3/15/09

chocolate muffins with toasted coconut



Are you fussy, like me, when it comes to muffins? I cannot understand how people eat those muffins from Dunkin Donuts. Have you ever had one? I had a blueberry muffin from there once and being the curious foodie that I am, I actually took it apart to see what those supposed blueberry thingee/nuggets were. They weren't blueberries, they were some sort of sweet, blue sticky like dots. I know dots is a bad example, but I could not figure out what they were. Also, the muffin was so high and full of air. How did they get it so fluffy and full of air to make it look like a muffin?
So I'm always on the search for good muffins when hitting up bakeries. Most times I don't find any good ones since living on Cape Cod the choices for bakeries are slim.

So the muffin making is done at home. Muffin recipes that deliver the goods are also hard to find unless you create your own. A lot of times I will go with an old standby (like this one). Muffins are fattening, so if I'm going to have a muffin with a ton of calories it better be a good one.

What is a good muffin? Well, one that has a good muffin top: crispy-crumbly over-lapping edges and a bit of crunch on the top. The inside is nice and cake-like but not dense, moist indeed, sweet, but not overly sweet and just the right ratio of fruits and nuts. The person who finally invented the jumbo muffin pans and muffin-top pans was pure genius. If I had to pick my top two muffins that I like (a lot) it would be blueberry and morning glory. But in all honesty I have yet to find a really good morning glory muffin. My blueberry muffins are pretty good. The times when I go to NYC I have had a good blueberry muffin there; can't remember the bakery though as there are so many good bakeries in NYC. But on this post, I give you another muffin I do like--very much so. I found this recipe over at King Arthur and of course had to kick it up a few notches. Plus I'm still on my coconut kick and wanted to put coconut on the tops of these muffins as the end result would be a nice toasty coconut topping.

coconut-chocolate muffins

chocolate-coconut muffins
muffin base from King Arthur
print recipe

2/3 cup (2 ounces) Dutch-process cocoa
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups light brown sugar (not packed)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1-2 ts espresso powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
½ cup milk choco chips & ½ cup bittersweet choco chips
2 eggs
1 cup light cream or half & half
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
4 ounces (1 stick) butter, melted
½ cup +/- of shredded coconut flakes

Cook Notes: the original recipe calls for no coconut. What? I knew the muffin base would be perfect for a little toasted coconut topping, so I just had to add it in. If you want no coconut in there then don't add it.

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a large/jumbo muffin pan with paper or silicone muffin cups, and grease the cups.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cocoa, flour, sugar, baking powder, espresso powder, baking soda, salt and chocolate chips. Set aside.
In a large measuring cup or medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla and vinegar. Add the wet ingredients, along with the melted butter, to the dry ingredients, stirring to blend; there's no need to beat these muffins, just make sure everything is well-combined.
Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin tin; the cups will be heaped with batter, and the muffin will bake into a "mushroom" shape. Sprinkle with pearl sugar, if desired.
Bake the muffins for about 9 minutes then add some of the coconut to the tops of the muffins, and back into oven to finish baking for another 10 minutes. The original recipe says the muffins take about 20 to 25 minutes total time to cook. Mine only took about 18 minutes, so watch over the muffins; all depends on your oven. You can always see if they’re done with a cake tester inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.
Remove the muffins from the oven, and after 5 minutes remove them from the pan, allowing them to cool for about 15 minutes on a rack before peeling off the muffin papers or silicone cups.
Should make about 8 – 10 jumbo muffins. (I tried baking them in regular size muffins but they tasted so dry, so I made them using the jumbo muffins tins, much better).

51 comments:

  1. That's a muffin worth getting up for. I bet it is so much healthier than Kashi. My kashi doesn't boast toasted coconut.

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  2. why would this not be a cupcake? none-the-less it looks great!

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  3. These look decadent enough to be dessert! I love toasted coconut, I'm sure it makes a great topping for the muffins.

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  4. What a beautiful picture of your cupcakes! Chocolate and toasted coconut go together so well. I'm like you...super picky about my muffins. I've only found a few that I've actually enjoyed over the years.
    I'm thinking that these muffins would be great with a vanilla egg cream. :)

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  5. I totally just got gone baking a batch of muffins (haven't done so in quite some time!!) - but DAAAAAMN, Dawn, your muffins look INSANELY good!!

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  6. Dawn you have to stop it with these posts! you are killing me. Everything looks so amazing, I am dreaming of your treats at night! I love toasted coconut! Probably too sweet for me to eat for breakfast but bring them on for dessert!

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  7. I am baking muffins right now but they are certainly not as kicked up as these. That is some coconut love there!

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  8. these muffins look delicious! I love muffins The added crunch of the cocon ut must be so yummy. At the moment my favourite recipe is this one http://creampuffsinvenice.ca/2006/05/23/the-best-muffins-ever-just-please-dont-sue-me/
    if you try it let me know your view :)

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  9. Now that's a muffin! You're pictures never fail to make me hungry, and usually hate what I have on a plate in front of me.

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  10. THUD! I just passed out. How yummy do those look...I am wiping drool off my keyboard!

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  11. Those are super rich and decadently chocolaty. Love the toasty coconut! Stellar pictures.

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  12. i'm allergic to coconut but those muffins sound AMAZING!!!!

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  13. I know what you mean about wasting calories on a so so muffin. Those look delicious! I love the crumb!

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  14. Yep. I will take a bowl of Kashi Heart to Heart ove a muffin anyday!
    But I will still it your muffin for dessert!!

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  15. Ooo, yummy and chocolatey and I love the coconut on top!

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  16. Mmm, chocolate and coconut...a match made in heaven. I'm with you: I love a good muffin, but most muffins aren't good. Because you're such a muffin skeptic, I know that these chocolate coconut muffins must be out of this world good. King Arthur has such great recipes to play around with!

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  17. Mmm, chocolate and coconut...a match made in heaven. I'm with you: I love a good muffin, but most muffins aren't good. Because you're such a muffin skeptic, I know that these chocolate coconut muffins must be out of this world good. King Arthur has such great recipes to play around with!

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  18. Ina Garten makes a really good blueberry muffin. I made them on my blog a while back and put a streusel topping on them. I need to find a better topping but the muffin was amazing! Give 'em a try!

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  19. I'm feeling the love for sure! That coconut looks just incredible, but I don't think I'd eat these for breakfast. More like an afternoon snack.

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  20. Toasted coconut, then white and then some deep, dark chocolate...wow, that's muffin seduction!

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  21. I'm feelin it. That lump of chocolatey goodness is just what I need right now!

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  22. I'll have 3 please! Wow these look delish and I love coconut too! Since it is a muffin it must be healthy, right?

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  23. Dawn........I'm seein' the love......I'm feelin' the love......I'm droolin' on the keyboard! This is MY kind of muffin...chocolate and coconut....YUM!
    I'm with you on the jumbo muffin pans....that's all I use now.....
    Try that blueberry muffin recipe I sent you and see how you like it.....that's what got me started using those jumbo pans.

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  24. Its impossible not to love those muffins! They look lovely. I am not a big fan of chocolate muffins though. I'm more of a blueberry person ;)

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  25. Ooooh my word!! this is a serious muffin that's sure to please!

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  26. These look good, good , good!!!!! I recently made a chocolate cake with a burnt coconut topping and it is heaven. Your cupcakes look great with that topping!

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  27. I recently discovered that I do like coconut and I've always been a chocolate lover! These look so yummy and moist!

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  28. Saw these on TasteSpotting, and I think they look absolutely amazing!

    NAOmni

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  29. i think of chocolate muffins as naked cupcakes, but it doesn't matter. nothing matters right now except the deliciousness of the chocolate-coconut combination and your fantastic creation. drool.

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  30. I am feeling the love - these look perfect with the toasted coconut on top. Another beautiful recipe Dawn.

    Love the PB cookies down below too!

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  31. Holy muffin!!! That looks unbelievable!! the perfect muffin in my book!!

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  32. The coconut looks gorgeous on top! I love it when it is all toasty like that. Paired with a moist chocolate muffin is perfect. Remember when Starbucks had those mocha coconut fraps? I was hopelessly addicted and this reminds me of those. Too tasty, Dawn!

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  33. Oh my gosh, these look insanely delicious!! I'd feel so guilty eating this muffin for breakfast...but I'm sure it'd be worth wonderful bite. :)

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  34. Man, I could hook you up with some cereal that is much tasier than Kashi! Ha ha, okay, also a lot more sugar......but those muffins look so moist and delish. Yummy.

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  35. The toasted coconut has my head spinning. The muffins look so moist. It seems the things that I bake from scratch that have chocolate come out a little too dry. Maybe this recipe will be my redemption.

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  36. Whoooo, that first pic is great! You can see all the nice melty chocolate bits.

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  37. My husband used to think a chocolate muffin was good for you, unlike a chocolate cupcake. Who cares though? Especially when they look like this!

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  38. Whooo love that big picture Dawn! They look great!!

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  39. They look pretty delicious!!!

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  40. Very nice crunchy top..chocolate and coconut are perfect together.

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  41. WOw-someone who knows how to really toast coconut-a nice shade of brown. yum.

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  42. um will you please come live with me and make me these everyday?

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  43. you're trying to kill me, aren't you?? gorgeous cupcake :) (yes i know you're trying to call it a muffin... i don't bite ;-))

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  44. I love the black and white contrast of the coconut and chocolate. Adding the coffee is a great idea too.

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  45. YUM! Those are some naughty-looking muffins! I could always swap in 1/2 cup of whole wheat pastry flour and claim they have whole grains.

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  46. That's like a candy bar muffin! I love tosted coconut! I bet it made your house smell like heaven!

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  47. WOW..this muffin would really get me going in the morning, simply perfect!!

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  48. Hey Dawn! How did I miss these posts?? Mine must not be updating either. :( Dang! This looks great! Hmm...I am going to have to put you on the front of my blog...so I can follow it better.

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  49. You're killing me with these. They look so good.

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  50. Those cupcakes look so good!

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  51. Oh my lord, I would love this! I love all the toasty coconut on top and that chocolately goodness inside!

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