Small Batch Orange Chocolate Chip Muffins
Updated: Dec 26, 2022
Meet your new favorite muffin, it's almost too decadent to be considered a muffin. The perfect holiday muffin, or an easy brunch showstopper that comes together in less than an hour. Double the recipe to feed a larger crowd. Or incorporate these into your solo meal prep to enjoy alongside breakfast or lunch, or as a midnight snack. A small batch of 8 muffins, with an incredibly rich and tender crumb, aromatic orange flavor, and a crisp sugary topping, all perfectly balanced by chocolate chips.
These orange chocolate muffins certainly have a bakery style quality - they don't skimp on the sugar, or fat - and the muffin cups are filled to the top to create a plump, full shape. Bakery style muffins taste almost like an unfrosted cupcake, especially when they have chocolate chips. They may be on the indulgent side, but anyone who tries these is sure to ask for your recipe!
I prefer clementines or mandarin oranges over other varieties, and that is what I used in this recipe. Mandarins have a more pungent flavor than other oranges, they are both sweet and sour. Since we only use 1/4 cup of orange juice in this recipe (accompanied by 1 tablespoon of zest) a strong flavor comes in handy.
By rubbing the orange zest and sugar together with your fingers before incorporating it into the recipe, you will also achieve a brighter and more aromatic orange flavor in your muffins. More on that in the recipe card below.
Thanks for reading.
Signed,
The Mellow Baker