Chocolate Chip Raspberry Muffins

Valentines Day and I get along very well. I love anything pink and anything chocolate, so its the perfect holiday for me! Not to mention one very smart wonderful man proposed to me on Valentines Day six years ago. For those who are curious, it was very sweet. He baked me a cake (the one and only time Jason has ever baked for me) and wrote "Will you marry me? " in the frosting. He originally wrote "Will you merry me?" in the frosting and texted a picture to Erin for her approval. Luckily she spotted the "merry" mistake and he had time to refrost the cake. Although I think I would have gotten the idea! He rented a Mercedes and took me to Nomi downtown Chicago- a beautiful restaurant overlooking Michigan Avenue. He seemed nervous, which was odd to me considering he pretty much had the "yes" in the bag. I was so crazy in love with that man that he could have proposed in a garbage dump with a piece of tin and I would have said yes.

These days I don't need gifts or crazy declarations of love on Valentines Day (yes Jason, I'm serious) I just really like doing fun things for people I love. For my kiddos and husband that usually means fun things for breakfast, little gifts during the day and a fancy-pants dinner. Because more often than not Valentines Day falls on a weekday, and because up until this year I worked full time, breakfast had to be relatively easy. Or at least something I could make ahead of time. These muffins are/were perfect for that. Now that I do have a little more time, I'm gonna make 'em anyway. They are the PERFECT way to start a chocolate filled day.

The recipe is simple and can be adjusted however you would like. I bake them into mini-muffins for my kiddos. I've used mixed berries instead of raspberries, mini chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips... you get the idea. If for some crazy reason you don't love chocolate (WHAT?!?!?) you could substitute pecans or walnuts for the chocolate chips. Mix the batter up the night before and put it in the fridge until you're ready to bake or just whip them up the morning of. Its a very easy, customizable and delicious recipe, and just look at that gooey-ness....

~Wendy

Chocolate Chip Raspberry Muffins

Recipe Type: Breakfast

Author: Wendy

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 20 mins

Total time: 30 mins

Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 c. flour (all-purpose or whole wheat will work)


• 3/4 c. quick-cooking oats


• 2/3 c. sugar


• 2 tsp baking powder


• 1 tsp baking soda


• 1/2 tsp cinnamon


• 1 egg, beaten


• 1 c. milk


• 1/3 c. canola oil


• 1 tsp vanilla extract


• 1 c. fresh or frozen unsweetened raspberries


• 1 c. semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. In a large bowl combine flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon.


2. In a separate bowl combine the egg, milk, oil and vanilla. Add into the dry ingredients just until moistened.


3. Fold in the raspberries and chocolate chips.


4. Fill paper lined muffin cups or cups coated with nonstick cooking spray two-thirds full.


5. Bake at 375 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Notes

You can substitute other types of chocolate chips or nuts in place of the semisweet chocolate chips. You can also substitute mixed berries, blueberries or blackberries for the raspberries. If you use strawberries, I would cut up into smaller pieces as they are too large for the muffins.

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