Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Muffins
About the recipe
If you’ve ever wanted to recreate those giant bakery style chocolate chip muffins at home, this recipe is for you. These muffins are incredibly soft, moist, and packed with rich chocolate chips in every bite. The high-temperature baking method creates beautifully tall muffin tops, while the buttermilk and Greek yogurt keep the crumb light and tender. Whether you’re baking for breakfast, a lunchbox treat, or dessert, these homemade chocolate chip muffins are guaranteed to become a family favourite.
Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Muffins
Ingredients
- 145 g Unsalted melted butter
- 240 g Sugar
- 2 eggs (about 100 g)
- 180 ml Homemade buttermilk
- 35 g Greek yogurt
- 12 g Vanilla extract
- 315 g All-purpose flour
- 8 g Baking powder
- 4 g Baking soda
- 1 g Salt
- 100–120 g Chocolate chips (ideally 70% cocoa)
- Extra chocolate chips (for topping)
Instructions
- First, make the homemade buttermilk by stirring 1 teaspoon of vinegar into 180 ml of warm milk. Let it stand for 5–10 minutes until it thickens and slightly curdles. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 220°C (425°F) and line a 10- or 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until everything is evenly combined. This helps distribute the leavening agents evenly for tall, fluffy muffins.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter and sugar until smooth. Then add the eggs one at a time, followed by the prepared buttermilk, Greek yogurt, and vanilla extract. Continue whisking until the mixture is smooth and fully combined.
- Gradually pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Using a spatula, gently fold everything together just until no dry streaks remain. Avoid overmixing, as this can make the muffins dense instead of light and tender.
- Next, gently fold the chocolate chips into the batter, making sure they are evenly distributed without overworking the mixture.
- Divide the batter evenly between the prepared muffin liners, filling each about ¾ full. Finally, sprinkle a generous handful of extra chocolate chips over the tops for a bakery-style finish.
- Bake at 220°C (425°F) for 5 minutes. Then, without opening the oven door, reduce the temperature to 180°C (350°F) and continue baking for 15–18 minutes, or until the muffin tops are golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy them warm while the chocolate is still melty or store them for later.
Tips & Tricks
Don’t overmix the batter: Mix only until the flour disappears. Overmixing develops gluten, resulting in dense muffins.
Use room-temperature ingredients: Eggs, yogurt, and buttermilk combine more easily, creating a smoother batter and better rise.
Start with a high oven temperature: The initial blast of heat helps create those signature bakery-style domed muffin tops.
Choose good-quality chocolate: Using 70% cocoa chocolate chips provides a rich chocolate flavour that balances the sweetness perfectly.
Add a surprise center: Freeze small spoonfuls of chocolate ganache or fudge and place one in the center of each muffin before baking for a molten chocolate filling.
FAQs
Why did my muffins turn out dense?
Overmixing the batter is the most common reason. Fold the ingredients together gently until just combined.
Can I make these muffins without buttermilk?
Yes. Homemade buttermilk made with milk and vinegar works perfectly for this recipe.
Can I freeze these bakery style chocolate chip muffins?
Absolutely. Freeze them in an airtight container for up to 3 months and thaw at room temperature before serving.
How do I get tall bakery style chocolate chip muffins tops?
Bake at a high temperature for the first 5 minutes before reducing the oven temperature. Also, avoid overmixing the batter.
Can I use milk chocolate chips instead of dark chocolate?
Yes. Milk, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate chips all work well depending on your preference.
