Chocolate Muffins

Delicious Chocolate Muffins

If you're looking for a quick and simple recipe for an absolutely irresistible dessert, you've come to the right place! These chocolate muffins are fluffy, flavorful, and perfectly balanced, making them ideal for a sweet snack alongside a cup of coffee or tea. Plus, they're easy to make, so you don't need advanced culinary skills to bring them to life. Let's get started!

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Baking time: 20-25 minutes
Total time: 40 minutes
Servings: 12 muffins

Ingredients:
- 4 eggs
- 130 g sugar (divided)
- 6 tablespoons flour
- 100 ml oil
- 100 ml milk
- 2 packets vanilla sugar
- Grated zest of one lemon
- 100 g chocolate chips (or to taste)
- 1 packet baking powder
- A pinch of salt

Preparation:
1. Start by preparing the oven. Preheat it to 180 degrees Celsius and prepare a muffin tray, greasing it with a little oil or using paper muffin cups.

2. Separate the egg whites from the yolks. In a bowl, beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until frothy. Gradually add half of the sugar (65 g) and continue mixing until you achieve a firm and glossy meringue. This step is essential to ensure a fluffy texture for the muffins.

3. In another bowl, mix the yolks with the remaining sugar (65 g) and the two packets of vanilla sugar. Continue mixing until the mixture becomes creamy and light in color.

4. Add the oil and milk to the yolk mixture, mixing gently. Then, incorporate the grated lemon zest to add a fresh and fragrant note.

5. Fold the sifted flour together with the baking powder into the yolk mixture, mixing with a spatula. It is important not to overmix to avoid developing gluten and ending up with dense muffins.

6. Then, add the meringue to the yolk mixture in 2-3 stages, gently folding from the bottom up to retain the air in the egg whites. This will ensure a light and fluffy texture.

7. Finally, add the chocolate chips and mix gently to distribute them evenly in the batter.

8. Pour the mixture into the muffin cups, filling them about 2/3 full. These muffins will rise beautifully during baking.

9. Bake the muffins in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until they turn golden and pass the toothpick test (insert a toothpick into the center of a muffin, and if it comes out clean, they are done).

10. Let the muffins cool in the tray for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Practical tip: You can also add other ingredients, such as chopped nuts, raisins, or even a splash of rum essence, to customize the muffins to your taste.

Serving suggestion: These chocolate muffins are delicious served plain, but you can dust them with powdered sugar or accompany them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a decadent dessert.

Healthy alternative: Replace the oil with applesauce or Greek yogurt for a lighter yet equally tasty version.

These chocolate muffins are perfect for enjoying at any time of the day. Enjoy!