bakery style chocolate chip muffins recipe

Breads & Muffins Currently Craving

Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Muffins

January 30, 2023

Everyone knows that the muffin top is the best part of any muffin. Make it crunchy, crackly, sugar-crusted and studded […]

Everyone knows that the muffin top is the best part of any muffin. Make it crunchy, crackly, sugar-crusted and studded with chocolate chips and you can count me IN!!!

close up of bakery style chocolate chip muffins in a vintage muffin tin

I’ve been making these giant bakery style chocolate chip muffins over and over again – for breakfast, dessert and everything in between. They are just so good! And so easy!!

Drop everything and bake a batch – I just know you’re going to love them as much as I do!

straight on image of homemade chocolate chip muffin topped with melty mini chocolate chips

Why you’ll love these muffins

These homemade chocolate chip muffins have all the qualities of a muffin that I crave. They’re moist, tall, fluffy, perfectly sweetened and filled with heaps of chocolate chips. They really are the best ever!

  • Light + fluffy texture – These muffins rise up so light and airy. The texture is incredible and they’ll stay soft and moist for days!
  • Look at those muffin tops! Loaded with chocolate chips these muffin tops bake up perfectly domed just like the ones from your favorite bakery. Sprinkle with sugar for extra crunch!
  • Easy to make – make warm, bakery style muffins at home with just a bowl and a whisk!
  • Perfect for breakfast on the go! Make a batch on Monday and enjoy fresh, delicious muffins all week long.
muffin with bite taken out of it surrounded by freshly baked chocolate chip muffins and mini chocolate chips in muffin tin

Ingredients

You’re just minutes away from the best bakery style chocolate chip muffins ever! And the best part is, you probably have all of the ingredients you need in your pantry. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Flour too much flour can make for a dry muffin. For best results, use a digital kitchen scale to measure the flour.
  • Butter unsalted butter works best but if you only have salted butter on hand, I suggest omitting the additional salt from the recipe. Be sure to cool the melted butter slightly before mixing the batter.
  • Sugar granulated sugar adds texture and sweetness to the muffins. For added flavor and crunch, sprinkle the tops of the muffins with turbinado or demerara sugar before baking.
  • Oil a little bit of oil adds flavor and creates a tender crumb.
  • Eggs – be sure your eggs are at room temperature. If you forgot to set the eggs out in advance, simply place them in a bowl of warm water for 10 minutes before making the muffin batter.
  • Buttermilk – don’t be tempted to swap regular milk for the buttermilk. When combined with the baking soda, the acid in the buttermilk helps give the muffins texture and rise. If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, check out this simple swap using regular milk and lemon juice.
  • Sour cream – I love using sour cream in muffins and quickbreads! Feel free to substitute full fat Greek yogurt if you don’t have sour cream on hand.
  • Baking powder + baking soda – these leaveners work in tandem to give the muffins plenty of lift, creating deliciously crunchy, domed bakery-style muffin tops.
  • Cinnamon – it’s optional but just a pinch makes the chocolate flavor really shine through!
  • Mini chocolate chips – if you don’t have mini semi-sweet chocolate chips in your pantry, try substituting with your favorite chopped dark chocolate bar.

How to make chocolate chip muffins from scratch

These easy and delicious muffins come together quickly with just a bowl and a whisk – no need to break out the mixer! Follow this step-by-step guide and be sure to check the recipe card below for a complete ingredient list and detailed instructions.

Step 1: In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, butter, oil, eggs, vanilla, buttermilk and sour cream until combined.

Step 2: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.

Step 3: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until just barely combined.

Step 4: Add the mini chocolate chips to the batter and gently fold together. Do not overmix.

step by step guide to make chocolate chip muffin batter using a bowl and a whisk

Step 5: For best results, cover the bowl with a dry dish towel and allow the batter to sit at room temperature for 45 to 60 minutes. This helps the muffins to rise high and creates those delicious jumbo muffin tops.

Step 6: Once the batter has rested, preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper liners. Using a cookie or ice cream scoop, divide the batter evenly between the muffin liners, filling each one all the way to the top. Sprinkle with additional mini chocolate chips and turbinado (or demerara) sugar if desired.

muffin batter in paper muffin liners topped with mini chocolate chips and ready to be baked

Step 7: Bake the muffins on the center rack of the oven at 425°F for 8 minutes. Do not open the oven. After 8 minutes, decrease the temperature to 375°F and bake for an additional 8 to 9 minutes. The muffins are done when the tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Do not overbake or the muffins will be dry.

Step 8: Cool the muffins for 5 to 10 minutes in the muffin tin before carefully transferring to a cooling rack. Don’t let them sit in the muffin tin for any longer than 10 minutes or the bottoms can become soggy.

Tips for the best bakery style muffins

I love a good muffin top as much as the next girl so I’ve spent many mornings testing, and retesting, these chocolate chip muffins until they were juuusssst right. Follow these tips and tricks for the very best muffins every time.

Do not over mix. Over mixing the batter can leave you with dense muffins that are the opposite of soft and fluffy. For best results, stir the batter only until the flour mixture is barely combined. Aim for a few streaks of flour remaining in the batter.

The more chocolate, the better. The recipe calls for 1 cup of mini chocolate chips but you can certainly add up to 1/2 cup more if desired. Stir some extra chips into the batter and reserve 1/4 of cup or so to sprinkle on top of the muffins before baking. A sprinkle of sugar on top never hurt either!

Fill the muffin liners to the top. The trick to getting those gloriously tall and perfectly domed muffin tops, is to fill the muffin liners all the way to the top. But be careful not to let them overflow.

Bake at a high temperature. For muffin tops that rival your favorite corner bakery, bake at 425°F for the first 5-7 minutes and then reduce the oven temperature to 375°F. This initial burst of high heat lifts the muffins up quicky and creates a tall, crackly top. I highly recommend purchasing an inexpensive oven thermometer to ensure your oven is not running too hot or too cold.

Do not overbake. To help the muffins rise nice and tall you’ll want to keep the oven closed until the last minute or two of baking. To check the muffins towards the end of the baking time, use a toothpick to check for doneness or press your finger into the top of a muffin – if it springs back, the muffins are done. Be careful not to overbake the muffins or they will be dense and dry.

close up large chocolate chip muffins

How to store muffins

Thanks to the addition of both buttermilk and sour cream, these muffins will stay fresh and soft for days. Store the muffins tightly covered at room temperature for up to 4 days. Reheat them in the oven or microwave and spread with a little salted butter for a delicious morning treat or afternoon snack.

To freeze the muffins, make sure to cool them completely before storing in a large freezer bag or container. Freeze for up to 2 months. Defrost at room temperature before serving.

big chocolate chip muffin sitting in muffin tin on countertop

FAQ’s

Can I use regular chocolate chips instead of mini?

Yes, you can. After testing the recipe both ways, I find that mini chocolate chips give the muffins the best texture. If you prefer to use regular chocolate chips, I suggest using a knife to give them a quick chop before adding them to the batter.

Can I make these gluten free?

Yes, absolutely. I recommend using Bob’s Red Mill Cup-For-Cup Gluten Free Flour in place of the all-purpose flour. Keep in mind, the gluten free muffins will bake up slightly more dense and not quite as tall.

Can I add nuts?

Of course! Feel free to reduce the amount of mini chocolate chips slightly and add in chopped nuts of your choice – walnuts or pecans would be delicious!

Can I still make these muffins if I don’t have time to rest the batter?

Yes. Resting the batter will help create the jumbo muffin tops you see pictured here. If you opt not to rest the batter at room temperature before baking, the muffins will not rise quite so high and the tops will be smaller. But they’ll still be delicious!

Can I make mini muffins with this recipe?

Yes. For mini muffins, bake for about 10 to 11 minutes at 375°F.

Happy muffin making!

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bakery style chocolate chip muffins recipe

Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 7 reviews
  • Author: Heather Mubarak
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 16 minutes
  • Total Time: 26 minutes
  • Yield: 12 muffins 1x
  • Category: Breads & Muffins
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Description

Make these light and fluffy bakery style chocolate chip muffins in minutes with just a bowl and a whisk. The perfect breakfast treat!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 1/4 cups (280 g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • 2 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (224 g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 2/3 cup buttermilk, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature
  • 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, plus more for topping
  • 3 tablespoons course or turbinado sugar, for sprinkling on top if desired

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, butter, oil, eggs, vanilla, buttermilk and sour cream until combined well.
  3. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined, leaving a few streaks of flour.
  4. Add the mini chocolate chips and fold to combine. Do not over mix.
  5. Cover the bowl with a dry dish towel or cloth and let sit at room temperature for 45 to 60 minutes.
  6. Once the batter is ready, preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
  7. Using a cookie or ice cream scoop, divide the batter evenly between the muffin liners, filling each one all the way to the top. Sprinkle the tops with extra mini chocolate chips and sprinkle with the turbinado or demerara sugar if desired.
  8. Bake the muffins on the center rack of the oven at 425°F for 8 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 375°F and bake for an additional 8 to 9 minutes. The muffins are done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few crumbs remaining. Do not over bake.
  9. Remove the pan from the oven cool the muffins in the pan for 5 to 10 minutes before carefully removing and transferring to a wire rack to cool.

Notes

Store muffins tightly covered at room temperature for up to 4 days.

May be frozen for up to 2 months. Defrost at room temperature before serving.

  • Reply
    Stacia B
    January 27, 2024 at 3:04 pm

    Delicious! Total hit at our home. I had no sour cream so used Greek yogurt. Didn’t have 60 min to let rest but they still raised great. They have a great flavor. Added the recipe to my recipe box !






  • Reply
    Ash Scott
    December 5, 2023 at 5:48 pm

    Officially my go-to chocolate chip muffin recipe. I have made this recipe like 7 times in the past few weeks and they are gobbled up in no time at all. They are always perfect and my family is obsessed!!






  • Reply
    Anu
    October 11, 2023 at 11:43 pm

    This looks delicious and I am planning to bake these. Question- what is the maximum time we should leave the batter to rest. Can I make the batter one day ahead and keep it in the fridge overnight? Will it impact the rising agents used?
    Also can I convert to square pan or round cake pan?
    Thanks.

  • Reply
    Anonymous
    July 31, 2023 at 10:29 pm

    Fantastic recipe!!! I have been looking and trying different muffin recipes and this one tops them all!! The muffins were absolutely delicious, scrumptious, and very fluffy!! I cannot wait to make them again and again and again and again!!!






  • Reply
    Anonymous
    May 30, 2023 at 11:14 pm

    I am not sure what I did but these did not rise. Like at all. Almost like a small cupcake. And I bake as a side gig so not sure what happened but we loved the flavor so I am attempting again tomorrow.






  • Reply
    Shannon Stovsky
    February 28, 2023 at 1:17 am

    Excellent Muffin! The texture is great and the dome was fantastic!






  • Reply
    Audrey T.
    February 12, 2023 at 12:40 am

    Wish I could say these muffins lasted all week but they barely lasted a day! They were so delicious and loved the tips!






  • Reply
    dana
    February 1, 2023 at 7:57 pm

    so yummy. this blog literally always has successful recipes. reproducible and delicious every time. the muffins are so fluffy and look so good it almost looks like i didn’t make them myself. i will say, i somehow almost completely forgot to add the cooled melted butter. i saw it on the counter right after i had covered the batter to rest, so i decided to quickly fold it in and just see what happens. it was still absolutely delicious. next time i make these, im gonna double the recipe to freeze half for myself to eat postpartum. a special gift for the future me. but seriously, so good. they were all gone in 24 hours!

    • Reply
      Heather Mubarak
      February 3, 2023 at 8:33 pm

      I’m thrilled that you loved these muffins! Thanks so much for following along here!!

  • Reply
    Beth
    January 31, 2023 at 5:18 pm

    These muffins are delicious! I followed all the tips and they came out perfectly!






    • Reply
      Heather Mubarak
      June 20, 2023 at 5:54 pm

      So happy to hear it!

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