CAPPUCCINO CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS: National Muffin Day

Yesterday was National Muffin Day, and I totally forgot to post this easy recipe for Cappuccino Chocolate Chip Muffins! 

And, FYI: A cappuccino is an Italian coffee drink prepared with espresso, hot milk, and steamed-milk froth. The name cappuccino comes from the Capuchin friars, referring to the color of their habits. 

This being said, I always look for a way to add chocolate to every 'food' holiday, and this is a great recipe for National Muffin Day!

Because I use a lot of Wilton products in my baking from pans to coloring, I came across this great recipe for Cappuccino Chocolate Chip Muffins on the Wilton Website, and I adapted it just a bit. I like to have chocolate chips in my muffins! I use Wilton's Jumbo Muffin Pans, because if I'm going to have a muffin on National Muffin Day, it may as well be a big one!

CAPPUCCINO CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS

Tools:
Jumbo Muffin Pan
Jumbo Baking Cups

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided 
1/2 cup pecans, chopped and divided
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup instant coffee granules
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 egg

Instructions
Makes: about 6 jumbo muffins

Preheat oven to 350º F. Line jumbo muffin pan with jumbo baking cups.
In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, 1/2 cup chocolate chips, 1/4 cup chopped pecans, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
In small bowl, combine milk and coffee granules; stir until completely dissolved. Add melted butter and egg; mix well.
Add coffee mixture to flour mixture; mix until just moistened (Do not overmix).
Distribute mixture evenly into baking cups.
Sprinkle top of each muffin with reserved chocolate chunks and pecans.
Bake 25 to 28 minutes or until cake tester inserted in center of muffin is clean when removed. Remove from oven; cool muffins in pan 8 minutes.
Remove muffins from pan; cool completely on cooling grid.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE ZUCCHINI MUFFINS: National Muffin Day!

Today is National Muffin Day, so I thought I'd post one of my favorite recipes for Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins. I know that zucchini may not be growing in your garden now, but zucchini is in the market. If you're a strong locavore, you can always save this recipe for the summer when you are sure to have a huge harvest of zucchini. 

Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
Makes 18 muffins

Ingredients 
1/3 cup boiling water
2 cups shredded zucchini
1-1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup DARK cocoa
3/4 cup sugar
1-1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup canola oil
3 eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions 
Preheat oven to 350.
In large bowl, pour boiling water over zucchini.
Add other ingredients (except chocolate chips) and stir until just combined.
Fold in chocolate chips.
Line muffin tins with paper muffin cups (or grease muffin tin)
Using 1/4 cup measure, pour batter into cups.
Bake for 30 minutes.

How easy is that?