OLYMPIC VILLAGE DOUBLE CHOCOLATE MUFFINS
The Olympic Village Double Chocolate Muffins – definitely understood the hype after trying these. Coffee in the batter deepens the chocolate without making them taste like coffee, and the ganache center means every muffin has that molten pocket in the middle, even after they’ve cooled. The hot-then-lower oven trick is what gives them that tall, cracked bakery top. If you can wait, a night in the freezer somehow makes them even better the next day.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE MUFFINS
Ingredients
- 150 mL hot water
- 1 tsp instant coffee
- 80 g dark cacao powder
- 2 eggs
- 210 g brown sugar
- 175 mL buttermilk
- 90 g butter, melted
- 70 mL neutral oil
- 250 g self-rising flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- Dark and milk chocolate chunks, to taste
- 120 mL heavy cream, hot
- 60 g dark chocolate
Method
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Boil the water with the coffee, then pour it over the cacao powder in a large bowl and whisk until smooth.
- Add the sugar and all remaining wet ingredients, and mix well.
- Mix in the flour until just combined, then fold in the chocolate chunks.
- Scoop the batter into muffin tins, leaving space between each for the muffins to rise properly.
- Bake at 425°F (220°C) for 5 minutes, then lower the temperature to 350°F (180°C) and bake for another 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- For the ganache: pour the hot cream over the chocolate, cover, and let sit for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth. Chill in the fridge for 10–15 minutes to thicken before using it to fill the muffins.