Mr. Scrummy and I have a little, let’s say, ‘discussion’ every time I bake muffins or a cake, and it goes something like this:
Mr. Scrummy: “What are you making? Smells good …”
Me: “Oh, I’m making (insert first flavour here), (insert second flavour here) & chocolate chip muffins.”
Mr. Scrummy: “Ohhhh … well, I should have known you’d put chocolate in there. Can’t you make anything without adding chocolate? I hate chocolate muffins (insert five minutes more of grumbling here).”
Me: “Oh, sorry, Sweetie. I always forget.” [slight fib] “Next time I make some cakes/muffins, I’ll make them without chocolate in.” [outright lie]
Such is the ‘lot in life’ of the husband of a food blogger, I’m afraid. It’s a terribly hard life, isn’t it?
I don’t bake as often as I cook, but when I do bake I do indeed find it very difficult to make something that doesn’t include chocolate. And I would have found it especially difficult to exclude it from these particular muffins because, well, the orange and chocolate combo rocks, right?
To be more specific, I decided to add lots of tangerine juice and zest to these muffins. I’ve never been much of a ‘fruity’ person, but to me the smell of tangerines is one of the best food aromas there are – that, along with tomatoes on the vine … swoon. But if you happen to have satsumas, mandarins or even plain old oranges hanging out in your fruit bowl rather than tangerines then by all means go ahead and use those in this recipe instead.
The muffins also have walnuts, cinnamon and nutmeg in them. The result is a lovely subtly spiced and orangey, moist and yet light crumbed muffin which is perfect for a grab-and-go breakfast or mid-morning or afternoon snack. They aren’t overly-sweet and could be easily customised a little to your taste, too. If you’re a ‘bah humbug to chocolate’ sort of person, like Mr. Scrummy, or want to keep the muffins a bit lighter, you could easily switch out the chocolate for fresh blueberries, or perhaps some dried cranberries or even plain old raisins.
I decided to finish my muffins off with a little drizzle of simple tangerine icing topped with orange zest and walnut pieces. Go ahead and miss this part out too, if you like. The muffins would still be yummy if you added a little sprinkle of brown sugar to the top before baking instead and just left it at that.
I must admit I’m looking forward to polishing these muffins off this week for snacks … all by myself, seeing as Mr. Scrummy isn’t so keen. So there’s a little useful tip for you. If there’s something you really like, add something to them that you know your partner/flatmate/family member/whoever lives with you doesn’t like.
Aren’t I wicked?
Spiced tangerine, walnut & choc chip muffins
Ingredients
- 1 cup plain flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg or a good grating of fresh
- 2 tangerines or clementines, or satsumas or 1 bigger orange, zest and juice
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/3 cup oil I used rapeseed oil, but any oil is fine, really
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup walnut pieces & a few extra for decoration
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
icing
- 2/3 cup icing sugar/powdered sugar
- juice of 1 more tangerine/clementine/satsuma/orange & the zest, for decoration, if you like
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 200C/390F and line a 12-hole muffin tin with muffin liners.
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Add the flour, baking powder, bicarb of soda, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and orange zest to a large bowl and mix.
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Now add the orange juice to a measuring jug and pour the milk in until you have 200ml (7 fl. ounces) of liquid altogether. Add the oil and egg and whisk.
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Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until just combined (batter that’s still a bit lumpy is OK- don’t overmix).
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Fold in the walnut pieces and chocolate chips and fill the muffin liners with the mixture. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until the muffins are well risen, golden and cooked in the middle.
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Let cool on a wire rack. Meanwhile, make the icing, if using. Simply squeeze the orange juice into the icing sugar, little by little, until you have a fairly thick icing. Spread a little onto the top of each muffin when cool. Finally, sprinkle with a little orange zest and a few of the extra walnut pieces, if you like.
Recipe Notes
Adapted from Nigella’s recipe for Christmas morning muffins.
Here are a couple more recipes for you from the blog featuring that winning orange-choc combo:
5 ingredient raw chocolate orange bars
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mira says
22 Feb 15 at 4:45 pmThese look beautiful and I love the flavor combination Helen ! And of course, everything tastes better with chocolate chips, so I wouldn’t skip them for this recipe! Pinned and shared 🙂
Helen says
23 Feb 15 at 4:30 pmThanks, Mira! Glad you agree that the choc chips shouldn’t be missed out. Thanks for the pin!
Jessica @ Jessica in the Kitchen says
23 Feb 15 at 7:13 amI started laughing after paragraph 1 because my Mr. “hates” chocolate although of lately he’s been digging into my chocolate treats. That used to be my safe place!! How do they hate chocolate?! Anyway, chocolate and orange flavours are always so great together and I’m sure these muffins are no exception. They look so delicious Helen!
Helen says
23 Feb 15 at 4:26 pmI know, I don’t get that either. How can anyone not like chocolate? Actually, he does like chocolate, but just not in cakes. Oh well. All the more chocolaty cakes for me!
Eva says
23 Feb 15 at 8:44 amJ’aime beaucoup la combinassions de tes muffins ! Les discussions avec Mr. Scrummy me rappelle au miens, mais à la fin, il finis pour manger tout et dire: mmm c’est bon !
Helen says
23 Feb 15 at 4:24 pmHa! La plupart du temps, Mr. Scrummy fait la meme chose. Il se plaint, puis il mange tout!
Joanne says
23 Feb 15 at 12:18 pmI would say Poor Mr. Scrummy, but I know how well he eats in general so I think he can sacrifice a batch of muffins! Thankfully the.boy and I both love chocolate, so it’s the more the merrier around here! Love that you paired it with citrus in these!
Helen says
23 Feb 15 at 4:23 pmI think you’ve figured out how things are around here. Mr. Scrummy has nothing at all to complain about! 🙂
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
23 Feb 15 at 1:59 pmHaha – yes, you are wicked indeed! But I don’t blame you – these sound wonderful – that tangerine icing just take these to the insanely decadent level and I need to try and figure out what my daughter doesn’t like that I like – in the past 16 years, our tastes have been insanely similar which means I have to share EVERYTHING! GAH!
Helen says
23 Feb 15 at 4:22 pmAhh, what a bummer, Shashi! Although maybe that means you can get her to make some nice goodies for the both of you. 🙂
Culinary Ginger says
23 Feb 15 at 3:22 pmI’m sure Mr Scrummy is missing a treat, these look so good, but all the more for you. Chocolate and orange, yum.
Helen says
23 Feb 15 at 4:21 pmThanks, Janette … yes, all the more for me! 🙂
mila furman says
23 Feb 15 at 3:32 pmThese look fab!!! I love the combination of nuts and tangerines! Pinned!
Helen says
23 Feb 15 at 4:20 pmThank you, Mila! Thanks for pinning, too! 🙂
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
23 Feb 15 at 7:17 pmHaha, I don’t blame you! These sound delicious – I am loving walnuts at the moment.
Helen says
23 Feb 15 at 9:44 pmHi, Dannii … love walnuts, too. I put some in a yoghurt dip the other day 🙂
Marissa | Pinch and Swirl says
23 Feb 15 at 8:10 pmhaha, too funny! I guess he’ll miss out. 🙂 These look amazing – love ALL of the flavors…
Helen says
23 Feb 15 at 9:43 pmHe sure will! 🙂
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
23 Feb 15 at 10:24 pmThese muffins look fantastic, Helen! Such a creative flavor! I love the tangerine combination with the chocolate chips. Sounds like this would make the perfect breakfast or mid-morning snack!
Helen says
24 Feb 15 at 8:27 pmThanks, Gayle! They actually didn’t make it to Monday, so I’ll have to make some more for my work-time mid-morning snacks. Now what a shame!
marcie says
23 Feb 15 at 10:27 pmThat conversation with your husband was hysterical! Mine doesn’t like when I add chocolate either. What gives? A lot of times I’ll fill up a few muffin cups for just him before I add the chocolate chips, but when there’s cocoa in the batter, he’s just gonna have to deal with that or not eat them. haha Tangerines are one of the best smells, and these just look wonderful! Pinned. 🙂
Helen says
24 Feb 15 at 8:27 pmThanks so much for pinning, Marcie! That’s actually a pretty good idea to make some muffins without chocolate next time. I think I’ll do that.
Allie | Baking a Moment says
23 Feb 15 at 11:08 pmWow, I am totally swooning over the flavors here, Helen! Chocolate and orange totally rocks, you are right, but even better with walnuts and warm spices added. I can see why you’d want these all to yourself!
Helen says
24 Feb 15 at 8:26 pmHi, Allie … thank you so much! Really happy you approve of the flavours I’ve got going on here … I must admit they were good … and have disappeared already!
Meggan | Culinary Hill says
24 Feb 15 at 1:56 amYOU are hilarious. This post cracked me up. I am now that crazy person staring at her computer giggling while others look on. But back to these muffins! I love all the flavors and the added crunch from the walnuts. And I love the colors in your photos. I can’t wait to try these!
Helen says
24 Feb 15 at 8:25 pmHappy to have brightened up your day, Meggan … even if I did make you look like a crazy person 😉
Really happy you like these and want to try them. 🙂
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
24 Feb 15 at 2:15 amHey! You can never go wrong with chocolate! 🙂 These muffins looks great, I especially love the photos 🙂
Helen says
24 Feb 15 at 8:24 pmThanks, Medha … I’ve been wondering if the photos turned out a bit, erm, blue … but thanks for the compliment!
Mary Frances says
24 Feb 15 at 2:23 amMe too! I had to stop myself this last time and be like, don’t add chocolate chips don’t add chocolate chips. I just love em though, it’s hard! The tangerine and walnuts are perfect here!
Helen says
24 Feb 15 at 8:18 pmIt is sooo hard, isn’t it? Next time I’ll try … just try, you understand … 🙂
[email protected] Olives & Garlic says
24 Feb 15 at 2:51 amI’ve been wanting to make some mini muffins for my daughter to be able to bring for school snack. I wanted a new flavor combo and these sound just what I want to make. Perfect.
Helen says
24 Feb 15 at 8:17 pmOh, that’s great, Kathy! Let me know how the mini muffins go. Really glad you like the flavour combo enough to give them a go!
Chrissy says
24 Feb 15 at 3:46 amTangerine! That’s a new one. And I don’t know if I’d trust a man that didn’t like chocolate, no offense to Mr. Scrummy.
Helen says
24 Feb 15 at 8:16 pmHahaha … well, luckily he does like chocolate, just not in muffins … so I suppose I can live with that!
Izzy says
24 Feb 15 at 5:39 amFirst of all, how can he not like chocolate muffins??! Isn’t that like a sin or something?! Secondly, I would totally do the same thing with my husband just so I could eat them all myself 🙂 I love the chocolate and tangerine combo! Citrus and chocolate go so well together and I bet these muffins taste amazing!
Helen says
24 Feb 15 at 8:16 pmYes, I think it must be a sin. He should repent and change 😉
[email protected] and Heavenly Oven says
24 Feb 15 at 1:06 pmI love your mentality seriously so much. I mean, chocolate belongs in anything and everything right?! Case in point, these muffins. I am just swooning over all the amazing flavors you packed into these little guys!
Helen says
24 Feb 15 at 8:15 pmGlad you approve of my chocolate-in-everything obsession, Sarah! 🙂
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
24 Feb 15 at 11:56 pmI love the way your muffins turned out.I wouldn’t mind waking up to these for breakfast!
Helen says
25 Feb 15 at 6:54 pmHi, Pamela! Really glad you like these … and yes, so great for an interesting brekky!
Lori @ TheHealthMinded.com says
25 Feb 15 at 1:55 amWell, anything citrus and I’m in! What a treat these would be if I would only get on my baking hat and do it! I don’t bake much lately, but my family would love it if I surprised them with these. So pretty, Helen!
Helen says
25 Feb 15 at 6:53 pmHello, Lori! I’m a bit of a citrus-lover, too, and love adding orange-flavoured things to baked goods … and especially chocolate, as I said in my post 😉 I really hope you do get that baking hat on and have a go at these some time!
Laura says
25 Feb 15 at 12:18 pmHelen, these look splendid. And did you know walnuts help cut down on belly fat? They really do. Such a unique flavor combination. We’re all getting over the stomachflu here (blah) and one way we celebrate is by making something tasty when it’s finally over! It’s always nice to get your appetite back to and feel like baking and even cooking again! Thanks for sharing such a unique recipe.
Helen says
25 Feb 15 at 6:52 pmHi, Laura! Sorry to hear that you haven’t been feeling so great! At least Spring and hopefully the end of this nasty bugs isn’t too far away now! I’m really happy that you like the sound of these tasty muffins … and thanks for the info about the walnuts, too. I certainly didn’t know that, but what a great excuse for me to make another batch of these! Have a great evening!
Kathleen | HapaNom says
26 Feb 15 at 9:34 pmOh my, Helen! These muffins looks insanely delicious! I just love all of the incredible flavors you have here – citrus and chocolate are always a winning combination!
Helen says
27 Feb 15 at 4:40 pmHi, kathleen … and thank you! I must admit these were rather a hit!
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
27 Feb 15 at 5:01 pmI didn’t know that not putting chocolate into a baked good could be an actual request. Like, don’t we all want chocolate in everything?!?!! Hahaha, well at least you got to down them all yourself!!
Helen says
02 Mar 15 at 7:28 pmlol … yup, I didn’t know that either until I met the hubs! 🙂
Shelby @ Go Eat and Repeat says
27 Feb 15 at 6:46 pmThis is such a cute twist on chocolate chip muffins! I bet the tangerine adds a really nice freshness to them!
Helen says
02 Mar 15 at 7:26 pmHi, Shelley! Thanks so much for passing by and taking the time to comment. 🙂 I must admit these are my current fave muffins. Glad you like them!