Buckwheat Chocolate Muffins

Tall, domed, double chocolate muffins with buckwheat flour as the only flour. A hot start in the oven gives the high tops; sour cream keeps the crumb moist, and buckwheat adds a slight earthiness under the chocolate.

Flour: Everstone Mill Light Buckwheat Flour for a milder muffin, or Medium Dark for a deeper flavor
Oven: 425°F (220°C) for 6 minutes, then 350°F (175°C) for 14 to 16 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups (180 g) Everstone Mill buckwheat flour
• 2/3 cup (60 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup (170 g) sour cream
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) milk, dairy or non-dairy
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) olive oil or coconut oil
• 2 teaspoons (10 ml) vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed (optional, helps with binding)
• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a muffin tin with papers.
2. Sift the buckwheat flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar into a large bowl. Whisk to break up any lumps.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, vanilla, oil, sour cream and milk. Add the ground flaxseed here if you are using it.
4. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and fold gently until just combined. Do not overmix, or the muffins turn dense.
5. Set aside about 1/3 cup of the chocolate chips. Fold the rest into the batter.
6. Fill each muffin paper almost to the top for domed tops. Sprinkle with the reserved chips.
7. Bake at 425°F for 6 minutes, then lower the oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake 14 to 16 minutes more, until a toothpick comes out clean or with a few crumbs.
8. Cool a few minutes in the tin, then move to a wire rack.

Baker's notes

• Buckwheat flour absorbs more liquid than all-purpose flour. If the batter is too thick to scoop, add milk a tablespoon at a time.
• Olive oil gives a slightly savory note; coconut oil a faint tropical one.

Everstone Mill buckwheat flour is 100% buckwheat. It is milled on equipment that also processes wheat.