Chocolate Orange Swirl Muffins
These chocolate orange swirl muffins are some of the lightest muffins ever created, and they are a refreshing change from the rich holiday treats.
While we could sit here and spend our time together arguing about whether these are technically decadent enough to be a cupcake or a muffin, let’s instead agree to agree that these are hands-down the lightest, most tender muffins ever known to grace my kitchen.
The subtle orange-flavored batter is studded with chocolate chips while ribbons of chocolate-infused batter run through each muffin so every taste has the hint of orange, touch of chocolate and a burst of unbelievable fluffy, moist crumb.
Although beholden with their fare share of calories, these blessed muffins are a refreshing change from the heavy, rich treats of the holidays. With “orange” and “muffin” in the title, I’ve nearly convinced myself they could classify as health food.
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One Year Ago: Cherry Cheesecake Cookies
Two Years Ago: Thick and Chewy Double Chocolate Cookies
Chocolate Orange Swirl Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups (213 g) all purpose flour
- ½ cup (106 g) sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup canola oil or melted butter
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup orange juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Zest of one medium orange, about 1 tablespoon
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- ½ cup (85 g) semisweet chocolate chips, regular or mini-sized
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees (for dark, nonstick pans) or 350 degrees for regular muffin tins. Line tins with cupcake liners or spray with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
- In a separate medium-size bowl beat together the egg, oil or butter, buttermilk, orange juice, vanilla and orange zest. Pour the wet mixture over the dry and mix together just until moistened. Don’t over mix! You may even see some small dry spots – as long as the mixture is evenly moistened without being overmixed, it will be fine.
- Into two bowls, divide the batter in half. Sift the cocoa powder in to one of the bowls and fold in half of the chocolate chips. Fold the remaining chocolate chips into the other “white” bowl of batter.
- Drop spoonfuls of the batter into the prepared muffin tins, alternating the orange and chocolate batters. Fill the cups 2/3 full. Bake for 13-15 minutes at 350 or 17-18 minutes at 325 until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and cool the muffins for five minutes in the tins. Remove the muffins to a wire rack to cool completely.
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Recipe Source: adapted from Wolfgang Puck
I’ve been making these muffins for over 10yrs! Don’t make them really anymore now my kids are off in college but my daughter was home for a visit for a few days & when I asked her some things she would like to have while home this was one of them! I made them quite often when my kids were younger but I specifically remember making them & bringing them to school when my kids were in 5th grade for small group book club day. Now that my kids are 21yrs old….these kinds of memories are so precious to me!! And Mel you are such a part of my kids lives, and so my memories like this too. Thank you for all you have done to be there for all of us & be such a special part of my life!
I love hearing that, Erika!! This recipe is an old-timer, and it makes me so happy that your kids have fond memories of them!! Thank you for sharing that with me! I love that we’ve kind of grown up together (virtually). 🙂
Your recipes NEVER disappoint! These were amazingly delicious.
Thank you so much, Bonnie!
I know it’s 8 years late but these are going to be our new go to muffin! I had a bunch of oranges that we’re pass what my kids would eat. I used them for fresh orange juice to add to these. I doubled the recipe and glad that I did. My kids all love them!
Amazing! Make them immediately!
I made these.
I’m indecisive about making these with butter or oil. Can you tell a difference?
Depends on the oil you use; really either works fine but go with butter if you aren’t sure.
These look divine! How do you think these would taste if I substituted lemon juice/zest instead of orange juice/zest? I can’t wait to try these!
Sydney – I personally don’t care for the lemon/chocolate combo but the orange/chocolate combo is somehow amazing! Having said that, if you like lemon/chocolate together then it is definitely worth a try to change out the orange for lemon. Good luck if you try it!
Oh my goodness words cannot explain how good these are! I made them and in the end wished I had doubled the recipe due to my little siblings greedy hands!:))
These are delectable!
Oh man, yet another great recipe- thank you! Changed nothing, and used fresh squeezed orange juice and full fat buttermilk. I froze the choc chips and did not very gently fold into each batter until last minute b/c I like when they keep their shape instead of getting all melty/streaky looking. That worked well; these muffins are not only good looking but more importantly taste fabulous. Thanks again!
Ohhhhhhh these are so good! And mostly pantry staples to make them. I subbed coconut sugar again with great results. This is a super fantastic recipe, where have they been all my life? I feel like I’ve just been let in on a really awesome secret 🙂 Thanks again!
This recipe sounds delicious! How about subbing some applesauce for the oil to reduce the fat content? What ratio would you use? Thanks!
Karen – you’ll have to experiment and find out what works best. I’ve never subbed in applesauce. Good luck!
Wow, they taste so fine and came together so fast… definitely on my “tried and loved”-list!
http://to-does.blogspot.de/2012/09/back-quickie.html
These are amazing! Seriously amazing! The choc/orange combo is so good & they are super moist. I am surprised they are so moist because the only “bad” stuff in there is the oil & choc chips. I even used about 1/3 cup of whole wheat flour. And I didn’t even use the butter! These will be made again & I will keep upping the WW flour to see how they do. Thanks for the awesome recipe Mel!
Just tried these the other day and they were a big hit. I actually don’t think they are all that bad for you, if you use lowfat buttermilk and canola oil there isn’t that much saturated fat. They have a very delicate texture and who doesn’t love chocolate and orange together!
my kids LOVE these muffins. they never last more than a day in our home. One of my favorite recipes you’ve shared. thanks so much!!
These were SO GOOD!!! I’ve got my 3rd batch in the oven, after giving the first away and the second half devoured already by my family. (And I have a 4th batch waiting, my hubby way over grated the oranges so I’m using up the zest and orange juice while I have them!) Freezing some for emergency happy muffins. 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing. I love every single recipe I try off your blog!
I made these this morning….let’s just say there are not too many left! Fabulous!
Tammy – glad these were gone in a flash – that’s a good sign!
These are currently baking in my oven and smell sooo yummy! Can’t wait until they are done! Thanks for sharing all your wonderful recipes! This isn’t the first one I have tried and loved! You are Fabulous! 🙂
Sheena – I am hoping these muffins were as good as they smelled!
Just out of curiosity, did you bake these as full size muffins, or mini muffins? They look like regular size, but I can’t tell for sure. Do you think they would work in the mini size, and would I cook them for the same amount of time? Thanks!!
Tracey – I baked these as full-size muffins. I suppose they could work as mini-size but it would be fairly time consuming to alternate the batters in those tiny little cups. If you try it, I would cut the baking time down by at least 5-8 minutes and check often so they don’t overbake.
love them. you are right orange and chocolate go so well together!!
if ever there was a time and place for orange and chocolate (which there doesn’t seem to be, have you noticed?), it’s christmas. these are lovely.
These look amazing! I think I’ll add them to my Christmas brunch menu!!!
YUM!! I just bought some orange sticks…a Christmas time must-have in my opinion! These are like the muffin version….FANTASTIC:)
So I can’t buy buttermilk where I live. Is sour milk always a perfect substitute? many of your recipes call for it and I would love to make them.
Wondering if you know?
Holli – usually adding 1 teaspoon white vinegar or lemon juice to 1 cup milk will give you great results as a substitution for buttermilk, so if you can’t find the real thing, the soured milk is a good option!
They look beautiful.
Yum.. sounds like such a delicious combination!
Wow…these muffins look amazing! Chocolate and orange are such a fabulous combination! I can’t wait to try this recipe! 🙂
Oh my…..Love it! I could not pass these up.