucchini and Basil Muffins

Makes about 22 muffins

Ingredients:

1 cup veg. oil
3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp. freshly gr. pepper
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 cup grated unpeeled zucchini
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/2 tsp grated lemon rind

Preheat oven to 350. Grease muffin pans lightly.

Combine oil and sugar in a mixing bowl; beat well. Add the eggs 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition.

Sift flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, and nutmeg together. Add to the sugar mixture; stir just until moistened.

Fold in zucchini, basil and lemon rind.

Spoon into muffin tins, filling each cup 2/3 full.

Bake at 350 for 25 to 35 min. or until toothpick comes out clean.

Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 min.; remove the muffins to wire racks to cool completely.

-Recipe from Art in the Kitchen;Westmoreland museum of Art; submitted by Carol Vallozzi



However, if you're trying to watch your waistline and using a FULL CUP OF OIL is making your eyes cross a bit, here's a lightened version from a friend on the cooking light bulletin board. you can check out here reviews of the lightened version by clicking on the link.




Modified Zucchini and Basil Muffins

Makes about 12 large muffins


1 cup plain non-fat yogurt
1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp. freshly gr. pepper
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
2 small grated unpeeled zucchini (about 1 1/2 - 2 cups)
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
grated rind of 1 lemon

Preheat oven to 350. Grease muffin pans lightly.

Combine yogurt and sugar in a mixing bowl; beat well. Add the eggs 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition.

Sift flours, baking powder, salt, pepper, and nutmeg together. Add to the sugar mixture; stir just until moistened.

Fold in zucchini, basil and lemon rind.

Spoon into muffin tins, filling each cup 2/3 full.

Bake at 350 for 25 to 35 min. or until toothpick comes out clean.

Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 min.; remove the muffins to wire racks to cool completely.


originally appeared on She's a Crafty Pumpkin, 7.6.06