Chocolate Chip Cappuccino Muffins with Espresso Glaze
Soft, tender and packed with rich coffee flavour, these chocolate chip cappuccino muffins combine freshly brewed espresso with generous pieces of chocolate and a simple espresso glaze.
They are perfect for weekend baking, afternoon tea or enjoying alongside your favourite cup of coffee.
For a beautifully rounded flavour, we recommend making the espresso with Three Llamas Essence Espresso or another freshly roasted coffee from the Three Llamas coffee range.
Preparation time:Â 15 minutes
Baking time:Â Approximately 25 minutes
Makes:Â Approximately 12 muffins
Difficulty:Â Easy
Quick answer:Â These chocolate chip cappuccino muffins are made with two double shots of freshly brewed espresso, buttermilk and chocolate chunks. They are finished with a simple espresso glaze for an extra layer of coffee flavour.
Ingredients
For the cappuccino muffins
- 300g plain flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 130g neutral-flavoured oil
- 50g white sugar
- 100g brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 60ml freshly brewed espresso, cooled slightly
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 150g chocolate chunks, plus a few extra for the tops
For the espresso glaze
- 120g icing sugar
- 30ml freshly brewed espresso, cooled
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional decorations
- Finely grated chocolate
- Additional chocolate chunks
- A few whole roasted coffee beans for decoration
Our coffee recommendation
A coffee with chocolate, caramel or nutty flavour notes will pair beautifully with the chocolate in these muffins.
We recommend Essence Espresso for its rich, rounded espresso flavour. You can order it as whole beans or select the grind that best suits your preferred brewing method.
How to make chocolate chip cappuccino muffins
1. Prepare the oven and muffin tin
Preheat the oven to 220°C conventional or 200°C fan bake.
Line a standard 12-hole muffin tin with paper muffin cases.
2. Combine the liquid ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, oil, white sugar, brown sugar, cooled espresso and vanilla extract.
Add the buttermilk and stir until everything is evenly combined.
3. Add the dry ingredients
Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt to the liquid mixture.
Gently fold the ingredients together until they are only just combined. Avoid mixing the batter for longer than necessary, as overmixing can make the muffins heavy rather than soft and tender.
The King Arthur Baking guide to making basic muffins also recommends lightly folding the mixture only until the batter comes together, helping the muffins remain light and well risen.
4. Add the chocolate
Gently fold the chocolate chunks through the batter.
Divide the mixture evenly between the 12 muffin cases. Sprinkle a few additional chocolate chunks over each muffin if desired.
5. Bake the muffins
Bake the muffins at 220°C conventional or 200°C fan bake for the first 5 minutes.
Without opening the oven door, reduce the temperature to 190°C conventional or 170°C fan bake. Continue baking for approximately another 18–20 minutes.
The muffins are ready when they have risen and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out without any uncooked batter attached.
Allow the muffins to rest in the tin for several minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire cooling rack.
6. Make the espresso glaze
Place the icing sugar, cooled espresso and vanilla extract in a small bowl. Stir until the glaze is smooth.
If the glaze is too thin, add a little more icing sugar. If it is too thick, add hot water approximately half a teaspoon at a time until it reaches the desired consistency.
7. Glaze and decorate the muffins
Wait until the muffins have cooled completely before spooning the espresso glaze over the tops.
Finish with finely grated chocolate, additional chocolate chunks or a few whole coffee beans for decoration.
Please remember that whole coffee beans are decorative and should be removed before eating.
Serve the muffins with a freshly brewed Three Llamas coffee and enjoy.
Which coffee is best for cappuccino muffins?
A full-flavoured espresso with chocolate, caramel or nutty tasting notes is particularly well suited to cappuccino muffins. These flavours complement the chocolate without making the finished muffins taste excessively bitter.
Three Llamas coffee is sourced from Peru and freshly roasted in Woodend, North Canterbury.
You could try:
- Essence Espresso for a rich and rounded espresso flavour
- Organic Dark Roast for a deeper coffee flavour
- Organic Decaf for a lower-caffeine alternative
You can also explore the complete Three Llamas coffee range to find your favourite.
Tips for making soft and tender cappuccino muffins
- Allow the freshly brewed espresso to cool slightly before adding it to the eggs.
- Measure the flour carefully and avoid compressing it into the measuring cup.
- Fold the batter gently and stop mixing as soon as the flour has disappeared.
- Use good-quality chocolate chunks to create generous pockets of melted chocolate.
- Make sure the muffins have cooled completely before adding the espresso glaze.
- Brew the espresso shortly before making the muffins for the freshest aroma and flavour.
- Avoid opening the oven door during the first part of baking, as the sudden change in temperature can affect the rise.
How to store cappuccino muffins
Place the glazed muffins in an airtight container and store them in a cool place for up to two days.
For longer storage, freeze the muffins before adding the glaze. Place them in a sealed, freezer-safe container and freeze them for up to three months.
Allow the muffins to thaw at room temperature before decorating them with freshly prepared espresso glaze.
It is also important to store your coffee correctly. Read our guide to common mistakes when storing coffee to help keep your coffee tasting fresh.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make cappuccino muffins without an espresso machine?
Yes. If you do not have an espresso machine, use 60ml of strongly brewed coffee instead. Allow the coffee to cool slightly before adding it to the mixture.
A moka pot, AeroPress or another concentrated brewing method can also work well.
Can I make these muffins with decaffeinated coffee?
Yes. You can make the recipe using freshly brewed Three Llamas Organic Decaf.
This will provide plenty of coffee flavour with considerably less caffeine than regular espresso.
Why does the recipe use two oven temperatures?
The higher initial temperature helps the muffins rise and develop attractive, rounded tops.
Reducing the temperature after the first five minutes allows the centres to finish baking without excessively browning the outside of the muffins.
Why did my muffins turn out dense?
Dense muffins are often caused by mixing the batter for too long or adding too much flour.
Fold the mixture gently and stop as soon as the ingredients are combined. A few small lumps in the batter are preferable to overmixing it.
Can cappuccino muffins be frozen?
Yes. For the best results, freeze the muffins before adding the espresso glaze.
Store them in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag. Allow them to thaw completely at room temperature before adding freshly made glaze.
Do cappuccino muffins contain caffeine?
Yes. These muffins contain caffeine from the brewed espresso, as well as a smaller amount from the chocolate.
The exact amount in each muffin will depend on the coffee, the type of chocolate used and the number of muffins the recipe produces.
Use Organic Decaf if you would prefer a lower-caffeine version.
Can I use chocolate chips instead of chocolate chunks?
Yes. You can substitute the chocolate chunks with the same quantity of chocolate chips.
Chocolate chunks create larger pockets of melted chocolate, while chocolate chips will be distributed more evenly throughout the muffins.
Should the espresso be hot or cold?
Allow the espresso to cool slightly before adding it to the mixture.
Very hot espresso could begin to cook the eggs, whereas cold or slightly warm espresso will combine easily with the other ingredients.
Make them with freshly roasted coffee
Ready to try the recipe?
Shop freshly roasted Three Llamas coffee, available as whole beans or ground to suit your preferred brewing method.
If you make these chocolate chip cappuccino muffins, tag @threellamascoffee on Instagram so the Three Llamas team can see your creation.