These Vegan Chocolate Chip Muffins are made with almond milk, coconut sugar, flax eggs and olive oil. This chocolate chip muffin recipe is a healthier way to enjoy this classic baked treat!
These easy vegan chocolate chip muffins are just as delicious as traditional muffins, and I think you'll love them just the same. We love making healthier versions of our favorite traditional muffin recipes, like we did with our easy vegan apple muffins. They are a perfect treat for little ones and adults alike. This is one of our favorite vegan muffin recipes, and we think you'll also love our almond butter banana muffins, peanut butter muffins, and pumpkin muffins too.
This twist on classic chocolate chips muffins uses simple ingredients and is made in one bowl with a few easy steps. Instead of white sugar or brown sugar, I use coconut sugar. Rather than mixing the batter with melted butter I use extra virgin olive oil. Dairy milk is replaced with almond milk, and the eggs are replaced with flax eggs. And as long as you use dairy-free chocolate chips (semi-sweet and dark chocolate chips usually are), you've got a perfect vegan chocolate chip muffin recipe.
Ingredients
You'll need basic ingredients for baking, plus some easy swaps that make the best vegan chocolate chip muffins:
- All-purpose flour: bread flour can also be used.
- Coconut sugar: unrefined and organic preferred.
- Extra virgin olive oil: or other oil such as vegetable oil, canola oil or coconut oil.
- Almond milk: unsweetened plain almond milk or unsweetened vanilla almond milk are my favorites. You can also use oat milk, soy milk, cashew milk or other non-dairy milk. You can also use vegan buttermilk.
- Ground flaxseed: this is combined with water to make flax eggs.
- Vanilla extract: did you know you can make vanilla extract at home in your Instant Pot?
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips: these are usually dairy-free and vegan, but always double check your brand to make sure. Here is a brand that makes dairy-free chocolate chips. Feel free to use dairy-free milk chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips if you'd like.
- Baking powder and salt
Not only do these vegan muffins use coconut sugar, they use about half the sugar as traditional muffin recipes do. Because of the sweetness the chocolate chips add, you can safely reduce the sugar without worrying that they'll taste bland. This recipe also uses unsweetened almond milk instead of the sweetened variety.
Instructions
It's super easy to make dairy-free chocolate chip muffins. I make them in one bowl using a whisk for less mess and less cleaning.
STEP 1: Start by making the flax eggs. Combine 6 tablespoons of water with 3 tablespoons of ground flaxseed and chill in the fridge for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a 12 cup muffin pan with olive oil or line with muffin liners. While the oven's heating, combine the all-purpose flour, coconut sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
STEP 2: Make a hole in the center of the dry ingredients and add the flax eggs, almond milk, olive oil and vanilla extract. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients for about 30 seconds, until everything is just combined. *Be careful to never over mix muffins! If you do, you may get tough, uneven, or peaked-top muffins.
STEP 3: Fold in the dairy-free chocolate chips.
STEP 4: Pour the muffin batter into the muffin cups and bake for 20 minutes, until the top of the muffins begins to turn golden brown. Don't be afraid to fill the muffin cups to the top! You'll get nice and tall muffin tops that look like bakery-style muffins!
Before removing from the oven, check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of a muffin. If it comes out dry, the muffins are done. If it comes out with wet batter on it, continue to cook in 2 minute increments until cooked through. Let cool for 10 minutes before removing from the muffin tin.
Helpful Recipe Facts and Tips
Yes! This recipe does not use any animal or animal by products, making it entirely safe for vegans to consume.
Sure! You are not restricted to almond milk in order to keep these muffins dairy free. Oat milk, soy milk, coconut milk, hemp milk and cashew milk all work well in this recipe.
Yes, you can make muffins without using eggs by using "flax eggs". Simply combine 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water per egg needed and let chill for 10 minutes. Flax eggs work the same way as regular eggs do when baking— they add moisture and structure.
This depends on your definition of healthy. One standard size muffin has around 300 calories, 36 grams of carbohydrates, 17 grams of fat, and 4 grams of protein. Remember that they are still chocolate-filled muffins and are not sugar free.
Muffins can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. They are freezer-friendly for up to 6 months when stored in a freezer safe plastic bag. Defrost in the fridge overnight or on the countertop a few hours before enjoying.
Recipe
Easy Vegan Chocolate Chip Muffins
Equipment
- standard size muffin tin
- muffin liners
- large mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon flaxseed meal
- 6 tablespoon water
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, or bread flour
- ½ cup coconut sugar
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅔ cup almond milk
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups vegan chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine the flaxseed meal with the water and stir to combine. Let sit for 5 minutes to make a flax egg.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, coconut sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Make a hole in the center of the dry ingredients and add the flax eggs, almond milk, olive oil and vanilla extract. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients for about 30 seconds, until everything is just combined.
- Fold in the vegan chocolate chips using a spatula.
- Pour batter into a 12 cup muffin pan lined with non-stick muffin liners. Bake in an oven preheated to 375℉ for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove muffin pan from oven and let muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Then transfer to a cooling rack to continue cooling.
Giangi Townsend says
I was intrigued by your recipe as I never worked with flaxseed meal before, and I was amazed and thrilled at how wonderful this recipe is and how it came out.
Moist and rich and super delicious. My family ate them all with gusto.
Thank you.
Sharon says
I love that this recipe is easy enough for kids to make and delicious enough for adults. I like to grab one or two for breakfast, and I'm sharing the recipe with my e-year-old granddaughter. She will love making these muffins as much as I did!
Michelle Vale says
In the first few paragraphs it says for the flax egg to combine 3tbsp flax with 6 water, but in the recipe it says 2 tbsp flax. Can you please clarify which it is?
Thank you,
Michelle
Maddy says
So sorry for the typo! It should be 2 tablespoons of flaxseed with 6 tbsp of water. The ratio will always be 1:3. 1 tablespoon of flax and 3 tbsp of water replaces 1 egg, 2 tablespoons of flax and 6 tbsp of water replaces 2 eggs and so on. I hope you enjoy them!
Kathy says
I was looking for a vegan muffin recipe to make for some friends for a brunch and came across this recipe. The muffins were easy to make and totally delicious! They were a hit with everyone and my vegan friends were impressed!
CAZ says
Passed this printed out recipe onto my SIL for her kids (she's not on social media at all). Her oldest helped her make these and they said they were a hit. I told her I would let you know 🙂
Maddy says
Thank you! I am really glad that her and her kids are loving the recipe.
Kristin says
Sometimes it can be hit or miss with vegan baked goods, but this one delivers on every level. The flavor and texture are spot on. Everyone loved these muffins, whether they were vegans or not! It always makes me happy when I don't have to make 2 different versions of a recipe to please everyone, lol. Will be making these muffins again and again. Thanks!
shelby says
Excellent! I switched to a vegan diet in January of this year and I was so excited to try this recipe. I was not disappointed. They were so delicious and you would not know there were no eggs!
Lisa says
My daughter is dairy free so this is my new favorite muffin recipe! I maake them everytime she visits!