Easy Mocha Chocolate Chip Muffins

These Mocha Muffins with Chocolate Chips are wonderfully tender and unbelievably moist, featuring a deeply flavored coffee base studded with delightful pockets of melted chocolate. I find they are absolutely perfect whether you need a quick grab and go breakfast or a little something special for an afternoon pick me up. They really hit the spot, especially alongside a steamy cup of coffee.

Why You’ll Fall in Love with These Simple Mocha Chocolate Chip Muffins

Making muffins from scratch might sound complicated, but trust me, it is surprisingly easy and doesn’t take much time at all.

You can have a batch of these warm, fluffy, and utterly delicious muffins ready to enjoy in under 30 minutes from the moment you start. What’s not to adore about speed and deliciousness combined.

They are fantastic as a ready to eat breakfast muffin, ideal for a morning snack, or wonderful to share during brunch with friends. They truly fit so many occasions.

Another reason you will likely love this mocha muffin recipe is that, unlike some baked goods, these coffee infused muffins use ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. This means no last minute trips to the store for obscure items. Plus, you won’t need any fancy or specialized kitchen equipment either.

If you enjoy baking simple, comforting treats like these, you might also like trying other easy recipes. Baking should be fun and accessible for everyone.

Exploring the Ingredients for Mocha Chocolate Chip Muffins

As I mentioned, the ingredients for my mocha chocolate chip muffins recipe are mostly common items you likely keep on hand. The recipe card further down provides the complete list with exact quantities. Here I’ll chat about a few key ingredients and suggest some alternatives you might consider using.

Which Kind of Coffee Works Best

This recipe relies on using brewed coffee. It is important that the coffee you use is brewed strong and has cooled down to room temperature before you add it to the batter. However, the type of brewed coffee can be quite flexible.

You could use cold brew coffee, a concentrated shot of espresso, coffee made in a stovetop pot, a pod brewed from your single serve machine, or even coffee from a standard drip or french press brewer. The main thing is using brewed coffee that is potent and cooled.

You have the freedom to adjust the overall strength of the coffee flavor in your muffins by using a stronger or slightly less strong brew. Just be sure to maintain the specified liquid quantity in the recipe for proper batter consistency.

Understanding Baking Soda

Another important leavening ingredient in our recipe for coffee muffins is baking soda. This is sometimes known as bicarbonate of soda in other parts of the world. It works with the acidic ingredients in the recipe to help the muffins rise nicely and become tender.

Choosing Your Chocolate Chips

I personally have a huge fondness for dark chocolate, so I usually opt for dark chocolate chips in this recipe. I find the slight bitterness of dark chocolate pairs wonderfully with the rich coffee flavor.

However, if you do not prefer dark chocolate, milk chocolate chips work beautifully too and make the muffins a bit sweeter. I really encourage you to try dark chocolate though, as it complements the coffee so well and gives these muffins a lovely, deep, complex chocolate presence.

The Secret Ingredient for Moisture

And now for the special touch, the secret ingredient that makes these muffins exceptionally moist is yogurt. I typically use plain Greek yogurt because it provides richness without adding too much sweetness.

You could also use vanilla flavored yogurt if you prefer a slightly sweeter muffin. This ingredient is genuinely key to baking this super moist coffee muffin recipe, and I strongly recommend you do not skip it. It makes all the difference in the final texture.

Getting Started How to Make Coffee Muffins with Chocolate Chips

My mocha muffins are wonderfully straightforward to prepare. You will need a couple of large mixing bowls, a whisk, and a standard muffin baking tin. While you could use a stand mixer with a paddle attachment if you have one, it really is not necessary at all for this particular recipe. Everything mixes easily by hand.

Here is a simple overview of how you will make these coffee muffins. For the precise measurements and full ingredient listing, please refer to the printable recipe card. These steps outline the process clearly.

Simple Steps for Making Mocha Chocolate Chip Muffins

Making these muffins involves combining wet and dry ingredients carefully. Here is a breakdown of the simple process.

1. Prepare your oven and initial ingredients. Begin by preheating your oven. You will want it at 390 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius). If your oven has a fan assist setting, preheat it to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius) instead. While the oven heats, if you are brewing fresh coffee or melting butter, do this now. Allow the brewed coffee to cool sufficiently to room temperature and the melted butter to cool a little before you need them. This prevents cooking the eggs when you combine the wet ingredients.
2. Combine the dry ingredients. Get a medium sized mixing bowl ready. Add the all purpose flour, the baking powder, and the baking soda into this bowl. Use a whisk or a spoon to give these dry ingredients a quick mix. This helps ensure there are no lumps and that the leavening agents are evenly distributed throughout the flour. Set this bowl aside for the moment.
3. Combine the wet ingredients. Now grab a separate, larger mixing bowl. Crack the eggs into this bowl and give them a light whisk just to break them up. Then, add the slightly cooled melted butter, the packed light brown sugar, the plain Greek yogurt (or vanilla yogurt), the milk (dairy or plant based), the cooled strong brewed coffee, and the pure vanilla extract to the bowl with the whisked eggs. Whisk all of these wet ingredients together until they are completely blended and smooth.
4. Combine dry and wet ingredients and add chocolate chips. Pour the mixture of dry ingredients from the first bowl into the bowl containing the wet ingredients. Gently mix everything using a light hand. Stir just until the ingredients are mostly combined. It is important not to over mix the batter at this stage. Next, add the chocolate chips to the batter. Gently fold the chocolate chips into the mixture. Stir very carefully just until the chips are distributed throughout the batter and no dry flour streaks remain. A few small lumps are fine and often result in tender muffins.
5. Prepare the muffin tin and bake. Place paper liners into the cups of your muffin or cupcake baking pan. Use an ice cream scoop or a large spoon to carefully scoop the prepared batter into each paper case. If you aim for about 15 larger, bakery style muffins, fill each liner approximately three quarters full. If you prefer to make around 18 slightly smaller muffins, fill the liners a little less full. Place the filled muffin trays into your preheated oven. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes. You can check if they are done by inserting a toothpick into the center of a muffin. It should come out clean when they are ready. The tops of the baked muffins should also feel firm but still slightly springy when you gently touch them.
6. Cool the muffins properly. Carefully take the baked muffins out of the oven once they are done. Let them cool in the muffin tray for about 5 minutes before you attempt to remove them. After 5 minutes, transfer the muffins onto a wire cooling rack. Allow them to cool completely on the rack before you serve or store them. Enjoy them warm if you like, or store them once cooled.

How to Store Your Delicious Espresso Chocolate Chip Muffins

Once completely cooled, these coffee choc chip muffins will keep well. You can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Be sure the container seals tightly to keep them fresh and moist.

You can also easily freeze these muffins for longer storage, up to 3 months. I suggest individually wrapping each cooled muffin tightly in plastic wrap or foil. Then, place the wrapped muffins inside a zip lock bag or a freezer safe container.

To enjoy a frozen muffin, simply take it out of the freezer. You can let it come to room temperature naturally. Alternatively, you can warm it in the microwave for about 20 to 30 seconds until heated through.

Top Recipe Tips for Baking Success

Achieving perfect, moist, and flavorful muffins is easy when you keep a few simple tips in mind. Here are my best suggestions for success with this recipe.

• Avoid Overmixing the Batter. This is perhaps the most crucial tip for tender muffins. Once you combine the dry and wet ingredients, mix gently and only until they are just combined. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour too much, which can result in muffins that are tough, less fluffy, and a little chewy instead of light and tender.
• Choose Dark Chocolate for Rich Flavor. For the most intense and satisfying chocolate flavor that truly complements the coffee, I highly recommend using dark chocolate chips. The slight bitterness balances the sweetness beautifully and adds depth. However, milk chocolate is a fine alternative if you prefer a sweeter profile.
• Adjust the Coffee Strength. The recipe calls for strong brewed coffee to ensure the coffee flavor comes through clearly in the finished muffins. If you find you prefer an even more pronounced coffee taste, you can increase the strength of the coffee you brew. Using something like a cold brew concentrate or espresso works exceptionally well for a bold flavor boost. Just remember to use the specified amount of liquid.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mocha Chocolate Chip Muffins

Here are some common questions people ask about making and enjoying these delightful coffee flavored muffins.

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