Today I had this plan. Here in Vermont it’s a “snow day” (we were supposed to get a lot more snow then we actually did, SO disappointing!) so I had this idea in my head that we would jump into a super fun and involved bake…and then we went outside, and then the kids needed to shower, and then they wanted to play, and then and then and then! You get it. Anyway, by the time we got around to it they weren’t in the mood anymore. No biggie, it happens! I thought we would just wait a day or two and try again.
While the kids were playing together I thought I would quickly and quietly whip up a batch of muffins. I love to have muffins and other easy grab and go stuff laying around to throw in my bag for running errands or going on fun outside adventures. I don’t know about you, but the second we leave the house the first thing I hear is “I’M HUNGRY” being screamed at me from the back seat of the car. (I’m not going to lie, it can be pretty jarring. The little one is scary when she’s hungry!) Well, apparently I don’t do anything quickly or quietly because they somehow heard me getting ingredients and bowls out and decided to join. While this isn’t the bake I had planned for this post, it was fun none the less and one worth sharing!
We got this recipe from one of our favorite places, King Arthur Baking. Pre-pandemic we loved taking a day trip to visit the store and explore all of the amazing products that they have. It’s true that your baking can only be as good as the products you use, but more on that at a later date. Now we love to peruse the King Arthur website looking for new recipes to try. This is one that we had been checking out for a while and just hadn’t gotten around to. These beauties are called Chocolate Breakfast Muffins, and I don’t know about you but I’ve never been more thrilled with the name of a muffin. I mean chocolate, breakfast…what? It’s a dream come true! (Don’t worry, the link is posted at the end of my rambling)
These were easy enough to whip up, truthfully the 8 year old is an experienced enough baker that she could probably do this buy herself, but wouldn’t that defeat the entire purpose of this? So onward! The kids measured and added all the ingredients to the appropriate bowls while I read the recipe for them. They stirred, I melted butter (neither kids can reach the microwave), they spilled, I spilled more, and we ended up with some big puffy chocolate muffins!
One tip that has worked wonders for us is for me to get out all of the ingredients and tools we will need BEFORE getting the kids involved. This saves me from running around the kitchen while we’re working and getting lost and adding too many ingredients (laugh if you must, but it’s happened more then once, I’ve been told I’m easily distracted). It also allows me to dedicate my focus to the kids and help them where they need it most, but let them take over where they are able. Anyway, I get it all out and put it on the counter and we talk through the recipe together.
So, how did they turn out you ask? The muffins came out chocolatey and fluffy. Moist, with just the right sweetness, not too much for a breakfast muffin. I’m thinking with a little jam spread on these they might be the perfect companion to a cup of coffee tomorrow morning! The verdict in is and this recipe is a keeper. The only thing I would do differently is to double it next time to keep some in the freezer for chocolate breakfast muffin emergencies…that’s a thing now right?
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Link for the recipe: https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/chocolate-breakfast-muffins-recipe ENJOY!
100 days of baking with kids 