We stand amidst cardboard towers, boxes piling up around us – all looking innocent but all staggeringly heavy. The pantry is like a war kitchen: minimally and efficiently stocked for basic meals; the idea of baking distant. Books and equipment carted away. My kitchen is mine no more. The spontaneous urge to reach out and lift a jar of chocolate that used to sit on a familiar shelf and whip something up is gone. Well obviously… even the shelf has disappeared.
But it’s Muffin Monday. And soldier on we must.
A kick of coffee to keep us awake and the indulgence of chocolate to keep us going. Truth be told, I’m in love with this recipe, I’ve doubled the coffee, thrown in a couple of bittersweet chocolate chips, omitted the nuts. But what sets these muffins apart is the mascarpone whip I threw in to give it a marble effect. Now it’s a personal favorite.
Over to the recipe: Mocha Muffins with a generous dollop of mascarpone swirled strewn with chocolate chips. Oh yes.
- ¼ cup hot water
- 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1¾ cups all purpose flour
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup packed golden brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups milk chocolate chips
- 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans (about 4 ounces), toasted
- 2 tablespoons mascarpone (at room temperature)
- 1 tablespoon confectioners sugar
- 1 teaspoon milk
- For the mascarpone whip: Mix all the ingredients until smooth and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Line twelve ½-cup muffin cups with paper liners.
- Stir ¼ cup hot water and espresso powder in medium bowl until espresso powder dissolves.
- Add buttermilk, oil, eggs and vanilla and whisk until well blended. Mix flour, sugar, brown sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl.
- Add buttermilk mixture and stir just until combined. Mix in chocolate chips and pecans.
- Divide batter equally among prepared muffin cups. Put a dollop of the mascarpone whip and give it a swirl effect the tip of a sharp knife or toothpick.
- Bake until tester inserted into center of muffins comes out clean, about 25 minutes.
- Transfer muffins to rack and cool.
Muffin Monday: Round Up
Happy Baking!
Love your version of these muffins! I will have to try them out like that! Yum!
Ooooh, the mascarpone must have tasted great with the muffins!
Everybody’s muffin looks so so different.. even the colours. Awesome
Lovely lovely recipe. Bookmarking for future reference.
Hope you are settled now.
What a genius idea! These muffins sound splendid!
I love these muffins on site – they are a mix of everything dear to me (chocolate, cheese and coffee taste!)
A delicious creation :D
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Latest: Australia Day Green and Gold Cake
Very creative use of marscapone here, love the marble effect. The flavors brought together are a classic blend and I can see many a person being happy with one of these and a cup of coffee-including me. Delicious post!
These muffins look incredibly moist and delicious!!! I love mascarpone in it. I am drooling.
Now this looks and sounds absolutely delicious!
Oh wow, now THIS is a muffin! I can’t believe you were able to make these in the middle of packing up!
Ooh, mascarpone! I bet these taste amazing!
Holy Crappers these muffins look amazing! I never used marscapone, but I think I shoudl, I can’t get over how wonderful these muffins sound! I want one for breakfast!
For someone who wasn’t in the mood to bake, you certainly turned out a lovely looking muffin. Best wishes getting settled in your new home and kitchen!
I am becoming in love with your muffin monday’s!!!!
Hi, yaa, your Muffins look great, thanks for the beautiful recipe, enjoyed baking it, you are very creative of using marscapone here, I must try this out.., beautiful clicks as always.., Hope everything goes well with your moving..
These would make my monday SO much better!
Holy cow, that’s a killer muffin! I love mascarpone, and marbled baked goods always make me happy :)
These look like a great way to slow down for a minute and catch your breath! Just remember that it will be over soon and you’ll be sitting pretty in your new place where you can relax.
Mocha mascarpone in a chocolate chip muffin? You can’t go wrong! Sounds and looks absolutely delish! Thanks so much for sharing! =]
You should really start selling muffins because you create he most luscious flavor combos, and they’re always gorgeous. I would by tons of them! Love the mascarpone, I can only imagine how rich and moist they are!
What a perfect use of marscapone for something other than tiramisu–I’m sure these are brilliant with coffee!
These muffins have to be divine with these ingredients. Mondays are beginning to get exciting for me, because I look forward to seeing what muffins you’ll create and post. Keep up the amazing work!
OMG that looks so good!!!! :D
I love the use of mascarpone in these muffins!! What a great idea!! Well done. :) Happy Monday. :)
All my favorites rolled into a muffin…delightful!
Mascarpone whip is an inspired addition!! I would love that too. :-)
these muffins sound divine! I think I need these for breakfast tomorrow :)
Well, you certainly have not let us down with more delicious muffins this week! I always forgot how great marscarpone cheese is in baked goods.
Mascarpone and coffee together is perfection! Great way to start the week!
love your spin on the muffins! mascarpone is a great addition. I totally know how you feel I just recently got through our forrest of boxes, it is so nice to be able to find everything again. good luck with the move!
The muffins are terrific – it’s very tough to move and get settled, but once it’s done – it feels SO good!
These look scrumptious! I love the mocha, it sounds so delicious right now, I could use a kick of energy :) And the mascarpone just takes it up a notch, great recipe!
mocha muffins sound FABULOUS! oh my goodness! sending some #muffinmonday love to you!
The muffins look wonderful.
These muffins sound delicious. Nothing wakes me up quicker than a fresh muffin and a cup of coffee waiting for me!
Love the mascarpone in these. Look so tasty!
Super ……looks really good !
I like your muffins, making this version with mascarpone should gave a very moit touch.
That looks divine!! I love mascarpone on everything!! Especially in tiramisu :)
Mascarpone in muffins must be yum. Looks so good!
Good luck w/ the moving! Oh, and as far as the recipe, ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME? LOL I mean, mascarpone and sugar and all that good stuff…. I can’t get these things out of my head now!
These muffins sound so awesome. I love anything with mascarpone!
I’m a little late on Muffin Monday but Moch Mascarpone YUM! This sounds amazing! I wish I could have a couple of these in the morning!
These look amazing! Need to whip up a gluten-free batch soon!!
Wow..yet another scrumptious Muffin Monday treat!
These sound amazing–perfect with a cup of coffee!
Another fabulous muffin! Love that you marbled them with mascarpone…mmmmmm.
What a great recipe! I’m always up for something new!
“Spice it Up”
You had me at marscapone!
I love mascarpone cheese!! i really want to make them, they look fantastic
Hi I am sending an award your way!
Happy Cooking
http://www.pandpkitchen.com/2012/02/06/my-second-blog-award/
Aww.. Thanks Chandra! xx
These have a delectable combo of ingredients! Looks scrumptious!
This is my first time here.. what a lovely blog you have here!!! Muffins are my absolutely favorite thing to bake… will be dropping by very frequently now!!!