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Applesauce Chocolate Muffins Recipe

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4.3 from 15 reviews

These Applesauce Chocolate Muffins are a moist, rich, and chocolatey treat made with wholesome ingredients like unsweetened applesauce and a blend of cocoa powder and chocolate chips. Perfect for breakfast or a snack, they offer a balanced sweetness and a tender crumb thanks to the combination of sour cream and applesauce. This easy-to-make recipe yields a dozen delicious muffins baked to perfection with a soft, fudgy interior and a slightly crisp top.

  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 12 muffins

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder (sifted)
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • Pinch of cloves (optional)
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Sugars

  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup white sugar

Wet Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup oil
  • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/2 cup sour cream (room temperature)
  • 2 large eggs (room temperature)
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract

Add-ins

  • 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 425℉ (218℃). Line a muffin tin with paper liners and set aside to prepare for baking.
  2. Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, sifted cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, cornstarch, cinnamon, cloves, and salt until evenly combined.
  3. Combine sugars and oil: In a large mixing bowl, add the dark brown sugar, white sugar, and oil. Whisk thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
  4. Add wet ingredients: Into the sugar and oil mixture, whisk in the eggs, vanilla extract, unsweetened applesauce, and room temperature sour cream. Continue whisking for about one minute until the batter is smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  5. Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients and gently fold using a spatula just until a soft muffin batter forms. Avoid over-mixing to prevent tough muffins.
  6. Fold in the chocolate chips: Carefully fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips, mixing just enough to distribute them evenly without overworking the batter.
  7. Fill muffin liners: Divide the batter evenly into the lined muffin tin, filling each cup nearly or all the way to the top. Optionally, sprinkle extra chocolate chips on top of each muffin for added chocolate goodness.
  8. Bake the muffins: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake at 425℉ for 5 minutes. Then reduce the oven temperature to 350℉ and continue baking for an additional 12-15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
  9. Cool and enjoy: Remove the muffins from the oven and allow them to cool in the tin for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Enjoy these moist and flavorful applesauce chocolate muffins as a delightful snack or breakfast treat.

Notes

  • For best results, use room temperature eggs and sour cream to help the batter mix evenly.
  • Do not over-mix the batter once the dry and wet ingredients are combined to keep the muffins tender.
  • If you prefer, substitute the oil with melted butter for a richer flavor.
  • You can omit the cloves if you want a milder spice flavor.
  • Store muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage.
  • Author: Olivia
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American