Coffee Chocolate-chip muffins

Those irresistible coffee and chocolate cravings. I am getting those too often now. One afternoon it was too much and I decided to make these Coffee chocolate-chip muffins.

Ingredients:

2 cups self raising flour (2 cups flour minus 3 tsp; add 3 tsp baking powder. Keep the 3 tsp flour aside)
3/4 cup vanilla sugar or 3/4 cup sugar and 1 tsp vanilla essence
1 cup milk
2 tbsp - instant coffee powder
1/2 cup butter
1 egg
1/2 cup chocolate chips


Method:
Preheat oven to 170 degrees C.
Melt the butter in a small saucepan on stove-top or in the microwave for 40-50 seconds. Allow to cool.
In another bowl, combine flour and sugar. 
Crack the egg in a medium sized bowl, add milk and coffee. Whisk vigorously until the coffee dissolves.
Pour this coffee mix into the flour and sugar and add the melted butter.
Stir until just combined and fold in chocolate chips. Before mixing the chocolate chips, toss the chocolate chips in the 3 tsp flour removed while making the self-raising flour. The flour coating on the chips will prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cupcake moulds.
Full the muffin cups to 2/3 and bake for 15-20 minutes.

Verdict: These are incredible soft and tasty muffins. Quick preparation and awesome taste! If you are a chocolate and coffee fan, this one is a must-have  :)

Chocolate-chip scones

I am sure all of us have these cravings once in a while. Sometimes I just crave chocolate (chocolate chips) and sometimes chocolate-coffee combination. Sometimes I just have to eat some baked good with these ingredients. Wait for a sometime... Divert my attention... but No, it will not go away! I just have to eat it.. That is what happened one day. I was craving a baked good, but nothing as elaborate as a cake. But I wanted something soft and quick... so I decided to bake a scone!

Chocolate Chip Scones: Recipe Source joyofbaking.com

Ingredients: 

2 cups all purpose flour (I used whole wheat flour)
1/4 cup granulated white sugar
1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into pieces
1/2 cup milk or semi sweet chocolate chips or chunks
1/2 cup dried cherries or cranberries (I omitted this)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2/3 cup buttermilk

Method: 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). I preheated to 190 degrees C. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut the butter into small pieces and blend into the flour mixture with a pastry blender or two knives. (The mixture should look like coarse crumbs.)  Stir in the chocolate chunks (or chips) and dried cherries (if using). In a small measuring cup whisk together the buttermilk and vanilla extract and then add to the flour mixture. Stir just until the dough comes together (add more buttermilk or flour as necessary). Do not over mix the dough.

Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead dough gently four or five times. The original recipe states that we need to make wedges (triangles). But I patted the dough flat and cut out 2 inch round scones. Place the scones on the baking sheet. Brush the tops of the scones with a little milk.

Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.

Makes 10 scones. Cut each scone in half and smear some jam. Serve with tea.

Verdict: The scones were just perfect for a quick evening snack and satisfied my craving :) It does not take too much effort or time and is delicious.