• 5 years ago
Master perfect chocolate muffins with this fail-safe recipe from Annabel Karmel's Busy Mum's Cookbook. Made with melted dark chocolate, these heavenly sponges are surprisingly light - and they rise perfectly. Devour as soon as they're cool enough to handle, or enlist the kids to help decorate them with chocolate butter cream icing and sprinkles. Utter indulgence.

Best-ever chocolate muffins

Makes 12 portions Prep 20 mins Cook 20-30mins

INGREDIENTS

100g / 4 oz dark good quality chocolate broken into pieces plus an extra 50g / 2 oz to decorate

175g / 6 oz unsalted butter

225g / 8 oz caster sugar

3 large eggs at room temperature

225g / 8 oz self raising flour

20g / 3/4 oz cocoa powder

A pinch of salt

Chocolate Buttercream Icing

79g / 2 1\2 oz unsalted butter, softened

150g / 5 oz icing sugar, sifted

2 tbsp cocoa powder

1 tbsp milk

METHOD

1.Preheat the oven to 160C / 325F and line a 12 hole muffin tray with paper cases.

2.Melt the chocolate and butter together in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Remove from the heat and leave to cool.

3.Beat the sugar and eggs in a bowl until thick and creamy, then fold in the cooled chocolate mixture. Sift in the flour, cocoa powder and salt and whisk forms further 20 seconds.

4.Divide the batter evenly between the paper cases. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until well risen and just firm in the middle. Leave to cool for a few minutes in the muffin tray before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

5.To make the icing, beat the softened butter with half of the icing sugar until smooth, then add the remaining sugar, cocoa powder and milk. Whisk until fluffy.

6.Pipe or spread the buttercream icing onto the muffins, then chop or grate the remaining 50f / 2 oz chocolate to decorate.

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