Apparently we’re quickly approaching November. Wait… what!? In the blink of an eye we’ll be eating turkey for Thanksgiving, wrapping holiday gifts, and kissing at midnight… that’s how fast this year is going!
What are we going to do about this? Is there some sort of pause button.
The only thing I can think do to do slow things down involves these healthy-ish Pumpkin Millet and Chocolate Muffins, a cup of milky tea, and Food and Wine Magazine. Did you slow things down this weekend? Was there pumpkin and chocolate, too?
This is real life. Warm muffin. Milk tea. Food magazine.
I don’t slow down very often… I’m a terrible relaxer. A short moment that looks like this? Yea… it’s a nice and necessary recharge.
Ps. You should totally know that I ate three muffins… not just the one pictured here. Three. They’re small. No biggie.
Oh! My little bit of downtime has given me all sorts of holiday pie ideas. Get your pie tins out! It’s going to get delicious here.
I love the simplicity of these muffins. I think you will too.
No mixer necessary. All you need is a few bowls, pureed pumpkin, and crunchy dry millet.
The millet adds a tender, healthful crunch to the muffins. Like nuts… without being nuts.
The muffins are moist and pumpkin-y. Perfect for the season.
Perfect perfect perfect with chocolate.
You have to balance out all of that whole wheat flour and millet with chocolate, right?
It’s all about balance.
Ps. I’m so bad at balance… that has everything to do with the fact that I’m a terrible relaxer.
I must admit that this recipe is very similar to other recipes here at Joy the Baker.
I like pumpkin. I like chocolate. I like millet.
If you’ll recall, the Banana Millet Bread was pretty stellar, and these Soft Pumpkin Cookies are bonkers delicious.
Also… you can totally go vegan with this Vegan Pumpkin Walnut Bread.
Just lookin’ out for you!
Pumpkin, Millet, and Chocolate Muffins
makes about 16 muffins
adapted from Cookie and Kate
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup pureed pumpkin
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
1/2 cup dry millet
1/4 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup dark chocolate chips
Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a muffin tin with paper or foil liners and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together oil, brown sugar, eggs, pureed pumpkin, and vanilla extract.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking soda, spices, and millet.
Add the dry ingredients, all at once to the wet ingredients. Add the butter milk and fold together. When batter is almost completely mixed, fold in the chocolate chips.
Spoon batter into prepared pan. Fill muffin cups three quarters full. Bake for 15to 17 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Let rest for at least 15 minutes before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature. Muffins will last, well wrapped at room temperature, for up to 3 days.
These muffins also freeze really well. Seal in a freezer-safe bag and store in the freezer. I like to eat these right from the freezer. It’s possible that I am not normal.
109 Responses
Joy, these muffins are so delicious! I’ve had many a pumpkin chocolate chip muffin in my day, but this is the first time I’ve ever seen them with millet. This was also my first time baking with millet. It’s like a triple win! Thanks so much!
These are really good!
I made these for breakfast this morning, and they were absolutely delicious! I omitted the chocolate chips and added a bit more sugar to compensate. I was also about 1/4 cup short on whole wheat flour, so I substituted 1/4 cup bread flour instead. Finally, my big twist is that I used 2 tbsp chia seed mixed with 8 tbsp water in place of the eggs. This created a healthy, delicious, surprisingly filling, and SUPER MOIST muffin!! I love Joy!
Boy, these look tasty. Joy, remember your kitten hovering nearby while you baked? Well, my parakeet would simply fly from L shoulder to R shoulder, twittering, squawking, and finally climb down my arm, and try to eat the millet straight out of the measuring cup if I tried to make these. Failing that, she’d just gobble them out of the package while I was stirring the batter, she loves millet so much. Once baked, she’d then sit on my wrist, pick the seeds out of the muffins, and tear them apart in her quest for more millet. For those of you searching for millet, they have it at Whole Foods, in either the loose grains section, or the international foods section, or if you’re cheap like me, you can go to an ethnic grocery, especially a Middle Eastern shop, and ask for white millet. It’s usually in the Asian aisle, since they eat it in India and China, and you can buy a small bag for just a few dollars.
I am so excited to find this recipe because we have some millet in the back of the pantry that has been there a while… The only thing on this list I don’t have on-hand is the buttermilk. Do you think I could sub with (gasp!) skim? It’s the only thing we have right now and I’d rather not go to the store for one ingredient. Excitement!
I made these this morning and they are incredibly delicious! One of my favorite muffin recipes has been pumpkin and millet but I had never thought to add chocolate to them before. Thanks Joy!
I just made these beautiful muffins…oh.my.goodness!!!! Shut the front door, pull up a chair and have a muffin…or 3!!!!
Wow, JUST what I was looking for and didn’t even know it!! These muffins (and everything else that I’ve tried so far) are absolute slam dunks! Thanks! :)
Thanks for another millet recipe! I bought some for your banana bread (YUM!) and am glad I have another recipe to use it for. Oh and I have pumpkin puree in my fridge screaming to be used!
Millet????? Where do I find millet? I so want to try out these pumpkin muffins with chocolate ;) but I don’t have millet in the pantry & will have to go out in search of . . . millet . . .
My son saw these muffins on your blog and was not satisfied until I promised that we’d make them. Then, lo and behold, the next day at his preschool a local farmer gave all the kids a little pie pumpkin. So we roasted it up stuck it in these muffins. Love love LOVE the millet crunch. These things are addictive. Thank you for another opportunity for some quality bake time with my little guy.
Nice moist texture with a subtle crunch. I rarely eat muffins but have eaten 3 of these today! Big hit with my 4 and 6 yr old kiddos. As for frozen desserts…I love frozen chocolate chip cookies (extra good with whipped cream by the way) and chocolate chip pumpkin cookies (which I think are also from you!). Thanks
I’m so glad love the muffins! I totally love frozen chocolate chip cookies. So major!
What a fun way to use millet! I’ve found I don’t like it as a main grain, but mixed in things it is okay.
First time baking with millet-a success! Of course, can you go wrong when chocolate is involved?
Would Kroger sell millet? I’m running out of grocery store options here…I can’t find it anywhere! Am I looking in the wrong section of the store, I wonder? Would it be in the baking isle? Or possibly with the health food?
I have approximately 7 cans of pumpkin right now, and I have been STRUGGLING to find fun, exciting recipes to use them up (that aren’t all “pumpkin pie” or “pumpkin bread”). I am definitely adding this one to my arsenal. Thanks Joy!!
SOOOO EXCITED FOR THE PIE IDEAS!
Pie tins are out and ready to rumble! ;)
you really are on this millet kick! love love love it!
there is a cafe in auckland (new zealand) that makes the most incredible pumpkin muffins with ginger, date and coconut. I’ve been wanting to try recreating them for ages now, but haven’t known where to start! this is perfect, I’m so going to try my hand at pumpkin in muffin form. deeeeelicious!
Wow, those look healthy and delicious!
Thanks for sharing!
Oh, and welcome to November! Time slips by so quickly!
I’ve never even heard of Millet – but I’m definitely willing to try it!
These look yummy. I’m wondering if they could be made into cookies as well?
Looks really good! Millet is so great to cook with.
I made these today and thy were perfect! The flavors work so well together and I love the crunch of the millet. Thanks for the recipe, I will be making these again!
Though I’ve never tried muffins from the freezer (not a huge muffin/cakey thing fan, maybe I’m the un-normal one), I believe that cookies from the freezer are usually at least as yummy as from the cookie jar, and freezer cookies are just dangerous because there is nothing quite so irresistible as frozen cookie dough YUM. Which leads me to wonder; Joy, do you have a cookie jar?
i’m pretty sure that my freezer is my cookie jar. i secretly LOVE frozen sweets that aren’t supposed to be frozen.
I am dreadful at relaxing most of the time, I’m trying to get better and just let myself unwind without feeling like I “should” be doing all sorts of things. Sigh. I should, however, be making this muffins.
I’ve never met millet, but if it’s down with both pumpkin AND chocolate, then I am also very down.
meet millet!
I slowed down too, only with pecan sticky buns!
https://emilyspieceofcake.com/2011/10/31/ultimate-sticky-buns/
I’m on the look out for pumpkin recipes these days! Two HUGE pumpkins freshly picked from my backyard, and I SO have so much baking to do! Perfect recipe!! Delish!!
Wow, November 1st is here! I definitely want a pause button. I’m hoping to sneak in a few quiet moments before Thanksgiving (we’re hosting this year, gulp!).
Looking forward to the pie recipes. :)
whoo! i have to try these muffins, great combination! (:
I never think to use things like millet in my baking. You’re so good at that, Joy! Thanks for the inspiration (as always).
millet is such a great way to sneak in some health!
I could use a relaxing muffin moment. We spent the weekend cleaning up a tree that came down in our yard in the storm. Not relaxing. Time to make muffins!
I am so ready to be making all sorts of holiday pies. Bring it on!
we begin with… cheesecake!
I love pumpkin! Life is all about balance and muffins
I juts love the whole combination, they look really good
looks so yummy!!
xoxoxoxooxoo
I’ve never tried millet before, but these look great! And I completely agree about this year flying by, I’m only just getting used to writing “11” instead of “10” when I write the date.
Perfect for the season and my perpetual pumpkin craving. Do you think I can use Amaranth in place of millet, because that’s what I have on hand? If so, what, if anything, would you change?
Loving your posts as always,
Channon
Oh man, these look divine!! I cannot wait to try.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!
Love this blog & all the wonderful recipes. I’ve made many things from you w/ingredients that I’ve never used before or even tasted & it’s all so good. I’m very grateful for that. New things = happiness. I’m totally looking forward to the pie recipes. Love making pies this time of year even though my crust leaves a lot to be desired. I keep trying because all my family loves pie. I also love this time of year because of all the beauty in nature.
Clearly I need to make a trip to the store later to purchase some millet. These look so good!
Actually, these could easily be made vegan also. Just replace each egg with 1 tablespoon of flax or chia seeds mixed with 1 tablespoon hot water. Replace the buttermilk with the same amount of non-dairy milk plus a spoonful of vinegar (I wouldn’t use rice milk, but soy or a nut milk or hemp all work pretty well like this). And double the baking soda, and add a teaspoon or so of baking powder. For muffins and quickbreads, this sort of substitution should always work.
These muffins sounds delicious! I love adding millet to things!
I definitely took time to slow down a bit this weekend. Which meant staying home all Saturday morning, making (pretty) ricotta for a cheesecake and some (pretty odd) farmer’s cheese, and one of your fabulous single lady pancakes. Which is kind of cheating, I’m not a single lady. But they are oh-so tasty!
I also read in bed for a while in the morning… which is my favorite ever.
Can’t wait to try these! I’m so excited for Christmas :)
Great muffins! It’s true that time passes sooo quickly! We need some treats like that to enjoy it all!
Could you use corm meal instead of the dry millet? Just wondering :-) I need to chill, the weather’s icky, I have homework… Like = stress :\ I want pie now!! And those muffins of yours!!
I should slow down a bit. I should. I should eat a slice of homemade apple pie. I should watch leaves falling outside. I should listen to the rain. Thanks for remembering it to me, Joy.
So stoked to try these out! I adored the banana bread with millet recipe, so I am sure these will be equally incredible. My most favorite pumpkin chocolate chip muffin is from Feel Good bakery in Alameda, CA…I had one 5 years ago and still think about it : )
My weekend also involved pumpkin and chocolate. I made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies for my dad, for his birthday and save a few extras (okay maybe more than a few) for myself. I admit, they are not as healthy as your muffin recipe but everybody deserves to be bad once in a while? I can’t wait to try these muffins. Do you think that regular milk would work instead of buttermilk?
Thanks!
Kristen
My downtime looks a bit like this, but subtracting the muffin and coffee and inserting a salted caramel hot cocoa with pumpkin spice and homemade whipped cream– and instead of the food magazine, a cookbook. Hmm. Now that I think about it, it’s quite similar after all. And those muffins look amazing. I just had a pumpkin muffin with a sweet cream cheese filling– just heaven, though certainly on the lower end of healthy-ish.
Pumpkin muffins with chocolate chips are a favorite in our house. I usually dust them with cinnamon sugar. Yours look just as tasty but substantially healthier. I imagine the millet would give a really great earthy taste and crunchy texture!
That’s why you have to make them small intentionally…then it’s impossible to feel guilty about eating a bunch!
Hey Joy! I tried to comment last night but I suspect it disappeared into the depths of your spam comments. Your blog is always an inspiration to me and I’m floored that you liked one of my recipes enough to share. Thanks for making my day!
I was thinking the same thing this morning… how is it already November? Okay, I’m a day ahead of myself… but I’m not ready for 2012! Feels like New Years was just yesterday, sheesh!
I’ve never cooked with millet before – how exciting! I’ll have to try these out soon. Pumpkin is such a splendid thing.
I totally just made a Hazelnut Millet Pumpkin Bread for my blog! It looks like we were thinking similar thoughts :) Your muffins look delicious!
Oh boy these look so good. I wish I had one right now!
I love pumpkin chocolate chip muffins but I’ve never added millet. De-li-cious.
I think eating three is impressive self-control. Those look amazing! I can honestly say, I’ve never baked with millet. Can’t wait to try!
I made pumpkin chocolate chip muffins this weekends. I think I even slowed things down for a minute or two! I wish I had millet because I would have done that too!
I still can’t get over that the holiday season is just around the corner! time does go by fast!
and love pumpkin and chocolate together! yum and with whole millet in there I bet these muffins are heavenly. it has been awhile since I have enjoyed some millet! always a favorite of mine though.
Yes, I 100% agree…this year is moving so fast!
And, tea/muffins/magazines are the perfect recipe for a deep breather before the madness begins!
I’ve never baked with millet…but I’m looking forward to trying it. Is it affordable? I’m on very very very tight budget!
I loved your cherry carrot breakfast cookies that had millet in them- it’s such a clever idea to add a bit of crunch! If I replace the vegetable oil with coconut oil for these muffins, will the recipe still work? Thanks, Joy!
I made this pumpkin bread with coconut oil and it turned out amazing!
Awesome! Thank you, Kate! I will give it a try.
These, along with most things pumpkin, look amazing. I’m also considering about a dozen other pumpkin recipes at the moment, sweet and savory. But does anyone have any idea where I might find pumpkin puree in France? I can easily find pumpkins, but I kind of don’t want to do the work every time I make a pumpkin recipe. Thanks, if anyone can help!
I don’t personally know, but you could try checking with Clotilde at http://www.chocolateandzucchini.com. She’s a French-American hybrid food blogger and if she doesn’t know she might know someone who does. Hope that helps.
I love these muffins!!Thanks for the most delicious millet muffins!!!!!
i love the texture of the millet in the muffins! looks amazing!
Joy! I need to try that “nut stuff” you’re talking about. it looks so great!
Hehe, I usually eat three too :)
These look interesting. I might just have to try them. Though I’m still sceptical about mixing pumpkin with chocolate.
These look so great! I really can’t get enough of pumpkin or its fellow squash friends this month. Though I don’t own a muffin pan (yet, sob!) these seem like they would do fantastic in a bundt pan. Or, at least that’s what I’m hoping as I have about two hours till I have to leave for work and it seems like the perfect time to make this.
Adding the crunch of nuts without adding nuts! That is a super idea!!! :)
Yours actually do look GOOD and sound really great. I made mint & chocolate muffins this weekend but I’m not sure about the end result… hmmm, maybe I have to make yours?! And you’re right: time IS flying by, like crazy. I look so forward to Christmas but I already have the feeling that it will be over in a sec… looking forward to all those pie recipes ;-)
I love all of these ingredients too, so why not in muffin from! Mmmm I’m excited for these healthy little guys.
What a winning combination – I love the crunch of the millet plus I think I’m physically incapable of not making a muffin that contains chocolate.
Is frightening how close we are to Christmas. I’m sure it was only Christmas a couple of months ago …
I love pumpkin but alas we are in berry season here in my part of the world (I say alas but not really! I do love berries), the addition of millet in these is appealing, they look very hearty.
These sound delicious! I wish we could get pumpkin more easily over here.
I was quite lazy this weekend- it’s my last ‘free’ weekend until just before Christmas so I wanted to make it count- lots of naps!
I’ll have to check out the local health food store where I can buy millet, because I opened a can of pumpkin last night for ice cream and have easily the cup left. I hate it when I leave a can in the fridge and it goes bad!
this is JUST the recipe to use that left over pumpkin. i know the feeling.
Sounds like a delicious combination. I can see how this would be a wonderful way to recharge your batteries…
Sounds awesome. I also eat cookie dough, brownies etc straight out of the freezer, it gets a nice extra crunch:) One downwide (or upside) I noticed is that colder stuff tastes less sweet so we can eat more sugar without realising.
Love the addition of millet–very clever and health-ful of you! :D Makes for a beautiful muffin, too!
Is this real? A Cookie and Kate adaptation on Joy the Baker?! I must be dreaming. Your millet banana bread totally inspired me to add millet to my pumpkin bread. Thanks a million, Joy! Your blog is always an inspiration. :)
and round and round we inspire!
These look delicious! I’ve never tried millet in muffis but I’m sure that it gives them that healthy boost so having three muffins for breakfast is no biggie ; )
I’d easily eat three of these, too! I’ve never cooked or baked with millet but it looks like it adds a nice texture to the muffins.
I also make pumpkin muffins that I eat right out of the freezer…pumpkin baked goods freeze deliciously! These look really yummy…I’ve never had millet before, but it looks like it adds a good crunch!
The muffins look lovely and yes, this year is FLYING by. Whoa. Like, wasn’t it just Thanksgiving a hot second ago? Seriously…cannot believe it either.
And I love that your muffins do not require a mixer and are easy like that.
Happy Halloween, Joy! And your post on costumes and getting dressed, I’ve seen it relinked many times the past week or so. Thank you again for that gem.