Join the AK Dinner Party
Ambitious Kitchen
Jump to Recipe
healthy orange chocolate chip muffins in a stack
Baked GoodsMuffin Recipes
March 28, 2018

Dreamy Orange Chocolate Chip Muffins

The dreamiest orange chocolate chip muffins made with fresh orange juice and orange zest! These healthy muffins are addicting, simple to make and the perfect treat.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
35 mins

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you. Please read my policy page.

Oh hi. Someone tell me how it’s already almost April. I’m eagerly waiting for the tulips to make their appearance in my backyard and for the robins to start eating all the extra muffin crumbs I put on my deck.

To celebrate all things spring, I’d like you to say hello to my little friends: dreamy orange chocolate chip muffins!

Orange chocolate chip muffins on a board with orange halves on the side

I’ll admit it, orange is my citrus of choice and I’m not mad about it. When I was little I used to LOVE the mini orange muffins from the grocery store. I didn’t understand why no one else wanted to eat them but me, but I much preferred their flavor over blueberry or even banana. I know that sounds crazy coming from someone who basically delivers you a new banana bread weekly, but it’s true.

I also happened to love orange cinnamon rolls over regular cinnamon rolls. Anyone else love orange as much as I do?

Orange chocolate chip muffin with more muffins in the background and two orange halves

While I know I said I was going to make some sort of lemon cake for easter, but now I have this idea of an orange carrot cake with a fresh orange-infused cream cheese frosting. SOMEONE HELP ME DECIDE.

While I’m contemplating Easter dessert, I’ll leave you with these beautiful orange chocolate chip muffins. Orange + chocolate is a match made in heaven. In fact, remember when I made my paleo orange-kissed loaf with dark chocolate aka the best loaf ever? That flavor combo just so happened to inspire this recipe.

two orange chocolate chip muffins stacked on each other with a bite taken out of the top one

These muffins are made with a mix of almond flour and whole wheat pastry flour and flavored with fresh orange juice + orange zest. The result is a SUPER fluffy, perfectly sweet muffin that I probably should start selling. If you want, you can sub the whole wheat pastry flour with gluten free all purpose flour or chickpea flour, just know that you may have to add a little more coconut oil (probably 2-3 tablespoons).

Two orange chocolate chip muffins stacked

ENJOY! xo! 

More healthy muffins recipes you’ll love:

Skinny Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Healthy Lemon Poppyseed Muffins with Lemon Blueberry Glaze

Chunky Monkey Zucchini Banana Muffins

Good Morning Healthy Blueberry Zucchini Muffins

Skinny Double Chocolate Banana Muffins

Dreamy Orange Chocolate Chip Muffins

5 from 9 votes
Leave A Review Print Recipe
healthy orange chocolate chip muffins in a stack
Course Breakfast, Muffins, Snack
Keyword orange chocolate chip muffins
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Serves 9
The dreamiest orange chocolate chip muffins made with fresh orange juice and orange zest! These healthy muffins are addicting, simple to make and the perfect treat.

Ingredients

  • Dry ingredients:
  • 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour (or sub chickpea flour or all purpose gluten free flour)
  • ½ cup fine almond flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Wet ingredients:
  • Zest from 1 large orange (about 1 tablespoon orange zest)
  • ½ cup organic sugar (or sub coconut sugar or ⅓ cup honey)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • ⅓ cup freshly squeezed orange juice (from about 1 large orange)
  • ¼ cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • 1 tablespoon melted and cooled coconut oil
  • 1/3 cup chocolate chips, plus 2 tablespoons for sprinkling on top
  • Sprinkle with coarse sugar or organic sugar, if desired

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a 12 cup muffin tin with 9 muffin liners and spray the inside of the liners with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together whole wheat pastry flour, almond flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a separate large bowl add the orange zest and sugar and use your fingers to rub the orange zest into the sugar for at least 30 seconds to infuse the sugar with orange flavor. 
  4. Next add in eggs, vanilla extract, almond extract, orange juice and almond milk. Whisk together until smooth and well combined. 
  5. Gently fold in the dry ingredients until just combined, then stir in melted and cooled coconut oil. Fold in ⅓ cup chocolate chips.
  6. Divide batter evenly between the 9 prepared muffin cups. Sprinkle tops of muffins with extra chocolate chips. Sprinkle with organic sugar or coarse sugar. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until tester comes out clean.

Recipe Notes

TO MAKE GLUTEN FREE: Use all purpose gluten free flour or chickpea flour instead of whole wheat pastry flour. You may need to add a few extra tablespoons of liquid or more coconut oil to keep the muffins moist.

TO MAKE VEGAN: Use two flax eggs instead of regular eggs. Also be sure to use vegan chocolate chips!

Nutrition
Servings: 9 muffins
Serving size: 1 muffin
Calories: 224kcal
Fat: 10.7g
Saturated fat: 4.6g
Carbohydrates: 29.9g
Fiber: 3.3g
Sugar: 16.6g
Protein: 4.9g

Download My FREE 7-Day Meal Plan

Download My FREE 7-Day Meal Plan

Join the AK email list and get my brand new, FREE Simple & Nourishing 7-day Meal Plan delivered to your inbox.

    Leave a comment & rating

    Your email address will not be published.

    Rating:




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    52 comments

    Show Comments

    You might also like

    Be who
    you are!

    Not who
    they want
    you to be!
    blonde woman smiling in front of a tan background
    Having ambition is about being brave. It's about having the confidence to do what we were made to do.
    By fueling your body and honoring your journey you can accomplish whatever you set your mind to. In this space, we are committed to the pursuit of wellness and determined to stay balanced and real. We welcome you to our Ambitious Kitchen.
    Explore The Blog

    Stay inspired everyday