Chocolate Nutella muffins

Perfect chocolate muffins with Nutella. Rich, deeply chocolatey and wonderfully substantial, with ground almonds adding even more texture. They’re not overly sweet – just right. And the surprise? A generous amount of Nutella hidden inside, although you can of course use your favourite chocolate-hazelnut spread instead. They might remind you of the famous Izaura muffins, though naturally with a different filling. Just the right dose of chocolate to get you through a Monday ;).

Makes 12.

Ingredients for the chocolate Nutella muffins:

• 300 g plain flour
• 40 g cocoa powder
• 40 g ground almonds
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 120 g butter, melted
• 2 large eggs
• 250 ml milk
• 150 g light brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 180 g dark chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate (or semi-sweet chocolate), plus extra for sprinkling
• 150 g Nutella

All ingredients should be at room temperature.

Prepare a small plate or board and line it with baking paper. Pipe or spoon portions of Nutella onto it (divide the 150 g of Nutella into 15 portions, about 1 level tablespoon per portion). Place in the freezer for at least 1 hour before making the muffins. This will be the filling.

Place the wet ingredients in a bowl: eggs, milk, vanilla and lukewarm melted butter. Add the sugar and whisk with a balloon whisk until combined. Sift the dry ingredients directly into the wet mixture: flour, cocoa powder and baking powder. Whisk just until combined. Add the ground almonds, then the chocolate chips, and stir to combine.

Line a muffin tin with 12 paper cases (the cases should extend slightly above the rim of the muffin tin). Fill each case with enough batter to come halfway up the muffin cavity. Press a frozen portion of Nutella into the centre of each muffin, then cover with the remaining chocolate batter. Sprinkle the tops with chocolate chips.

Bake the chocolate Nutella muffins at 170°C for about 23 minutes or longer, until a skewer inserted into the muffin comes out clean. Remove from the oven and leave to cool.

Enjoy!