Best Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe (2024)

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Want to make absolutely perfect chocolate chip muffins that rival any professional bakery? I spent 6 months testing and perfecting muffin recipes so I could teach you the exact, easy to follow steps to make bakery style muffins at home!

These are the most BEAUTIFUL muffins I have ever made! I am SO excited about them and their gorgeous dome. THANK YOU!!!

-Rebecca
Best Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe (2)

This is the Perfect Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe

These muffins are studded with chocolate chips and topped with sanding sugar. Keep scrolling and I’ll walk you through this recipe step-by-step so you’re guaranteed success!

I am pumped to be adding a recipe for chocolate chip muffins to our muffin collection. I really do love muffins because I consider them an anytime food. Breakfast, snack, late night snack, they are perfect anytime.

I extensively tested this recipe.

After making 5 batches of muffins, that’s 60 muffins, I nailed the most perfect moist chocolate chip muffin with nice, domed tops.

While some recipes use sour cream or greek yogurt, I found that I can make the perfect chocolate chip muffin with regular milk! The whole family will love these muffins, I recommend making a double batch so you have extras for a quick breakfast, afternoon snack or sweet treat!

Best Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe (3)

Why these are the best Chocolate Chip Muffins

  • Made with everyday ingredients you already have in your pantry
  • Yield the largest muffin dome you’ve ever seen
  • Use your favorite type of chocolate – milk, semi-sweet dark, mini chops or regular chips
  • Better than a professional bakery

Chocolate Chip Muffin Ingredients

These simple ingredients make the best chocolate chip muffins! Keep scrolling to get the full measurements and instructions in the recipe card below.

  • all purpose flour:flour is necessary to build structure
  • granulated sugar:adds sweetness and flavor
  • baking powder:helps to leaven and lift the batter
  • salt:just a pinch to balance the sweetness and enhances the other flavors
  • nutmeg: I like the spice and flavor it adds, 1/4 tsp is not overpowering
  • chocolate chips: critical for chocolate chip muffins! I used regular semi-sweet chocolate chips and mini semi-sweet chocolatechips
  • large eggs:binds the batter together by providing structure
  • whole milk or 2% milk:adds moisture – you can also use buttermilk
  • vegetable oil: adds fat and moisture
  • melted butter:adds flavor and tender texture
  • vanilla extract:adds flavor
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How to Properly Measure Flour

The most accurate way to measure flour is to use a kitchen scale, weighing it in grams.

If you don’t have a kitchen scale, follow this method.

  • Aerate the flour with a whisk or spoon. Flour becomes heavy and compact as it sits. Aerating is the same as fluffing the flour, but not the same as sifting it. Do not sift the flour unless the recipe specifically calls for it.
  • Use a spoon to sprinkle the flour into the measuring cup. Do not tap the cup against the counter, as this will compact the flour.
  • Use the back of a butter knife to level off the excess.

How to make Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Muffins

Best Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe (5)
  1. Combine dry ingredients. In a mixing bowl combine the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Stir with a spoon to combine, set aside.
  2. Combine wet ingredients. In a larger mixing bowl combine the eggs, milk, vegetable oil, cooled & melted butter, and vanilla extract. Stir to combine.
  3. Combine batter. Gradually mix the dry ingredients and 1 ½ cups chocolate chips into the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. The batter will be very thick!
  4. Rest. Cover the bowl with a towel and allow the batter to rest for 15 minutes. During this time, preheat the oven to 425ºF / 220ºC.
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  1. Prepare pan. For bakery style muffins, line a 12 count muffin pan with 6 muffins liners, meaning you’ll only fill every other muffin well with batter. Fill the liners with 6-8 heaping tablespoons of batter. Top the muffins with the remaining chocolate chips. Sprinkle them with sanding sugar.
  2. Bake. Place one pan in the center of the oven and bake for 7 minutes at 425ºF / 220ºC, then keep the muffins in the oven, turn the temperature down to 350ºF and bake for 12-16 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the muffins to cool in the pan. Repeat with the remaining batter, bumping the temperature back up to 425ºF.
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How to Create Bakery Style Muffins

Bakery style muffins are known for their domed tops. Plus who doesn’t love them? I used a few techniques to help “lift” these muffins so they would have large, domed tops!

1. The Rest Period

Let the batter rest for 15 minutes after it’s mixed and before you scoop it into the muffin pan. During the resting period, starch molecules in the flour are absorbing the liquid in the batter, causing them to swell and giving the batter a thicker consistency (refthe kitchen whisper). Our 15 minute rest is just a quick rest.

2. Fill Every Other Muffin Cup

This tip has been a game changer! For bakery style muffin tops, line a 12 count muffin pan with 6 muffin liners, meaning you’ll only fill every other muffin well with batter. Filling every other cup allows the muffins to spread and dome without running into each other. This technique also encourages the muffins to brown, creating a golden muffin top.

3. Fill Them To The Top

Fill your muffin liners to the top with batter. Yes, this goes against everything you’re heard but it’s important in helping the muffin gain that height.

4. Bake at High Temperature Initially

Bake the muffins at a high temperature (425ºF) initially, then lower to 350ºF. Starting the muffins off at a higher temperature causes the batter to rise rapidly, setting the outer surface of the muffin, producing a dome shape.

Chocolate Chip Muffins – Gluten Free Variation

I’ve made these muffins with both regular and gluten free flour with AWESOME results on multiple occasions. I recommendKing Arthur Gluten Free Measure for Measure Flour. Use it as a one for one substitute for regular flour.

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Storing and Freezing Muffins

Muffin Storage

If you’ll be eating the muffins within 24 hours of baking, you can leave them uncovered on the counter. The muffins will not dry out while left at room temperature for 1 day.

In fact, muffins are so moist they can become soggy and those crunchy, sugary tops can disappear when stored in an airtight container.

But I have a trick to help thatpaper towels.

For longer storage, 2-4 days, line the bottom of an airtight container with paper towels. Place the muffins in a single layer in the container then cover the muffins with any additional layer of paper towels. The paper towels will act like a sponge, absorbing the moisture they release while they are stored.

If the paper towels become too moist around day 2 or day 3, replace them with fresh paper towels.

How To Freeze Muffins

Individually wrap each muffin in plastic wrap. Then place them in a ziploc bag or airtight container and place in the freezer for up to 3 months.

To thaw, leave them at room temperature until defrosted, about 1 hour. Or unwrap them and microwave at 20 second intervals until defrosted.

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Tips for making the Best Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe

  • Allow the eggs and milk to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before making the batter.
  • Do not swap baking soda for the baking powder.
  • Allow the batter to rest for 15 minutes in the mixing bowl.
  • Top the muffins with lots of chocolate chips and sanding sugar for a true bakery style muffin. I like to use regular chocolate chips and mini chocolate chips.
  • Filling every other cup allows the muffins to spread and dome without running into each other. This technique also encourages the muffins to brown, creating a golden muffin top.
  • Bake at a higher temperature initially to cause the muffins to rise quickly.
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Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe FAQs

Should you let muffin batter rest?

Yes. The key to making bakery style muffins is letting the batter rest for 15 minutes after it’s mixed and before you scoop it into the muffin pan. During the resting period, starch molecules in the flour are absorbing the liquid in the batter, causing them to swell and giving the batter a thicker consistency.

How do I make sure my muffins stay moist?

First, properly measure the flour to ensure they aren’t dry. Second, watch the bake time closely. These two are big factors in making sure muffins are moist.

What kind of chocolate should I use in chocolate chip muffins?

I recommend using semi-sweet chocolate chips. I like using mini and regular sized chips. You can also use chunks and rough chop them with a knife.

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Best Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe (11)

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The Best Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe

By: Beth

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Rest Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 muffins

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Want to make absolutely perfect chocolate chip muffins that rival any professional bakery? I spent 6 months testing and perfecting muffin recipes so I could teach you the exact, easy to follow steps to make bakery style muffins at home!

Ingredients

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour, 480 grams, properly measured*
  • 1 ½ cup granulated sugar, 300 grams
  • 4 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg, or use cinnamon
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup whole milk or 2% milk, can also use buttermilk, 240 ml
  • ½ cup vegetable oil, 118 ml
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted, then cooled for 5 minutes, 57 grams
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided (I used regular and minis), 340 grams

Instructions

  • The most accurate way to measure flour is to use a kitchen scale, weighing it in grams. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, follow this method: Aerate the flour with a whisk or spoon. Flour becomes heavy and compact as it sits. Aerating is the same as fluffing the flour. Use a spoon to sprinkle the flour into the measuring cup. Do not tap the cup against the counter, as this will compact the flour. Use the back of a butter knife to level off the excess.

  • In a mixing bowl combine the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Stir with a spoon to combine, set aside.

  • In a larger mixing bowl combine the eggs, milk, vegetable oil, cooled & melted butter, and vanilla extract. Stir to combine.

  • Gradually mix the dry ingredients and 1 ½ cups chocolate chips into the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. The batter will be very thick!

  • Cover the bowl with a towel and allow the batter to rest for 15 minutes. During this time, preheat the oven to 425ºF / 220ºC.

  • For bakery style muffins, line a 12 count muffin pan with 6 muffins liners, meaning you’ll only fill every other muffin well with batter. Fill the liners with 6-8 heaping tablespoons of batter. Top the muffins with the remaining chocolate chips. Sprinkle them with sanding sugar.

  • Place one pan in the center of the oven and bake for 7 minutes at 425ºF / 220ºC, then keep the muffins in the oven, turn the temperature down to 350ºF and bake for 12-16 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the muffins to cool in the pan. Repeat with the remaining batter, bumping the temperature back up to 425ºF.

Video

Notes

Beth’s Tips

  • I have increased the amount of granulated sugar to 1 & 1/2 cups due to feedback asking to make them sweeter! The original amount of sugar was 1 cup.
  • *Some readers have reported dry muffins. The most accurate way to measure flour is to use a kitchen scale, weighing it in grams.If you don’t have a kitchen scale, follow this method.
    • Aerate the flour with a whisk or spoon. Flour becomes heavy and compact as it sits. Aerating is the same as fluffing the flour, but not the same as sifting it. Do not sift the flour unless the recipe specifically calls for it.
    • Use a spoon to sprinkle the flour into the measuring cup. Do not tap the cup against the counter, as this will compact the flour.
    • Use the back of a butter knife to level off the excess.
  • The muffins are best served warm.

Nutrition

Calories: 574kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 76mg | Sodium: 371mg | Potassium: 271mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 255IU | Vitamin C: 0.001mg | Calcium: 139mg | Iron: 4mg

Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

About Beth

I believe that everyone should have a go-to dessert to bring to parties! With hundreds of recipes, I'll help you find yours!

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Best Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to moist muffins? ›

How to Make Homemade Muffins Moist: Our Top Tips
  1. Tips to Make Homemade Muffins Moist.
  2. Keep Wet and Dry Ingredients Separately.
  3. Add All Flavorings Last.
  4. Consider Paper Liners.
  5. Don't Overfill the Muffin Cups.
  6. Check the Temperature of Your Oven.
  7. Test if Muffins Are Fully Cooked.
  8. Top Your Muffins with Flavor.
Aug 9, 2021

What is the secret to high muffins? ›

Option #1: Overnight Batter Rest (my favorite!) Chilling your muffin batter overnight in the fridge is the BEST thing you can do for amazing muffins. It makes them more moist, tender, and TALLER!

How do you keep muffins moist and fluffy? ›

The Best Way to Store Muffins
  1. STEP ONE: Let the muffins cool completely on a wire rack.
  2. STEP TWO: Line an airtight storage container with paper towels.
  3. STEP THREE: Place muffins in the container, on top of the paper towels.
  4. STEP FOUR: Place an additional paper towel layer on top of the muffins.

How to make chocolate chip muffin mix better? ›

Add Fresh or Frozen Fruit to the Batter

Add strawberries to chocolate muffins. You can even experiment with crushed pineapple and mandarin oranges to add a citrus twist to your favorite muffins. We recommend adding 1/2 to 1 cup of fresh or frozen (thawed and drained) fruit. Gently fold into the batter.

Should you let muffin batter rest? ›

Rest the Muffin Batter

The first, most hands-off way to make your muffins pop (literally) is to let the batter rest. Make the batter, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and let the batter rest at room temperature for about 1 hour. If you're short on time, just 30 minutes can make a difference.

What does adding an extra egg do to muffins? ›

Using too few eggs will make your desserts dense, but using too many will make them rubbery. The explanation for this lies in the fact that eggs are made up of protein. As Fine Cooking explains, when the protein in eggs combines with the protein in flour, they produce the overall structure of the baked good.

How to get domed muffins? ›

I suggest baking your muffins at 400 F. I know most muffin recipes (including the ones I have used previously) all tell us to preheat our ovens to between 325-375 F. That heat range is just not enough. While it will surely cook your muffins, it will not give you the full rise that you want.

What makes muffins light and fluffy? ›

Having eggs, butter, and milk at room temperature helps them form a smooth mixture that traps air and expands when heated in the oven. That expansion makes your muffins fluffy and light. Room-temperature butter should indent easily when you press it.

What to add to muffin mix to make it moist? ›

Add greek yogurt to your muffin mix for extra moistness. Top with a vanilla glaze or sugar sprinkles. Or if you prefer, crush graham crackers on top for a crunchier texture. This muffin mix can also be used to make delicious berry pancakes.

What temperature do you bake muffins at? ›

Bake at 350°F (177°C) the whole time. Standard Size Muffins or Mini Muffins: For standard size muffins baked in a 12-count muffin pan, reduce baking time to about 20 total minutes: 5 initial minutes at 425°F and 15 minutes at 350°F. Yields 14-15 standard size muffins.

Why are my muffins dense and not fluffy? ›

Too much liquid – If there is too much liquid in the batter, the muffins will be very dense.

Is it better to use milk or water in muffin mix? ›

Q. In a muffin mix that calls for water, can I substitute milk? A. We don't recommend using milk instead of water because the milk can make holes in the paper liners or the sides of the muffins.

Why can't you mix muffin batter for too long? ›

Getting the right texture in your muffins partially comes from getting a good rise. Overmixing batter can inhibit that, ending with dense muffins instead of fluffy. This happens when you mix for too long. It can destroy air bubbles that are necessary for a light and airy texture (via The Kitchn).

Why do the chocolate chips sink in my muffins? ›

Chocolate chips often sink to the bottom of a cake or muffins for a few reasons, all related to the physics of baking: Density: Chocolate chips are denser than the batter they are mixed into. As a result, gravity pulls them down through the batter to the bottom of the tin as the bake cooks.

Why are my muffins not moist? ›

If the muffins are dry, it is possible that they were baked for slightly too long. The oven temperature is slightly higher that you would normally use for cakes, as this helps to give the muffins nicely domed tops, a good crust and a moist interior. This means that the baking time is only 15-20 minutes.

What can I add to muffins to make them less dry? ›

The main cause of dry, hard muffins is over-mixing the batter and overcooking the muffins. So the the 3 simple secrets for beautifully soft and moist blueberry muffins are: use butter AND oil -butter makes things tasty but oil makes things moist. So use both!

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