Hello everyone! Today I’ll reveal how to make soft muffins with chocolate chips or, for those who are more indulgent, with a heart of Nutella. Perfect for breakfast, an unexpected snack, or a little moment of self-care. By following my tips, you’ll achieve tall, soft, and irresistible muffins, just like those from American bakeries… but made with your own hands!
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 12 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Electric oven, Air frying
- Cuisine: American
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 eggs (medium, room temperature)
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup butter
- to taste orange zest (untreated)
- 1 packet baking powder (16g)
- 1 packet vanillin (8g – seeds from half a vanilla pod)
- dark chocolate chips (to taste)
- hazelnut cream
Tools
- 1 Muffin mold
- 12 Baking cups
- 1 Electric whisk
- 2 Bowls
- 1 Scale
- 1 Grater
- 1 Spatula
- 1 Spoon
Step-by-step Procedure
In a large bowl, break the eggs and add sugar and milk. Stir vigorously for about 2 minutes until you get a homogeneous and slightly frothy mixture.
Melt the butter in a bain-marie or in the microwave and let it cool slightly. Add it to the egg and milk mixture, mixing well.
Tip: warm butter keeps the muffins soft and gives a rich flavor.In another bowl, sift flour, baking powder, and vanillin.
Add the grated orange zest if you like a citrus aroma.Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ones and mix gently with a spatula. Do not overmix: small lumps are normal and help keep the muffins soft.
Chocolate chips: lightly flour them before adding to prevent sinking.
Nutella Heart: pour a tablespoon of batter into the baking cup, add a teaspoon of Nutella in the center, and cover with more batter. Trick: freezing the Nutella a bit helps keep it centered.Preheat the oven to 350°F (static). (Air fryer 320°F for 15 – 18 minutes)
Fill the baking cups about 2/3.
Bake for 20–25 minutes. Check with a toothpick (avoiding the Nutella heart) that it comes out dry.
Let cool on a rack before serving.
Tip: do not open the oven in the first 15 minutes to not affect the rising.Simple or dressed up: You can dust them with powdered sugar for a classic touch, or decorate with a drizzle of melted dark chocolate. But I assure you, they are so good even plain that they’ll disappear in no time!
Common mistakes and tricks for perfect muffins
Hard or gummy muffins
Mistake: overmixing the batter.
Trick: mix the minimum necessary, even if small lumps remain. This way, they stay soft.
Muffins that don’t rise
Mistake: old baking powder or cold ingredients.
Trick: use fresh baking powder and bring eggs and milk to room temperature.
Flat or deflated muffins
Mistake: oven not hot enough or premature oven opening.
Trick: preheat the oven well to 350°F and do not open in the first 15 minutes of baking.
Chocolate chips or Nutella sinking
Mistake: direct addition without precautions.
Trick: lightly flour the chips; for Nutella, freeze the teaspoons a bit before placing them in the center.
Dry muffins
Mistake: overbaking or too little liquid in the batter.
Trick: check with a toothpick; you can replace 50 ml of milk with plain yogurt for more moisture.
Muffins stick to the baking cups
Mistake: low-quality or ungreased cups.
Trick: choose sturdy paper cups or lightly spray with oil/butter.
Hard or gummy muffins
Mistake: overmixing the batter.
Trick: mix the minimum necessary, even if small lumps remain. This way, they stay soft.
Muffins that don’t rise
Mistake: old baking powder or cold ingredients.
Trick: use fresh baking powder and bring eggs and milk to room temperature.
Flat or deflated muffins
Mistake: oven not hot enough or premature oven opening.
Trick: preheat the oven well to 350°F and do not open in the first 15 minutes of baking.
Chocolate chips or Nutella sinking
Mistake: direct addition without precautions.
Trick: lightly flour the chips; for Nutella, freeze the teaspoons a bit before placing them in the center.
Dry muffins
Mistake: overbaking or too little liquid in the batter.
Trick: check with a toothpick; you can replace 50 ml of milk with plain yogurt for more moisture.
Muffins stick to the baking cups
Mistake: low-quality or ungreased cups.
Trick: choose sturdy paper cups or lightly spray with oil/butter.
Useful tips
Room temperature eggs and milk help even rising.
For moister muffins, replace 50 ml of milk with plain yogurt.
If you don’t have chocolate chips, use a coarsely chopped chocolate bar.
If you don’t have chocolate chips, use a coarsely chopped chocolate bar.
Variations
Two-tone Muffins: half regular batter and half with cocoa powder.
Fruit Muffins: replace chocolate chips with blueberries, apples, or banana.
Lactose-free: plant-based milk + butter or seed oil.
With nuts: chopped walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts.
FAQ – Soft Muffins with Chocolate Chips or Nutella Heart
Can I freeze them?
Absolutely yes! Once the muffins are completely cool, you can freeze them in airtight freezer bags for up to 2-3 months. To enjoy them, thaw at room temperature or warm them up for a few minutes in the microwave or oven. They will be as if just baked!
Can I use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose?
Yes, you can, but keep in mind that whole wheat flour tends to make baked goods denser. I recommend not replacing it completely: try a mix, for example, 150g of whole wheat flour and 150g of all-purpose flour, to maintain good softness.
How do I prevent the chips from falling to the bottom?
A simple and effective trick is to lightly flour them with a teaspoon of the flour provided in the recipe before adding them to the batter. This will help them stay suspended.
Can I prepare the batter in advance?
It is not advisable to prepare the muffin batter too far in advance because the baking powder starts to activate as soon as it comes into contact with liquids. The ideal is to mix and bake immediately to ensure maximum rising.
Here are your soft muffins, ready to be enjoyed! Whether you choose the chocolate chips or the Nutella heart, each bite will be a little indulgence of happiness. Try them for breakfast, a special snack, or simply to treat yourself to a little moment: you’ll see, they will disappear in no time!
Share in the comments which version you tried and how they turned out… and if you have a secret trick to make them even more delicious, share it with us!
