Best Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe

I have topped these with chocolate chips and sugar. Sugar helps to make muffin top crackly.

Actually, I was just replicating it based on Tim Hortons chocolate chip muffins.

I saw it for the first time that muffin has actual sugar crystals on top. Later, I realized that, it really helps to crackle the top.

My favorite chocolate chip muffins are from Tim Hortons. Tim Hortons is the famous café chain in Canada. They have outlets all over Canada.

There was one small outlet of Tim Hortons at my office. I have my best memories with this muffin.

When I was expecting my first one, I used to eat chocolate chip muffins every day. Later, they used to reserve one Muffin for me 😊.

I have tried my best to replicate this and after exactly 6 tries, I found my perfect recipe. So, I am going to share the same recipe with you all. If you are in Canada, then tell me how it turned out for you. And if you are not in Canada, then I would urge you to try this delicious delicacy and tell me how did you like it.

Now, let’s understand the basic science behind muffins. Muffins should be

1. large in size
2. should have nice high dome
3. should be moist and soft from inside

For Muffins to be large in size              = fill the batter all the way to top

For muffins to have nice high dome  = focus on leavening agents and baking temperature and baking time.

For muffins to be moist and soft from inside = focus on other ingredients in muffins.

When you start the baking at high temperature, air bubbles in batter will expand which will cause the batter to rise high but still keeps it moist and fluffy.  After sometime, reduce the temperature. This will guarantee crispy top with moist, soft and fluffy muffin.

What makes these the BEST chocolate chip muffins?

1. Perfect dome top
2. Soft and moist from inside
3. Crackly top
4. Makes the best dessert with a cup of hot coffee
5. It is best to carry when you are travelling

List of ingredients and importance of each ingredient.

• All-purpose Flour

We will require plain all-purpose flour to hold the chocolate chips together. I would not recommend cake flour as a substitute. It may make the muffin dry. If you use cake flour, try replacing some of the butter with oil.

• Sour Cream

I have used full fat sour cream in this recipe. This adds moisture and richness to the muffins. If you do not have sour cream, you can replace it with yogurt.Equipments required to make this.

• Unsalted Butter

Use regular unsalted butter. If you use salted butter then skip the salt.

• Eggs

This adds moisture and bind everything together. Use room temperature eggs. If you forget to take it out, just put them in a bowl of hot water for few minutes and then you are good to go. (Sorry, i forgot to keep eggs in above picture)

• Sugar

Plain white granulated sugar. Strict No-No to any other sugar such as powdered sugar, brown sugar. You will need less sugar in this as this contains semi-sweet chocolate chips which are already sweet.

• Chocolate Chips

Use semi-sweet chocolate chips. My personal favorites are Hershey’s. Do you have your favorite too? Please mention in the comment section below.

• Baking Powder

Works as leavening agents, helps our batter to rise.

• Baking Soda

Same as baking powder. Works as leavening agents, helps our batter to rise.

• Vanilla Extract

Any of my cake or muffin recipe is incomplete without vanilla extract. This definitely adds amazing flavor to baked goods. Use pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste. Anything would work fine.

• Salt

Little pinch of salt enhances the flavor. Trust me 😊 If you use salted butter, skip out the salt.

• Milk

This adds, moisture to our muffins and also makes our muffin light and fluffy. If you do not have buttermilk, you can make homemade buttermilk in no time.

• Sprinkling sugar

This is my secret ingredient for that crackly top. Use sparkling sugar sprinkles which you get in baking aisle. Alternatively, you can use regular sugar, just grind it little bit to make small sugar crystals.

Equipments required to make this recipe

1. Mixing Bowls
2. Measuring Spoons
3. Measuring Scale
4. Weighing Scale
5. Muffin Pan (Cupcake Pan)
6. Hand mixer / Stand mixer

How to make these cafe-style muffins

I have mentioned the step-by-step recipe with images below but here is the overview to make simple and easy chocolate chip muffin

1. Mix and sift dry ingredients.
2. Combine all of the dry ingredients.
3. Mix dry into wet ingredients.
4. Fill in Muffin pan and Bake. That’s It.

Step by step preparation photos to make chocolate chips muffins from scratch.

1. Sift dry ingredients (all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt).
2. In another bowl, mix wet ingredients (melted butter, eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, milk and sour cream).

3. Add wet into dry or vice a versa.
4. Beat the mixture until it is smooth.

5. Now add chocolate chips and gently mix.
6. Fill all the way top in muffin liners, sprinkle some chocolate chips on tops. You can also sprinkle some sugar for crunchy top.

7. Bake at 425F (218C) for 5 minutes, reduce temperature to 350F(180C) and bake for 25 minutes ur until toothpick comes out clean.
8. TOOTHPICK TEST: Insert a toothpick and check if it comes out clean. Actually, this step needs to be done when the muffins are still in oven. But I am just showing it outside so that it is easy for me to show.

9. Cool for 20 minutes. You can also take it out of muffin pan and keep it on cooling rack.
10. Just look at the texture of this yummy, cafe-style chocolate chip muffin. Enjoy with your favorite hot cup of coffee.

My secret tips to make best chocolate chip muffins recipe

• Use best quality chocolate

This is the heart of our recipe. I personally prefer Hershey’s semi-sweet chocolate chips. You can use any other brand too but use actual pure chocolate and not the compound.

• Do not overbake

Baking at right temperature and for right amount of time makes the best muffins ever. Overbaking will make our muffins dry, even few minutes of overbaking will cause a big issue. My suggestion: Every oven is different, so I would highly recommend to check its doneness 5 minutes before actual baking time mentioned in the recipe. If toothpick inserted comes out clean then you are done.

• Do not overmix

If you want soft, fluffy and moist muffins, it is very important that you do not overmix them. Gather all of your ingredients, follow step-by-step recipe and combine dry and wet ingredients just until it is combined.

• Bake at correct temperatures

Start your baking at high temperature and then lower the temperature. This will ensure the perfect crispy top with moist and fluffy muffins.

• Fill it all the way up

Muffins look good when they have a perfect dome on top. I would recommend to fill your muffin pan all the way up to achieve this.

• Room temperature ingredients

Make sure all of your ingredients are at room temperature. Room temperature ingredients will come together very quickly which will avoid overmixing. And overmixing will cause the muffins to dry.

• Read your recipe before starting

For any recipe, I would strongly recommend to read the complete recipe, all the tips, FAQ’s before starting. It gives you detail idea about preparations, things to take care of, such as using room temperature ingredients.

Chocolate chip muffins video tutorial

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the calories of chocolate chip muffins?

Please refer my recipe card to know the details about calorie and nutritional information

• How do you keep muffins from getting soggy?

You can save your muffins from being soggy by checking below points

1. Bake until the toothpick inserted comes out clean or should have very little, dry crumbs on it.
2. Once they are baked, allow them to cool on wire rack. Avoid to keep them in an air tight container when they are still warm.

• Can I add nuts to my chocolate chip muffins?

Yes. You can add your favorite nuts to these muffins but depending on which nuts you are adding, it’s taste will change a bit. My personal recommendation: DO NOT add nuts in this muffin recipe.

• Can I freeze muffins?

Absolutely! These muffins are freezer friendly. Cover them in an air tight container or with plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil. It stays ok up to 3-4 months. Make sure to thaw it overnight in refrigerator and then bring them to room temperature by keeping them on kitchen counter.

• How do you make perfect domed muffin tops? How do you get a tall, domed muffin?

It depends on 2 factors to make perfect, tall domed muffin.

1. Correct amount of leavening agents
2. Bake at correct temperature.

• How to Store Muffins?

Allow them to cool completely. Cover them in an air tight container. It stays ok up to 3 days.

• How long will they keep for?

This actually depends on how you are storing them.

At room temperature:            stays ok up to 3 days

In refrigerator:                        stays ok up to 1-1.5 week

In freezer:                               stays ok up to 3-4 months

• What’s the best type of chocolate to use for these?

I personally like to use mini semi-sweet chocolate chips. If you do not have mini chips, it is perfectly alright to use regular chocolate chips.

• Can I Prepare the Batter in Advance?

Yes. You can prepare the batter in advance and keep it in refrigerator or freezer. Make sure to thaw the batter before baking. Because, that will decide it’s actual baking time.

• Why Are My Muffins Falling Apart?
  This happens because of excess use if leavening agents. i.e., baking powder and baking soda. Make sure to carefully measure them.

• Should My Batter be Thick?

Yes, this is a thick batter. If your batter is not thick, make sure you have added right amount of liquid and not excess.

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Please let me know how this recipe turns out for you in the comments! I really love hearing from you, and your feedback is very much important to me. Tag @DessertKatta or Hashtag it #DessertKatta

Recipe Card