Mini Maple Chocolate Chip Pancake Muffins

I firmly believe that I could solve the world’s hunger problem with my son’s half eaten snacks alone.

Seriously.

Any given day in my house:

8 am: My son asks for a bowl of cereal. I make him a very small bowl and he sits down to watch cartoons with it.

8:47 am: My son asks for a sausage pancake on a stick thingy. I microwave one and give it to him. A few minutes later, I notice his cereal only half eaten at the table. I confront him and he says “he forgot”. For some reason, I believe him even though this has happened for the last 243 days in a row. 

9:17 am: I notice an opened snack size bag of Cheez-Its on the coffee table. My child swears he is still eating them and plans to finish. I don’t see his sausage stick and when I ask, he says he finished it. Once again, I believe him.

9:34 am: I notice my son grabbing an apple. I assume that since an apple is healthy, this is a good thing, so I don’t ask any questions.

10:30 am: My son asks for lunch and I tell him I will prepare it momentarily. As I open the bread to begin making a sandwich, I notice that it is actually nowhere near lunch time. I put the bread back away. My son tells me he is starving. Guilt begins to set it.

11:07 am: After becoming increasingly convinced that my son is indeed starving to death, I decide to go ahead and feed him lunch. He sits down with a sandwich and chips and halfway through, announces that he is full. He then immediately asks if he can have a cookie since lunch is over. I say no, and watch him finish his sandwich as though the very act of eating is killing him. When he is through, I give him a cookie.

11:43 am: While dusting and vacuuming, I find two thirds of a cookie, a half eaten sausage and pancake on a stick, a small bag containing several Cheez-Its, and an apple with two bites out of it hidden in various places throughout the house.

11:47 am: I have gathered up every half eaten particle of food I can find. I then threaten to make my son eat every bit of  his leftover snacks for dinner.  He apologizes profusely and swears to change his ways. His lip quivers. His eyes tear up. I feel bad. I tell him it’s okay. He then asks for an Oatmeal Cream Pie. I lose my ever loving mind.

These mini muffins from Bakerella are the perfect snack for my son.  They are easily eaten in one bite, so there is very little waste,  which in turn allows my sanity to remain somewhat intact. They are wonderful as an afternoon snack, or you can whip them up in the morning and serve with maple syrup for breakfast. I personally prefer them dipped in syrup than plain, but I’m always for the option that involves more sugar.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2/3 cup buttermilk
1 egg
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons melted butter
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

More maple syrup for dipping

Preheat oven to 350.

Generously grease a 24 cup mini muffin pan with nonstick spray.

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar in a medium bowl. Sift together with a wire whisk.

In another bowl, stir buttermilk, egg, maple syrup, and melted butter until just combined. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until combined.

Stir in chocolate chips. Reserve a few chips to sprinkle on top of the muffins before placing in the oven. Fill cups about 2/3 full and sprinkle with reserved chips. Bake for 8-9 minutes.

Let cool slightly and remove from pan. You may need to use a toothpick around the edges to separate the pancake muffins from the pan. 

Serve immediately with more warmed butter and/or a small bowl of maple syrup for dipping.

I noticed several reviews of this recipe said that the muffins were a bit to chocolaty, so I cut the amount of chocolate chips to 1/4 cup, and it seemed like the perfect amount to me. I also feel it important to add that I did not have pure maple syrup, so I just used my good ol’ Aunt Jemima. The muffins did taste a lot like pancakes, and were surprisingly light and fluffy. I will be making these often.

Enjoy!!
  
Happy Thursday!!!