🧁😋 Celebrate the festive season with chocolate orange vegan Christmas muffins! These plant-based treats are soft, moist, and packed with the warm flavours of chocolate and zesty orange—perfect for breakfast, a holiday snack, or gifting to friends and family. These muffins are easy to make with ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen. They’re also a wonderful way to use up any leftover chocolate, making them a sustainable and delicious holiday treat.
INGREDIENTS
Dry ingredients:
1 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup unrefined cane sugar
4 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
Zest of 1 medium orange
1/3 cup fair-trade chocolate chips (or any leftover chocolate)
Handful of sesame seeds (optional)
Wet ingredients:
1 cup total liquid: juice of 1 orange + oat drink (or any plant-based milk)
2 tbsp peach jam (or any jam)
1 tbsp vegetable oil (neutral-flavoured)
METHOD
1. Preheat oven:
Preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F) and place a 12-cup silicone muffin tray on a baking sheet. You can also use paper muffin cases if you prefer.
2. Mix dry ingredients:
In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and sugar. Stir in the orange zest, sesame seeds and chocolate chips.
3. Combine wet ingredients:
In a hand blender container, blend the plant-based milk, vegetable oil, orange juice, and peach jam until lightly foamy.
4. Combine wet and dry:
Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients. Fold gently with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix; a few lumps are fine.
5. Fill muffin tins:
Divide the slightly runny batter evenly among the muffin cups, filling each cup almost to the top (about one finger from the rim). Sprinkle with cane sugar on top, if desired.
6. Bake:
Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Cool:
Allow muffins to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
8. Serve:
Enjoy warm or at room temperature. Optional: dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with melted vegan chocolate.
👵💚Grandma Sita’s Tips
✅Use fresh orange zest for the brightest, most aromatic flavour.
✅Muffins can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3–4 days or frozen for up to 1 month.
✅Vegan chocolate chips can be swapped for chopped leftover chocolate, making this recipe great for reducing waste.
✅For extra festive flair, add a sprinkle of crushed nuts or dried cranberries on top before baking.
😋 Why You’ll Love These Muffins
✅ Festive flavours: Chocolate + orange = holiday magic.
✅ Plant-based & ethical: Perfect for vegan and eco-conscious bakers.
✅ Quick & easy: Minimal prep and common pantry ingredients.
✅ Sustainable: Ideal for using leftover chocolate or reducing kitchen waste.
♻️ A Planet-Friendly Holiday
More people around the world are choosing plant-based treats for their festive celebrations. Each of us can take small steps at home to reduce waste and enjoy more sustainable holiday traditions. Every bit counts. Happy Holidays!
