Description
Indulgent chocolate orange cardamom muffins blend rich cocoa with zesty citrus and warm spices, creating a sensory delight. These muffins offer a luxurious escape, inviting you to savor each bite of complex, aromatic perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups (375 ml) all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup (40 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 cup (200 g) sugar
- 1/2 cup (100 g) brown sugar
Wet Ingredients:
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Mix-Ins:
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1 1/2 cups (255 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Prepare the oven environment by heating to 375F (190C) and lining a muffin tin with paper liners or applying a light grease to prevent sticking.
- Create a dry ingredient mixture by thoroughly whisking flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground cardamom in a spacious mixing bowl until uniformly combined.
- In a separate vessel, vigorously blend sugars, eggs, buttermilk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and freshly grated orange zest until the liquid mixture achieves a smooth, homogeneous consistency.
- Gently merge the wet and dry ingredient mixtures, using minimal stirring to prevent overdeveloping gluten, which could result in dense muffins.
- Delicately incorporate chocolate chips throughout the batter, ensuring even distribution for consistent flavor and texture in each muffin.
- Carefully portion the batter into muffin cups, filling each approximately two-thirds full. Optionally, sprinkle additional chocolate chips on top for enhanced visual appeal and indulgence.
- Position the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 18-22 minutes, monitoring until a toothpick inserted into the center reveals minimal moisture or a few tender crumbs.
- Allow muffins to rest in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack, permitting them to reach room temperature and set completely.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients to ensure even mixing and a smooth batter texture.
- Gently fold chocolate chips to prevent deflating the muffin’s delicate structure and maintain a light crumb.
- Swap buttermilk with Greek yogurt or dairy-free alternatives for lactose-intolerant or vegan dietary needs.
- Orange zest can be replaced with lemon or mandarin zest for varied citrus flavor profiles without compromising the recipe’s essence.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg