One of the special things we like to do at Christmas is to slow down a bit and enjoy our time together. When Eric, Andrew, Kelly & Gilbert and I gather to exchange gifts, there is Christmas music playing in the background and the only thing frantic about the morning is the competition between Kelly & Andrew to find the Christmas pickle ornament hidden on the tree. (Whoever finds it first gets an extra gift.) Other than the few minutes it takes for one of them to find it, we are relaxed and low key. We stay in our pajamas, brew tea and hot chocolate, and have a specialty pastry while we leisurely take turns opening presents and telling stories about what is being opened. The pastry varies from year to year. This year, we’ll be enjoying one of my favorite seasonal combinations, orange & chocolate. Both flavors are featured in these streusel topped muffins.
Eric got to try the first batch I made. Then he tried to convince Andrew that they were not worth trying. Knowing his dad just wanted the muffins all to himself, Andrew offered to take all the remaining muffins off our hands so Eric would not have to suffer through eating them all by himself. I packed half of them up for Andrew to take home and kept the rest for Eric. Eric has been enjoying one every day this week for breakfast. Hopefully, Andrew has, too. Another batch will be enjoyed during our Christmas exchange this year!
Orange Chocolate Chip Muffins
Orange Chocolate Chip Muffins (adapted from bhg.com) Total Time Required: 50 minutes, Prep Time: 25 minutes, Bake Time: 18-20 minutes, Cool: 5 minutes, Makes: 12 muffins
Ingredients:
Streusel Topping:
- 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 6 tablespoons sugar
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 6 tablespoons chopped walnuts
- 3 tablespoons miniature semisweet chocolate pieces
Muffins:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate pieces
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon finely shredded orange peel
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
Directions:
Streusel Topping: In a small bowl stir together the flour and sugar. Using a pastry blender, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Cut the butter into the flour and sugar for the streusel.
Stir in the walnuts and chocolate pieces. Set the streusel topping aside.
Add in the nuts and chocolate.
Muffins: Preheat the oven to 400º F. Line a twelve 2 1/2-inch muffin tin with paper baking cups, then set the tin aside.
In a large bowl stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
Combine the flour with the baking powder and salt for the muffins.
Stir in the chocolate chips. Set the dry ingredients aside.
Add the mini chips to the flour mixture.
In a medium bowl combine the eggs, sugar, milk, orange peel, orange juice, and oil.
Combine the eggs, sugar, milk, orange zest and juice, and the oil.
Whisk the egg mixture together well.
Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture all at once. Stir the batter just until it is all moistened. The batter will be lumpy.
Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and combine just until mixed.
Divide the batter between the prepared muffin cups.
Add the batter to the 12 muffin cups.
Sprinkle each muffin with streusel topping. Bake the muffins for 18 to 20 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean.
Add the streusel topping to the muffin cups and bake.
Cool the muffins in the tin on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove the muffin from the tin and serve warm.
These are pretty good!
It’s wonderful to relax and enjoy the company of those we love with good food! ~Linda
Orange Chocolate Chip Muffins (adapted from bhg.com) Total Time Required: 50 minutes, Prep Time: 25 minutes, Bake Time: 18-20 minutes, Cool: 5 minutes, Makes: 12 muffins
Ingredients:
Streusel Topping:
- 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 6 tablespoons sugar
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 6 tablespoons chopped walnuts
- 3 tablespoons miniature semisweet chocolate pieces
Muffins:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate pieces
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon finely shredded orange peel
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
Directions:
Streusel Topping: In a small bowl stir together the flour and sugar. Using a pastry blender, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the walnuts and chocolate pieces. Set the streusel topping aside.
Muffins: Preheat the oven to 400º F. Line a twelve 2 1/2-inch muffin tin with paper baking cups, then set the tin aside.
In a large bowl stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the chocolate chips. Set the dry ingredients aside.
In a medium bowl combine the eggs, sugar, milk, orange peel, orange juice, and oil. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture all at once. Stir the batter just until it is all moistened. The batter will be lumpy.
Divide the batter between the prepared muffin cups. Sprinkle each muffin with streusel topping. Bake the muffins for 18 to 20 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean.
Cool the muffins in the tin on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove the muffin from the tin and serve warm.