These Double Chocolate Muffins are so moist (thanks to buttermilk, canola oil and applesauce) and loaded with chocolate flavor! Make them with whole wheat flour for extra fiber! The perfect lunch box snack.
It’s not often that I experiment with muffin recipes. I have a few favorites that I make over and over (and over and over) — like these Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins and these Double Chocolate Banana Bran Muffins.
But when we were on our Carnival cruise this past December (see my full recap here!), I became obsessed with the chocolate muffins at the breakfast buffet every morning. They were so moist and perfectly sweet, and I ate my fair share every day (at breakfast, and sneaking a few down into my room for snacks later in the day…. or night…).
It took me a while to decide which other recipe I wanted to try to make for you (this Melting Chocolate Cake was the obvious choice!). I was contemplating a lot of different things, but once I got my mind on those muffins I couldn’t get it off.
I had to give it a try.
So I tried. And I tried. And I tried.
I’ll admit, I was beginning to get a little frustrated. My first batches were okay, but I was trying to find this magical balance between healthy and delicious and I just couldn’t get it quite right. I could either make them a little more delicious and sacrifice the healthy just a touch, or vice versa.
In the end, I decided my priority is to bring you the BEST tasting recipes I can, and most of the time they are reasonably healthy. These muffins are also reasonably healthy — I packed them with as much good stuff as I could: unsweetened applesauce for moisture and natural sweetness, canola oil and buttermilk for extra moisture (because Carnival’s muffins were so moist and luscious!), whole wheat flour for protein and fiber and just enough chocolate chips.
And I think I did all right, because they are quite large muffins and still only 214 calories each! If you want a smaller muffin, you can likely get away with making 14 for only 184 calories each.
They don’t puff up big and tall like some bakery muffins, but I think the texture is so much better! I hope you enjoy them as much as we have (all 3, 478 batches) (okay maybe it was only 3 or 4).
Double Chocolate Muffins (Carnival Copycat)
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup canola oil or other
- 1 cup lightly packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup whole wheat flour lightly spooned
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2-3/4 cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a 12 cup muffin pan with paper liners or grease well.
- In a large bowl, whisk together oil and sugar unitl combined.
- Add eggs, applesauce, buttermilk and vanilla and whisk until smooth.
- Add flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and stir just until combined — don’t overmix. Stir in ½-¾ cup mini chocolate chips (based on your preference!).
- Fill muffin cups ¾ full and bake for 14-18 minutes, until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs (not batter!). Cool completely and store on the counter for 2 days, in the refrigerator for 1 week, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Information
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Lucille Roma says
Can I use all purpose flour instead? If yes, would it still be 1 cup?
Ashley Fehr says
Yes, definitely! Should work just fine 🙂
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says
I’m a sucker for those huge bakery double chocolate muffins so I’m seriously SO excited to try these at home! They look so decadent and intensely chocolate-y, Ashley!! 🙂
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Sarah!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Mmm chocolate muffins are the best! I don’t eat them too often, but when I do, they better be very chocolatey! 🙂 These double chocolate ones sound perfect for breakfast! I think I could eat them ALL!
Ashley Fehr says
I was trying to keep them super healthy but in the end, I just wanted them delicious. Lol!