NUTTY PISTACHIO-CHIP MUFFINS

Nutty Pistachio-Chip Muffins image

Provided by Dan Langan

Time 1h45m

Yield 12 muffins

Number Of Ingredients 15

Nonstick cooking spray
2 3/4 cups (355 grams) all-purpose flour (see Cook's Note)
3/4 cup (150 grams) light brown sugar
1/2 cup (110 grams) granulated sugar
2 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon fine salt
2 large eggs, at room temperature
3/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt or buttermilk, at room temperature
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 orange, zested
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup (130 grams) shelled roasted unsalted pistachios, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon turbinado or other coarse sugar, for sprinkling

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly spray two 12-cup muffin pans with nonstick cooking spray. Place a muffin liner in each of 12 of the cups, leaving 1 cup unlined next to each lined cup to promote even baking.
Whisk together the flour, brown and granulated sugars, baking powder and salt in a large bowl, breaking up any lumps of sugar; set aside.
Whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, butter, oil, orange zest and vanilla in a medium bowl.
Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the liquid ingredients. Stir gently with a rubber spatula until fully combined. Reserve 1/4 cup of the pistachios and 1 tablespoon of the chocolate chips for topping, then fold the rest into the batter. Divide the batter among the 12 lined cups, leaving the unlined cups empty. Spread the batter with a spoon to the edges of the paper liners.
Sprinkle the reserved pistachios and chocolate chips evenly over the muffins, then sprinkle the tops with the turbinado sugar.
Place the muffin pans in the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the muffins comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, 26 to 28 minutes. Let the muffins cool in the pans on a wire rack for about 10 minutes. Carefully remove each muffin and let cool on the rack.