Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Look no further! These Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins are moist pumpkin spiced treats dotted with chocolate chips. This is the only pumpkin chocolate chip muffin recipe you will ever need.

When I was in college my husband and I had a friend (who will rename nameless) who was a serial dater.

John and I were dating at the time and were discussing if our friend would ever settle down.

I remember John saying, “He’s just like most guys. Always looking for the next best thing.” Grr. That statement made me want to headbang a wall.

No girl wants to feel like she’s the pit stop to something better. And probably because I assumed that was my husband’s philosophy at the time.

After clarifying, it turns out it wasn’t. He proposed shortly later.

We frequently discussed the topic with friends and  John would always share a saying that his mom told him growing up in efforts to encourage him to date. She used to always say,  “You have to taste all 31 flavors before you know which one you like.”

Whenever John shared this quote I always quickly quipped back with MY favorite saying…, “If you’re always changing the radio station, you might miss your favorite song.”

What’s my point? In this world of food blogging, we all are always trying to find the next best recipe. Even though I have 5 stellar chocolate chip cookies, I’m always looking to try one I might like better.

But with these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip muffins, I really don’t feel the need to look elsewhere. This is it.

An easy recipe that makes a perfectly round 2 dozen. Moist, full of pumpkin flavor and dotted with chocolate chips. Add it to the pumpkin list of treats I have to make every year. Along with these Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins. Because those are just to die for.

The batter is very straightforward. I had my two year old add all of the ingredients. I teach them young. I filled the paper liners 3/4 to almost all the way full. I feel the need to point out my seasoned cupcake pan. Can you believe it’s only a month old? Ok. That’s not true.

These are the muffins right out of the oven. As with any pumpkin treat, the flavor shines more after they’ve sat for a day or so. The pumpkin works it’s magic and makes them even more moist as they sit.

I found that I liked these baked a minute or so less than the original bake time. It’s the difference between an incredible muffin and a good muffin. Do the toothpick test to check when yours are done.

These are chalk full of chocolate chips. If you prefer a little less, add about 1 1/2 cups.

 Okay this one I baked in a jumbo muffin pan. Still good, but a little flatter.

 The key to really moist muffins and bread is oil. Sorry, but it is. That’s why my mother-in-law’s pumpkin bread is so good. So if you want to substitute some of the oil with applesauce, go ahead! I do it all of the time. Okay. I do it once in a while.

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Yield: 24 muffins

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Prep Time:

5 hrs 50 mins

Cook Time:

5 hrs 50 mins

Ingredients

• 4 eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 can (15 ounces solid-pack pumpkin puree)
• 1-1/2 cups canola oil
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice (see Note for substitution)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Place paper liners in a regular sized muffin pan.
2. In a large bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, pumpkin and oil until smooth. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice and salt; Add flour mixture slowly to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Fold in chocolate chips. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths to almost all the way full.
3. Bake for 15-17 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Do not overbake. It makes all the difference between a good and a great muffin. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack. Makes 2 dozen muffins.

Recipe Notes

*You can substitute applesauce for some of the oil.

*If you don't have Pumpkin Pie Spice you can make your own. The substitute for 1 Tablespoon of Pumpkin Pie Spice is: 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon ginger, 1/4 teaspoon allspice.

*To make the muffins have that bakery look, hand place some chocolate chips on top after filling the paper liners.

Source: adapted from Taste of Home

Author: Christy Denney

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