Would you consider these "chocolate" muffins?

[Jennifer D]

Parents in my son's class are stocking the teachers' room with goodies tomorrow. [It's our 1st year at the school - apparently each month one classroom does "goodie day".] The theme is chocolate. They asked for chocolate muffins and I said sure. Searching a couple weeks ago I came across this recipe, which sounded great [and which led me to order cappuccino chips from KAF, which I now have wedged WAAAAY in the back of the pantry so as to reduce temptation! ]

Chocolate Cappuccino Oat Muffins

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 12 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Bread Breakfast


Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------

Vicanddi

1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup nonfat buttermilk
1 2/3 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup cappucino chips
2 large eggs
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
2 tablespoons canola oil
1/2 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare a 12-cup muffin tin or a 24-cup mini
muffin pan, by coating pan with nonstick spray or by using paper liners.

In a medium size bowl, combine oats and buttermilk. Let set 30 minutes.

In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt,
and cinnamon. Stir in chocolate and cappuccino chips until coated with
flour mixture. Make well in center of bowl. Set aside.

Add eggs, brown sugar and oil to oat mixture; mix until well blended.

Pour egg mixture into bowl of dry ingredients; mix until just moistened.
Fold in yogurt.

Fill muffin cups 3/4 full and bake regular-size muffins for 15-20 minutes
and mini-muffins for 13-15 minutes, or until golden brown and tests clean
with a toothpick.

I think I was so distracted by good reviews and the idea of cappuccino chips I didn't really think that much about the recipe. I have my 1st batch in the oven now, but as I mixed the batter occurred to me this is more like providing an oatmeal-choc chip cookie for "chocolate day". Do you think this passes muster? Mind you, I'm not at all suggesting anyone is going to disparage or throw away the muffins for not being "chocolatey enough". I guess just trying not to volunteer and then seeming like I am "doing it wrong". I know there are going to be choc cookies and choc covered pretzels and fudge I think and brownies.....Honestly, the other chocolate muffin recipes I have seen looked soooooo rich [or had questionable reviews]. I'm thinking it might be ok to have something which has the choc chips but doesn't contribute quite so much to the chocolate overload. I adore chocolate and it sounds a bit much to me......

If anyone has another recipe to offer feel free. Or any opinions...

THANKS!

Jennifer

[funniegrrl]

I think they sound great but I would bet that if someone requested chocolate muffins, they meant chocolate-cake-type muffins, not muffins w/ choc chips.

[Jennifer D]

Grr. That's what i think - and that's what I had in mind, but just somehow didn't register what I was reading ingredient-wise.

I did just quickly find a choc choc chip muffin recipe on the Fd Network site [Nigella]. Reviews seem fine so I might have to try that one. Hate having to shift gears late in the game [which it will be by the time tykes are down tonight and I am able to start baking......]

[avariell]

I think they count as chocolate muffins. I would rather eat a chocolate chip muffin than a chocolate muffin anyway. But- my one question is about the cappuccino chips. Is there much (any?) caffeine in them? I guess I'd be a little worried adding a ton extra caffeine on after all the other chocolate they are getting

[SusanMac]

I wouldn't over analyze the chocolate muffin part & what other people expected or wanted. The recipe looks fab. Having the oats in them makes them a bit better than a chocolate cupcake

I was also concerned about the coffee part of this. If they are meant for kids (not just the teachers/staff) I would leave out those chips. The chocolate & cinnamon by themselves should still be yummy.

ETA - I read too quickly & thought it called for cinnamon chips. Maybe that would be a good sub for the coffee chips?

[Jennifer D]

I had the same question about the chips. The treats are just for the teachers - in the lounge all day, so kids wouldn't be eating them. But I had that exact same reservation and checked the ingredient list. There is no coffee listed. Natural and artificial flavor - is that code for coffee?

I think looking at recipes initially I was having a hard time finding a chocolate chocolate muffin that wasn't a "choc chip" muffin and that didn't seem like a cupcake by another name [given that they will have cupcakes and/or brownies]. Maybe I will stick with these.....

[donleyk]

I would stick with your recipe. No one is going to turn up their nose because they're not brown. If you do quality control please report back

[2HUNGRY!]

Your recipe sounds good, and I don't think anyone in their right mind would complain about a home made muffin. But, in case you wanted another option, I've made these before and loved them:

http://www.cookstr.com/recipes/chocolate-muffins

[little_bopeep]

I suspect that there will be at least one person who says, "Thank Heaven--something that's not chocolate!" Not everyone likes chocolate muffins, so these will probably be very welcomed.

[Canice]

Another vote for sticking with your original recipe. I don't think there's any need to be overly literal; they're muffins and they have chocolate in them, ergo they fit the theme of day. And nice to have one thing that's not OTT chocolatey.

[MNGirlTX]

I think they are fine, too, and agree with bopeep that someone might be very happy to have a non-chocolate treat.

I would make sure that people know there are cappucino flavored chips, though. But, that's because I'm a person who can not stand the flavor of coffee!

I think it's very nice of the parents to make treats for the teachers' lounge!!

[sparrowgrass]

As another non-coffee person, I would second the idea of labeling them. Otherwise you might end up with muffins with one bite taken out of them ending up in the trash.

[katygirl]

Definitely NOT!

So I think you should send them to me!

No really, I also agree that you don't need to take it quite so literal. They sound great and the teachers I'm sure would be thriled!

[foodfiend]

Jennifer, how did these turn out? I'm keen to make chocolate muffins for the office.

[Jennifer D]

Thanks for all the feedback!!

I ended up making the cappuccino, as well as a batch of the chocolate muffins posted by 2HUNGRY [Thanks!]; I needed to send a muffin for my tykes' snacks and figured the chocolate was better than the cappuccino [although frankly is there any difference in the sugar/caffeine high at that point?! ]

Almost 6-year-old DS did have a sample bite of the cappuccino muffins and declared them "So delicious I don't have words for how good it is!"
They are good. Very very hearty with the oats. Some of the KAF cappuccino chips really seemed to melt during baking, which seemed a bit odd. But everyone here who tried them liked them so I think they would be a hit. Nice treat with all the chips but not too rich/sweet for a morning muffin. I don't think there is a powerful coffee flavor at all, more vanilla. My SIL does not like coffee and thought the muffins were delicious. I think the suggestion for cinnamon chips would be really tasty, and I may in fact try that next week.

The chocolate turned out great as well; I would - make again if I needed a chocolate muffin. I used some new double dark cocoa from KAF I used. They are chocolately but not sweet, if that makes sense? Definitely like a muffin and not a cupcake. Tykes loved those as well.

Nobody gave me a huge mound of uneaten muffins when I picked up DS, so hopefully they were well-received. If my next offer to bake is met with a polite brush-off I guess I will know otherwise.

But I would recommend both recipes. Very tasty.

It was a very lovely spread, for the record. It's our 1st year at this school and I had no idea this was a monthly event. There was a lot of fresh fruit as well to balance the chocolate. But a really really nice spread of choc covered fruits and hot chocolate and donuts and cookies etc etc in the teachers lounge. They definitely deserve it - really nice idea!!

[donleyk]

Thanks for the report back. I was wondering how it went. Your teachers are very lucky and I'm sure the treats are well deserved too.