Dive into the delightful world of Blue Velvet Muffins, where the classic elegance of red velvet meets a vibrant blue twist. Packed with creamy white chocolate chips, these muffins offer a moist, fluffy texture and a visually striking appearance that makes them perfect for special breakfasts, brunches, or as a sweet snack any time of day.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons natural cocoa powder
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1 ½ cups vanilla-flavored yogurt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Blue food coloring, as needed
- Violet/Purple food coloring, as needed
- 1 ½ cups white chocolate chips, plus extra for topping
Directions
- Preparation: Start by preheating your oven to 425°F. Line a muffin pan with paper liners or generously spray with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Butter and Cocoa: Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Remove from heat and stir in the cocoa powder until well combined. Allow this mixture to cool for about 5 minutes, setting the stage for a rich chocolate flavor.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and eggs until the mixture thickens. Add the cooled butter-cocoa mix, vegetable oil, yogurt, and vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly. Gradually blend in blue and violet food coloring until you achieve the desired shade of blue.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir in the white chocolate chips just until combined. It’s important to keep the batter lumpy and avoid overmixing to ensure the muffins remain light and fluffy.
- Bake: Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin pan, filling each cup nearly full. Sprinkle the tops with extra white chocolate chips. Bake at 425°F for 5 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 375°F and continue baking for another 11-12 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cooling: Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Tips for Perfect Blue Velvet Muffins
- Cocoa Powder: Use natural cocoa powder rather than Dutch-processed to achieve a lighter base color, which helps in obtaining the vibrant blue hue.
- Food Coloring: Adjust the amount of blue and violet food coloring to get the perfect vibrant shade you desire. Start with small amounts and increase as needed.
- Serving Suggestion: These muffins are best enjoyed warm when the white chocolate chips are still melty. If enjoying the next day, reheat briefly in the microwave for a fresh-baked taste.
Nutritional Information
- Calories: Information not provided. For those counting, please note that the inclusion of sugars and chocolate chips may increase the caloric content.
These Blue Velvet Muffins offer a fun and colorful take on the beloved velvet cake variants. With their eye-catching hue and delicious pockets of white chocolate, they’re sure to be a hit at any gathering or as a special treat for yourself and loved ones. Enjoy the process of making and sharing these unique and tasty muffins!