Perfect Small Batch Chocolate Chip Muffins. Learn how to make just six soft and tender bakery-style muffins filled with chocolate chips. This is the latest recipe in our Small Batch series.
They’re here! They’re here!
Meet my Small Batch Chocolate Chip Muffins. They’re soft and sweet and filled with chocolate chips. And best of all, they have golden, crunchy, bakery-style muffin tops.
Just like my favourite Chocolate Chip Muffin recipe, this scaled down version is super quick and easy to make. They’re perfect for morning tea or an after school snack.
why you will love this recipe
- They’re quick and easy to make
- No electric mixer needed
- They’re soft and tender with bakery-style muffin tops
- It makes just SIX golden muffins
recipe testing
Hooray! We’re back with another scrumptious small batch recipe. This popular series started last year, when so many of us (myself included) were in lockdown.
Unable to celebrate in large gatherings but still wanting to satisfy our cravings, we turned to small batch baking. I started scaling down some of my tried and true favourites, like Chocolate Chip Cookies, Brownies and Chocolate Cake.
And then we turned our attention to muffins. First, we did Small Batch Double Chocolate Muffins (still one of my faves) and then Banana Muffins. But now it’s all about golden, moist, chocolate-filled Chocolate Chip Muffins.
We’ve taken everything we LOVE about muffins – think soft, cake-like centres, buttery crusts and domed muffin tops – and made it into just SIX perfect muffins filled to the brim with chocolate chips. You. Are. Welcome.
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what you will need
- Plain flour: Or all purpose flour.
- Caster sugar: Or granulated sugar.
- Baking powder: This will help the muffins rise and get those lovely domed tops.
- Salt
- Unsalted butter: Butter gives these muffins extra flavour (which I love), but if you prefer oil, you can use 60 ml (1/4 cup) of a flavourless oil (like vegetable oil or grapeseed oil).
- Vanilla extract: For a little extra flavour.
- Egg
- Buttermilk: Buttermilk helps ensure a tender muffin due to its acidity. If you don’t have buttermilk readily available, you can make your own by adding 1 teaspoon white vinegar or fresh lemon juice to 80 ml (1/3 cup) whole or full fat milk.
- Chocolate chips: I used regular milk chocolate chips, but you can use any chocolate chips you like. White, milk, dark, peanut butter, butterscotch, Caramilk or even mini chocolate chips will work here.
tips for making perfect muffins
- Measure all your ingredients using a baking scale for best results. Using cups can be surprisingly inaccurate, and if you overmeasure your flour your muffins will be tough and dry.
- Don’t over-mix your muffin batter. Just gently fold the ingredients together by hand using a spatula until combined. Over-mixing will result in tough muffins – no thank you.
- Fill your muffin holes right to the top. We want our muffins to be big with large, domed tops. This recipe will make six bakery-style muffins so don’t be afraid to fill the muffin pan all the way.
- Don’t over-bake your muffins. You’ll know your muffins are ready when they’ve developed those crusty muffin tops. You can double check they’re done by inserting a skewer into the centre and seeing if it comes out clean (like you would with cake).
frequently asked questions
Save yourself the hassle, and make my regular Chocolate Chip Muffins instead.
Butter gives these muffins extra flavour, but if you prefer oil, you can use 60 ml (1/4 cup) of a flavourless oil (like vegetable oil or grapeseed oil).
Yes you can use this recipe to make 12 mini muffins if you prefer. Adjust the cooking time to 13-15 minutes.
Absolutely. I highly recommend freezing any leftovers muffins on the day they are made. You can then defrost them by microwaving them for 20 seconds or so and enjoying them warm.
more small batch recipes
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Let’s Bake
Small Batch Chocolate Chip Muffins
Six perfect high top Chocolate Chip Muffins.
Ingredients
- 175 grams (1 and 1/4 cup) plain flour or all purpose flour
- 100 grams (1/2 cup) caster sugar or granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 60 grams (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 80 ml (1/3 cup) buttermilk
- 75 grams (1/2 cup) chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200 C (390 F) standard / 180 C (350 F) fan-forced. Grease six holes of a 6 or 12-hole muffin pan well with butter or spray lightly with oil.
- In a large mixing bowl, add flour, sugar, baking powder and salt and whisk briefly.
- To a small bowl, add melted butter, vanilla, egg and buttermilk and whisk briefly just to break up the egg yolk.
- Make a well in the middle of your dry ingredients, add the wet ingredients. Very gently stir together by hand.
- Add chocolate chips. Then fold until the mixture is just combined – be careful not to over mix or your muffins will be tough.
- Spoon out muffin batter into your prepared pan. Bake for 5 minutes before turning down the heat to 180 C (350 F) standard / 160 C (320 F) fan-forced and bake for a further 13-15 minutes or until muffins are golden brown.
Notes
Butter: Butter gives these muffins extra flavour, but if you prefer oil, you can use 60 ml (1/4 cup) of a flavourless oil (like vegetable oil or grapeseed oil).
Buttermilk: You can make your own buttermilk by adding 1 teaspoon white vinegar or fresh lemon juice to 80 ml (1/3 cup) full fat or whole milk. OR you can add 1 tablespoon of Greek yogurt to a scant 1/3 cup of full fat or whole milk.
Chocolate chips: I used regular milk chocolate chips, but you can use any chocolate chips you like. White, milk, dark, peanut butter, butterscotch, Caramilk or mini chocolate chips.
Mini muffins: You can use this recipe to make 12 mini muffins if you prefer. Adjust the cooking time to 13-15 minutes.
Storage: Muffins are best eaten on the day they are made. Store muffins in an airtight container at room temperature and freeze leftovers for maximum freshness.
Nutrition Information
Sara Fishman says
Perfect results! I only have a toaster oven, so I was happy to find this 6-muffin recipe, and delighted with the result!
Jessica Holmes says
Oh how good is that Sara!
Marina says
So good!!
Jessica Holmes says
So glad you liked them!
Jennifer says
This recipe looks amazing! Do you think I could use vegan bevel in place of butter? Or would you recommend just skipping it and going for the veg oil option instead?
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Jennifer, I haven’t tested this recipe using a vegan butter, so I would probably opt for a flavourless oil like you suggested.
Elizabeth says
Amazing muffins. The recipe was very easy to follow. Wouldn’t change a thing.
Jessica Holmes says
So glad you loved them Elizabeth!
Shae says
Its so rare that I come across recipes that are this consistent regards to the finished dish. I tried your double choc muffin recipe a few days back and they disappeared in no time, but these are somehow even better. I dont know if its the use of butter instead of oil, giving it that extra richness, but the texture of these are exactly as you describe in your “blurb” above 🙂 slightly crispy and chewy top, bejewelled with melt-in-the-mouth chocolate chips and chunks and the most soft and tender sponge that is also a little denser than what a cupcake would be- giving it that muffin mouthfeel. Again I added way more chocolate than the recipe called for, but i love that I can alter this how I like depending on who Im feeding and it doesnt affect the rest of the muffin in any way. Ive hesitated making muffins for so long and Im so glad yours are the first recipes Ive tried. I didnt make full size muffins, so I ended up with 12 and within less than 24 hours there are 4 left- just about lol. Says it all; they keep disappearing everytime I look in the box haha. Im really looking forward to trying other of your recipes Jessica 🙂 thank you so much! x
Jessica Holmes says
What a lovely review Shae! Thank you so much for sharing this with me. I love that you have enjoyed these muffin recipes so much. As I’m typing this, I’m eating one of my Double Chocolate Muffins haha! Hope you get to try some more of my recipes!
Fauzia G says
I made this with white chocolate buttons and it was so fluffy and light! definitely going to try making it with other chocolate chip variations!
ps my first time making muffins, the instructions were a breeze.
Jessica Holmes says
That makes me so happy! So glad you loved these Fauzia!
Michelle Ewing says
What an incredible recipe:) my first time braving buttermilk in a recipe thankyou for making it such a simple process:)
I very gently folded blackberries through at the end and the results are amazing. Ive never baked muffins so light with a yummy crust on top. Absolutely wonderful;)
Jessica Holmes says
That’s so great to hear Michelle! Thank you for the lovely feedback.
Charlotte says
Lovely recipe, made 6 large muffins. Going to quadruple this recipe to take on a family holiday.
Charlotte says
Just spotted your full recipe that makes 12 muffins – I’ll just double that! 😀
Jessica Holmes says
Oh perfect! So glad you enjoyed them Charlotte.
An says
just made these in under 20 mins and they were soo tall and fluffy! I reduced the sugar by half cos it was for my kiddo and it still turned out great! also loved your small batch choc muffins 🙂
Jessica Holmes says
Yay! I love hearing that!
Josh says
These were great! Nice and soft on the inside.
Jessica Holmes says
So glad you enjoyed them Josh!
Veronica says
I wanted to ask if you can use oat milk instead of buttermilk, or can you make buttermilk using oat milk? And does it need to be cold when you it? So you just warm it up after it curdles in the fridge?
Also, can you use a mix of butter and oil to get best of both worlds?
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Veronica, I haven’t tested this recipe using oat milk. But you need the acidity so you’d still need to add a squeeze of lemon juice or white vinegar. And it’s ok if it’s warm or cold. And I haven’t tested this recipe with a mix of butter and oil, I prefer all butter. Hope you enjoy them!
Taylor says
Hi, can I use regular milk instead of buttermilk?
Jessica Holmes says
hi Taylor, I recommend using buttermilk if you can. The acidity helps to make a light and tender muffin. If you don’t have access to any, you can make your own by adding 1 teaspoon of white vinegar or fresh lemon juice to whole or full fat milk. But full fat store-bought buttermilk will give you the best results.
Amber says
Hi Jess, quick question, would ‘soured cream’ (UK) work in place of buttermilk? Thanks 😊
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Amber, to achieve a similar consistency to buttermilk, I would use half soured cream and half regular milk. Give it a little stir and then use as per the recipe. I hope that helps!
Amber says
Great, thanks so much Jess, i will give this a go!
Amber says
Sorry another question from me! Can i use self raising flour instead? If so, how much should i use? Thank you 🙂
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Amber, self raising flour already has baking powder in it. It can range but it’s usually around 1.5-2 teaspoons per 1 cup. So if you choose to use sr flour, it won’t be exactly the same ratio as my recipe. You’d have to work out the conversion – if you’d prefer to avoid the math, I’d just use regular plain flour instead.