These moist, light, & fluffy bakery style Chocolate Chip Muffins are perfect for impressing overnight guests or just treating yourself. They’ve got sky-high sugared tops, lots of chocolate chips, and the BEST flavor and texture. Recipe includes a how-to video!
(Still) The Best Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe
When I first shared this recipe back in 2016, a google search for “chocolate chip muffins” generated roughly 1.2 million results. Today you’ll find that number is closer to 64 million. 🤯 Despite the stiff competition, I still firmly believe that I have the BEST chocolate chip muffin recipe out there…yes, better than 64 million other muffin recipes!
What makes these muffins so good? Well for starters, they’re huge–we’re talking jumbo, bakery style chocolate chip muffins! They’re also perfectly soft and fluffy (in contrast to the crisp biscotti I just shared), and of course, they’re chock full of chocolate chips. As a finishing touch, they’re sprinkled with coarse sugar, so not only are the tops slightly crisp, but they’re also kind of glittery. These muffins truly belong in a New York City bakery display, but luckily, you don’t have to plan a trip to NYC to try them.
Like my basic muffin recipe, this recipe uses a technique from The Kitchen Whisperer for nice, tall muffin tops. I use this technique in my banana muffins too, and so many of you have commented to let me know how well it works for you.
Let’s dive right into the details!
What You Need
Besides technique, these muffins use carefully selected ingredients to claim their title as the BEST. Here are a few of the game changers we’ll be using today:
- Butter + oil. I love to use this combination for a flavorful AND moist crumb. Don’t substitute one for the other–we need both!
- An extra egg white. What makes these muffins so light and fluffy? To get that bakery style chocolate chip muffin texture, we’re adding an additional egg white. Both your egg and egg white should be at room temperature for best results.
- Buttermilk. Buttermilk is the secret to moist muffins! These muffins begin their bake at a fairly high temperature, so it’s important that they have the right ingredients to prevent dryness. You could use my buttermilk substitute if you don’t have the real stuff on hand, but real buttermilk adds moisture and thickness that isn’t quite duplicated with a substitute. (And no, you do not need baking soda in this recipe just because we’re using buttermilk).
- Cornstarch. This is my secret ingredient for extra soft, tender muffins. Don’t skip it!
- Chocolate chips. I like to use a blend of mini and regular sized chocolate chips, and I always reserve a few for placing on the muffin tops just before baking.
- Coarse sugar. While you’ll use granulated sugar in the muffins, I recommend sprinkling coarse sugar on the tops. This is optional, but it really elevates the look and texture and makes these truly “bakery style” chocolate chip muffins!
SAM’S TIP: Don’t have jumbo muffin liners? You can make muffin liners out of parchment paper! Not only does this save you a trip to the store, but it also gives you that bakery-style look.
Remember, this is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the bottom of the post!
How to Make Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Whisk together the butter and oil and sugar. Add the egg and egg white, plus the vanilla. Stir this until it is very well combined, then add the buttermilk and stir well.
- Whisk together the dry ingredients in a separate bowl, then carefully fold them into the wet ingredients.
- Pause when the ingredients are about halfway mixed and add in the chocolate chips. Continue folding until everything is just combined.
- Cover your bowl with a towel and let the batter rest for 15 minutes or up to one hour while your oven preheats
Resting the batter is optional, but doing so gives us fluffier chocolate chip muffins and taller muffin tops. If you’ve made my buttermilk pancakes, you know I like to allow that batter rest while the pan preheats for the same reason, the batter thickens and the results are fluffier!
Now comes the special technique for chocolate chip muffins that rise higher than any others! You’ll start your oven on a high temperature and then drop the temperature about a third of the way through baking–without opening the door! This little trick makes your muffin tops spring to life without burning (or drying out) your muffin bottoms. Pretty cool, right?
- Once batter has had time to rest, preheat your oven and line your muffin tin.
- Fill your muffin liners with batter, making sure to fill them almost to the top (leave about ⅛ inch)–but don’t let them overflow.
- Sprinkle each muffin with coarse sugar and bake at 425F for 8 minutes. Reduce the oven to 350F (don’t open the door!) and continue baking until they begin to turn golden brown. This can take anywhere from 7-15 minutes, so keep an eye on them!
- Remove the muffins from the pan and let them cool before enjoying.
SAM’S TIP: (Carefully) remove your chocolate chip muffins from the pan within 5-10 minutes of them coming out of the oven. If you leave them in their hot pan, the bottoms may become soggy.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’re using a varying temperature technique here, which plays a big role in helping the muffins rise. But another key step is resting your batter. The longer it rests, the thicker it will be, and thicker batter means taller muffins! I recommend letting your batter rest for at least 15 minutes, but if you can let it sit for about an hour or so, you’ll be rewarded with beautifully tall muffin tops!
Yes! They won’t need to bake as long though, so just keep a close eye on them.
Your chocolate chip muffins will stay fresh when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. You can also freeze them!
If you try these, I’d love it if you commented to let me know how they stack up against the 64 million (and counting) other chocolate chip muffin recipes out there!
Let’s bake together! I’ll be walking you through all the steps in my written recipe and video below! If you try this recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram, and you can also find me on YouTube and Facebook
Bakery-Style Chocolate Chip Muffins
Ingredients
- 4 Tablespoons (57 g) unsalted butter melted and cooled at least 5 minutes
- ¼ cup (60 ml) avocado oil or vegetable oil or canola oil may substitute vegetable oil
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg + 1 egg white room temperature preferred
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup buttermilk room temperature preferred
- 1 ¾ cup (220 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons corn starch
- ½ teaspoon table salt
- 1 cup (175 g) chocolate chips I used a mix of mini and regular sized, but you can use either or a combination
- ⅓ cup (67 g) additional granulated sugar, coarse sugar preferred for topping
Recommended Equipment
- 6-count Jumbo Muffin Tin (see note for making 12 muffins)
Instructions
- Combine butter, oil, and sugar in a large bowl and whisk together.4 Tablespoons (57 g) unsalted butter, ¼ cup (60 ml) avocado oil or vegetable oil or canola oil, 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- Add egg, egg white, and vanilla extract. Whisk together thoroughly, until all ingredients are well-combined, then stir in buttermilk until combined.1 large egg + 1 egg white, 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract, ½ cup buttermilk
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, corn starch, and salt.1 ¾ cup (220 g) all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 2 teaspoons corn starch, ½ teaspoon table salt
- Fold dry ingredients into wet gently, taking care not to overmix. Once about half of the dry ingredients have been incorporated into the batter, add in chocolate chips and continue to fold in to batter until all ingredients are just combined.1 cup (175 g) chocolate chips
- Cover bowl with a dry towel and allow batter to sit while your oven preheats (see note).
- Preheat oven to 425F (215C) and line a 6-count jumbo muffin tin with paper liners.
- Once your oven has preheated (maybe give it a few extra minutes or check your oven thermometer, my oven often says it's reached temperature when it really hasn't yet!), portion batter into prepared muffin tin, filling each tin all the way to the top with batter (without overflowing).
- Sprinkle tops generously with additional sugar and place muffin tin in preheated oven.⅓ cup (67 g) additional granulated sugar, coarse sugar preferred
- Bake on 425F (218C) for 8 minutes and then, without opening the oven door, reduce the oven temperature to 350F (175C) and bake another 15 minutes, or until tops are just beginning to turn golden brown Note: if you are using a standard 12-count muffin tin rather than jumbo-sized, they will not need to bake as long, check your muffins after 7-8 minutes on 350F (177C)).
- Allow muffins to cool in the muffin tin for 5-10 minutes then carefully remove from muffin tin and enjoy!
Notes
Allowing the muffin batter to sit
This step is optional, but it helps the batter thicken and ultimately results in taller muffin tops. Allowing the batter to sit for up to 60 minutes also works and will yield even taller tops.Storing
Store leftover muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Baked muffins may also be cooled and then frozen in an airtight container for several months.Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Christina
Absolutely delicious with nice crispy tops!
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much, Christina! I am so happy that you enjoyed the chocolate chip muffins! 🙂
Carey
Thank you for an awesome recipe. They are a huge success.
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you for giving the chocolate chip recipe a try. I am so glad that you enjoyed it, Carey! 🙂
Darlene
I have made these muffins 3 times now. Absolutely incredible. I have kept a couple out and froze the rest. They freeze wonderfully and are a great dessert to take one out of the freezer when ever I crave a sweet.
Sam
I’m so happy to hear the chocolate chip muffins were such a hit! Thank you so much for commenting, Darlene, I appreciate it! 🙂
Darnelle
I am looking forward to trying this recipe. Can you give me baking times for MINI muffins?
Sugar Spun Run
Hello, Darnelle! I personally have never made them into mini muffins, however, someone has tried it. Based on their feedback, this is what they said: “I made them into mini muffins instead (a 24 count sheet). I kept them at 425 for the full 8 minutes and then dropped them down to 350 for only about 4-5 minutes and they turned out perfect.” I hope that helps and that you enjoy your chocolate chip muffins! 🙂
Heather M. Whipple
These do look good, however, can I use sour cream instead of buttermilk in this recipe? Sour cream makes it moist as well. I do not want an over powering tanginess to these chocolate chip muffins.
Please let me know by e-mailing me at midnight0675@frontier.com
Sugar Spun Run
Hello, Heather! I have not tried it for this recipe. If you do, let me know how it turns out. 🙂
Melody Pogue
Tried these muffins tonight & Let me just say, It more than satisfied my cravings for a chocolate chip muffin. I Added About 3/4 Cup of Unsweetened Cocoa power (For a double batch) For A single batch I’d 1/4 and a Half of one for good taste, To give it an extra chocolate taste & Make it Double Chocolate Chip muffins.
I Also used Mini chocolate chips and made Mini muffins. It made 80 mini muffins! Yum! yum! yum!
Melody Pogue
I also Cooked the mini muffins at 350 °F For About 5 Minutes, Let them cool For 5 minutes then put them in ziplocks. Cooked to perfection!
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much, Melody! I am so happy that you enjoyed your mini chocolate chip muffins. I appreciate your feedback. 🙂
Shannon
I have made these several times and they are wonderful. Thank you so much for such a great recipe with easy-to-follow instructions.
Sam
Thank you so much, Shannon! I am so glad you enjoyed the muffins so much. 🙂
Mary Alice
These were fantastic! Everyone raved over them.
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoyed the chocolate chip muffins, Mary! 🙂
Hollie Lassiter
Amazing! Loved these! How would you suggest switching it up to add pumpkin purée and white chocolate chips?
Sugar Spun Run
Hello, Hollie! I am so happy that you enjoyed the Chocolate Chip Muffins. I have a few pumpkin muffin recipes you may want to try, The BEST Pumpkin Muffins or Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins. I haven’t added white chocolate chips but that should work well with the pumpkin muffins. Let me know what you end up trying and how it turns out! I love the taste of fall… enjoy! 🙂
Jen
Love this recipe! These muffins are always a hit in our house! How would you recommend adjusting the baking time/temperature the recipe for mini muffins?
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Jen! I am so happy to hear that the Chocolate Chip Muffins are such a hit! I personally haven’t made them as minis, but here is a baking guide that will help. I recommend just keeping an eye on them. Enjoy!
Melody Pogue
I made Mini Muffins Cooked them At 350 °F for about 5 or 6 minutes turned out perfectly!
Kate
Really really good
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you, Kate! I am so happy that you enjoyed the chocolate chip muffins! 🙂
Kate
These are amazing! My kiddos and I have made them several times in the past few weeks and devour them so fast!
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoys the muffins so much, Kate! 🙂
Donna aka Gabba
I had been making chocolate chip muffin tops when my grandsons visit. This time when our oldest came to spend a week I decided he needed something a little more special. So I found your recipe and they were a huge hit! Guess I didn’t realize how big of a hit until last night I got a text from his mom saying he was still raving about them and could she pretty please ask for the recipe!!
Sam
I am so glad everyone he enjoyed the muffins so much! Maybe he can learn to make them, so he can make some for you. 😉
Kristin Russell
Fantastic! I didn’t put the extra sugar on top, and it was still a delightful crisp texture on the outer edges and lusciously soft inside.
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed the muffins, Kristin! 🙂
Andrea
I have made several bakery style chocolate chip muffins and this is by far my kids favorite!
Sam
Hi, Andrea! I am so glad everyone enjoys the muffins! 🙂
Dora
I tried this recipe, the muffins are sooo good! I put brown sugar and replaced buttermilk with yogurt. The best muffins I’ve made ever! Thank you for the recipe.
Sam
Thank you so much, Dora! I am so glad you enjoyed the muffins! 🙂