Peppermint Hot Chocolate Muffins (Printable)

Moist chocolate muffins with peppermint, chocolate chips, and crushed candy — ready in 40 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
03 - 1 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
06 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 3/4 cup whole milk
09 - 1/2 cup vegetable oil
10 - 1 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
11 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Add-ins

12 - 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
13 - 1/2 cup mini marshmallows
14 - 1/3 cup crushed peppermint candies

→ Topping

15 - Extra chocolate chips, for garnish
16 - Mini marshmallows, for garnish
17 - Additional crushed peppermint candies, for garnish

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until thoroughly blended.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, whole milk, vegetable oil, peppermint extract, and vanilla extract until mixture is homogenous.
04 - Pour wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix gently with a spatula until just incorporated. Do not overmix.
05 - Gently fold in chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and crushed peppermint candies until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
06 - Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each about three-quarters full. Sprinkle extra chocolate chips, marshmallows, and peppermint candies on top for garnish.
07 - Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin emerges with a few moist crumbs.
08 - Allow muffins to cool in the baking tin for 5 minutes, then carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The muffins actually capture the feeling of peppermint hot chocolate, down to the gooey marshmallow pockets.
  • They’re so easy to make that you’ll want to stir them together on a whim, even for sleepy winter mornings.
02 -
  • Overmixing creates heavy muffins, so use a light hand when combining wet and dry.
  • Adding marshmallows on top near the end of baking gives those perfect toasted gooey bits instead of disappearing completely.
03 -
  • Use parchment liners to guarantee easy peeling, especially with melty marshmallow.
  • A sprinkle of sea salt on top intensifies the chocolate—don’t skip if you love sweet and salty.