Fancy a change to your typical chocolate chip muffins? Soft, moist and chocolaty with the slight crunch of chia seeds, these chocolate chia seed muffins are a real treat. Make them for an afternoon snack, breakfast or dessert and just perfect for a coffee or tea break.
I really wasn't intending to make muffins again quite so soon after the last ones. However, sometimes you don't get a choice about what recipe to make and sometimes what you make turns out to be so tasty it really needs to be shared. That's the case with these chocolate chia seed muffins.
Master Spice and I got back home after a morning at the local soft play and I made the mistake of asking him what he wanted for lunch. Now, you should never ask a 2 year old what they want for lunch and I will remember that next time.
Not a sandwich, not jacket potato, not chicken, not scrambled egg but...
Cake. I tried to change his mind but he became even more specific. Pink birthday cake.
Now, luckily being only just 2 his standards are not quite as high as they may become. These little chocolate chia seed muffins (some in pink cases) managed to satisfy him, me, Little Miss Spice and Mr Searching for Spice.
The inspiration for these muffins
We had only just finished eating the Lemon Raspberry and Chia Seed Muffins that I'd made the week before. I loved those muffins so much that I wanted to try and achieve the same texture but with completely different flavours so these chocolate chia seed muffins are an adaptation of that recipe.
If I had to choose between the two chia seed muffins I've made so far, I'd have to choose the Lemon and Raspberry ones but my lovely husband would definitely choose these ones. According to him, they are perfect!
How do you make these chocolate chia muffins?
These muffins are really simple to make. It's just a case of putting all the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet ingredients in a jug. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and fold together.
They couldn't be easier or quicker to make! Perfect if you're a busy parent and need a snack for peckish kids.
What ingredients do you need for these chia muffins?
For these muffins you will need: flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, chia seeds, vegetable oil, milk, vanilla extract, an egg and chocolate chips.
What are chia seeds like in muffins?
Although chocolate and chia seed muffins might not be a typical muffin combination, they really do go well together. Just like in the other muffins, the chia seeds give the muffins a delicious crunch while still having that lovely soft muffin texture.
Chia seeds can be used as an egg replacement but these muffins have an egg plus the chia seeds in. The chia seeds are there for texture rather than as a binding agent. However, I do plan to make these soon to test how they work without the egg.
Can you replace the chia seeds?
If you want to replicate these muffins but without chia seeds you could use flax seeds or poppy seeds instead.
Like chia seeds, flax seeds can also be used as an egg replacer and I will soon update this post to include an egg free option.
What kind of chocolate do these have in?
I use milk chocolate in these as it's what my family prefer. However, you could use dark or even white chocolate depening on your preferences.
The first time I made them I used chocolate pieces from a leftover Easter egg that I'd being hiding in the cupboard for a long time. My children go a little bit too crazy over chocolate and don't want to eat anything else around Easter time.
Therefore as a good mother (or bad depending on your point of view!) I end up squirreling it away so they can't find it. I'm sure I'm not the only one who does that and this is a great way to use it up so they can still enjoy it.
What kind of flour do you need?
I used plain flour plus baking powder for these muffins. However, you could replace it with self-raising flour and just half a teaspoon of baking powder.
How long do these muffins keep for?
There are few things more tempting than a warm freshly baked homemade muffin. However, you can still keep these for at least three days. Just store them in a cool airtight container.
Can you freeze chocolate chia muffins?
Yes, you can definitely freeze these homemade muffins. Just put them in an airtight freezerbag and you can store them for up to three months. Defrost them at room temperature for a couple of hours before eating.
More recipes you might like
Why not try my blueberry almond muffins? or my egg-free chocolate muffins?
Recipe
Chocolate Chia Seed Muffins
Ingredients
- 190 g plain flour
- 150 g sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 80 ml vegetable oil I used light olive oil
- 120 ml semi-skimmed milk
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 70 g chocolate chips I used milk chocolate
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200C
- Put the flour, sugar, salt, chia seeds and baking powder in a large mixing bowl.
- Put the oil, milk, egg and vanilla extract into a mixing jug and whisk together with a fork.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and fold together to just combine. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Line a 12 hole muffin tin with muffin cases and fill each case about ⅔ full.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes. Test with a skewer to see if they are ready. Mine were ready after 15 minutes.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Alyssa
I love chia seeds. Would you be able to sub out the egg for a chia-egg?
Corina Blum
I think you could. I am not an expert at using chia eggs but I don't see why it wouldn't work.
Danielle Wolter
I haven't cooked with chia seeds yet (or even had them at all) but I see them around all the time and know they are healthy. Maybe I should give these muffins a try, they sound delicious! A great intro into chia seeds 🙂
Corina Blum
I'm sure you'd love these! The chia seeds give the muffins a lovely slight crunch - I keep planning to do more things with them too. I'm always seeing chia puddings online and keep thinking I need to have a go one day!
Sybil
Hi there, I want to try these but I only use natural sweeteners (agave, maple syrup or honey). Which one of these do you think would work best, and would I have to increase the flour amount to account for the additional “liquid”?
Corina Blum
Hi Sybil, in this recipe you should be able to substitute the sugar for any of the natural sweeteners you mention without having to add extra flour. Personally I would use honey or agave but any should work. Do let me know if you try them and how they turn out with one of these sweeteners.
Helen of Fuss Free Flavours
I imagine that chocolate and chia seeds are a rather lovely combination, and perfect for satisfying a two year old's needs. So easy to make and perfect for breakfast, lunch and picnics.
Corina Blum
Exactly! I'm going to need to start baking a lot more soon so I've got healthier treats for picnics.
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
These sound like delicious muffins - I love that you included chia seeds for that little bit of crunch. I'm sure my girls would love these so will have to get making them with them!
Corina Blum
Thanks! I'm so pleased you like them.
Shinta Simon
Your son has good taste! Mine would go for pink cake too, anytime. I like the idea of chia seeds in the muffins, I'm all for texture in my muffins. Great idea!
Corina Blum
Thanks! I think the chia seeds add a great texture and I've added them to a few other muffins too.
Elizabeth
I love these! I love that you made them pink for your son's lunch, I love that you've still got leftover Easter eggs in your cupboard and I love this chocolate chia combination. Thank you for sharing with the No Waste Food Challenge!
Corina
I'm so pleased you like them Elizabeth! My daughter actually discovered some more easter eggs hidden in the cupboard just a couple of days ago so I really need to do some more baking too!
Sarah Trivuncic, Maison Cupcake
I need to get more familiar with chia, these muffins look like they have great texture. Thanks for joining in with #BAKEoftheWEEK !
Corina
Thank you Sarah! They were lovely muffins and I am adding chia seeds to all sorts of bakes now
jennypaulin
perfect little cupcakes and they look lovely inside x
Corina
Thank you Jenny!
Honest Mum
These look so healthy. I have to try chia seeds!
Corina
Well, the chia seeds makes you feel you're being healthy eating them anyway!
kirsty Hijacked by Twins
Mmmmm yummy! I love chia seed and with chocolate they are delicious! Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
Corina
I'm so pleased you like these! It was my first recipe pairing them with chocolate and it really worked well.
Stuart Vettese
A great way to sneak chia seeds into little ones diets. A muffin would be great right now with a cuppa!
Corina
I wish I had some left!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
We are big fans of muffins in our house and adding chia seeds to them is a great way to add some extra protein.
Corina
Indeed! Muffins are great as they're so easy to make and my kids love them.
CookRook
Last time I often see dessert recipes using Chia seeds. Is it a trend or is it very tasty? For example, if I can't buy these seeds, what could be equivalent?
Corina
Chia seeds are a trend but they're also very tasty. I would say that in muffins they are similar to poppy seeds in texture but they are a little bit bigger. I have to say that I've only eaten and never actually baked with poppy seeds and this is only my second time baking with chia seeds so I'm not the person to ask if you're wondering if you can use them interchangeably. I'd love to know this myself actually.
Brynn at The Domestic Dietitian
Looks delicious! I also learn the hard way not to ask my 3 year old daughter what she wants for lunch...her requests are hilarious,
Corina
I'm sure I'll make the mistake again but it did teach me!
Charlotte Oates
I suspect that master spice and my youngest would get on very well, he seems to think that cake is a perfectly acceptable dinner aswell!
I've not tried muffins with chia seeds in before, what difference does it make to the texture?
Corina
The texture of the muffin itself was still lovely, soft and moist but the seeds themselves stayed crunchy. You'll have to try it!
Philip
These muffins look gorgeous. I bet the chocolate goes so well with the chia seeds
Corina
Thank you and yes, the chocolate and chia seeds together is a great combination!
Kristy from Southern In Law
These look so fluffy and delicious! It almost looks like a chocolate surprise at the bottom with those chocolate chips sinking down! (Which is awesome because that means the last bite would be super chocolatey and delicious!)
Corina
Yes, that's exactly what they were like!