I’ve had a pretty busy couple of weeks recently, there has been some very grown-up stuff happening (words like mortgage! Solicitors! Conveyancing!), and some not-so-grown-up stuff (epic pirate cake baking!), as well as several friends coming to stay; so unfortunately I’ve had very little time for blogging and my social media has been thoroughly neglected. I thought I would ease back into things with something simple – double chocolate almond raisin muffins, because muffins are some of the easiest things you can make.
The flavour of these muffins is inspired by some chocolate that I was sent to try by Divine, their new dark chocolate with almonds and raisins – basically a classy version of a fruit and nut bar; it certainly didn’t last long let me tell you! (Nor did the other bars I was sent…). Divine are also very kindly giving away a load of chocolate bars to one lucky reader – a dark chocolate collection and a milk and white chocolate collection; make sure to enter the giveaway at the bottom of this post for your chance to be bathing in chocolate!
The muffins are really quick and easy to make, it is a simple matter of mixing the dry ingredients in one bowl, the wet in another then stirring them together and adding some dark chocolate, almonds and raisins. I made six jumbo muffins, though you could make eight smaller ones if you prefer. They make a brilliant snack or decadent breakfast although they are best eaten on the day they are made, like most muffins they go stale quickly. They do freeze incredibly well though and just require a short blast in the microwave to defrost them.

Double Chocolate Almond Raisin Muffins
Ingredients
- 150 g (1 + 1/4 cups) plain flour, sifted
- 40 g (1/3 cup) cocoa powder, sifted
- 1/2 tbsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- pinch salt
- 125 g (1/2 cup + 2tbsp) caster sugar
- 50 g (scant 1/4 cup) butter, melted
- 125 ml (generous 1/2 cup) buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 75 g (3oz) dark chocolate, chopped
- 40 g (1.5 oz) raisins
- 40 g (1.5 oz) almonds, roughly chopped
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/gas mark 5. Line a 6 hole muffin pan with large muffin liners (or you can make 8 smaller muffins).
-
In a large bowl mix together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and the salt.
-
In a separate bowl or jug whisk together the sugar, melted butter, buttermilk, egg and vanilla extract. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until just combined, don't overmix, the batter will be thick and fudgy.
-
Reserve 1/4 of the chocolate to sprinkle on top of the muffins then fold the remainder into the batter along with the raisins and almonds. Divide the batter between the 6 liners, filling them completely full. Sprinkle with the remaining chocolate pieces. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until a skewer comes out almost clean (check after 15 minutes if you are making smaller muffins).
I was provided with some products however I was not paid to write this post and all opinions are my own.
I am sharing this with Fiesta Friday hosted by A Taste Of Sri Lankan Cuisine and Of Goats And Greens, Foodie FriDIY, Foodie Friends Friday and Friday Features

Divine Chocolate Bars Bundle Giveaway:
– One winner will receive the following: A collection of Divine dark chocolate bars and one of milk and white chocolate bars (pictured above).
– The giveaway open to UK residents over the age of 18 only.
– The giveaway ends on the 31st of May 2016 at 11:59:59 PM.
– Entries using an automated process or software to create bulk entries will be disqualified.
– The winner will be randomly selected, announced in the Gleam giveaway box and contacted via their provided e-mail address shortly afterwards. Please claim your prize within 4 days of being notified.
More competitions at The PrizeFinder
Divine Chocolate Bars Bundle
Tracy Nixon
Milk or white!
iain maciver
milk and white
Carolynn Woodland
Milk chocolate orange
Fiona K
Milk chocolate
Annie Allen
These look amazing Hannah! Sorry for my lack of comments the last few months while I’ve been away. But I can tell you something I am certainly looking forward to when I get back is eating chocolate again!! Love xxx
hannahhossack
Thanks Annie, and no worries! I hope you’ve been having an awesome time and I look forward to hearing all about it when you get back, I’ll bring cake! xxx
Kirsty Hosty
I love mint or orange flavoured chocolates
rachel H
I love any chocolate with a coffee flavour.
Sara
Milk chocolate
ValB
Any chocolate with nuts
karen cowley
love caramel , caramac is my all time fave x anything creamy x
Tiff jordan
White. It’s delicious and I can’t get enough of it!
Barbara Handley
Turkish Delight.
Hannah Smith
These look amazing! My favourite flavour is extra dark chocolate 🙂
Lucy I
Milk chocolate, especially with a caramel centre 🙂
Tracey Peach
I love strawberry chocolate but it’s very hard to find now 🙂
LP
60% DARK CHOC
LynneH
My favourite chocolate flavour is coffee, but I’m a bit of a tart; i like pretty much any chocolate
Paul Wilson
I like variety, I like to try a range of chocolates.
Amelia Kennedy
Plain chocolate, preferably covering a marzipan centre x
Alice LA
dark chocolate with raspberries is my favourite.
Sarah Mackay
I love either raspberries or honeycomb flavoured chocolate
Andrew Petrie
Chocolate Orange
Cathy
Milk chocolate! Mmm
Lisa Everaert
I love Milk chocolate with caramel xx
JODIE BEAUMONT
caramel!
Gemma Jordan
Chocolate orange
Emma
Milk! 🙂
Maggie Norvell
Can’t resist white chocolate !
Sumayya
Looks divine!
Sumayya
Hannah, do you think this recipe could work as is if using Dove’s Farm gf flour? If any amendments are required do let me know – since I opened up the blog post I’m hankering for a couple of these …
hannahhossack
Hi Sumayya, I don’t have much experience baking with gluten free flours but I see no reason why it wouldn’t work and the recipe shouldn’t need any amendments apart from possibly a drop more buttermilk if the flour is particularly absorbent – the mixture should be very thick and fudgy though so don’t add too much extra. I hope you enjoy them! 🙂
Sumayya
Dark and milk chocolate rule 🙂
glenn hutton
Milk chocolate with pistachios…
Mirjana
Dark chocolate 🙂
Claire Russell
Milk Chocolate with Almonds
Ellen C
Dark chocolate with pistachios 🙂
Isabel O
I love orange flavoured chocolate. 🙂
Hollie R
Milk chocolate with toffee and sea salt sounds incredible!
Karen R
I love Chilli chocolate – this has the added bonus of no one else in our house will touch it!
Zoe Atherton
I am a fan of chilli chocolate!
Heather Haigh
I really like orange chocolate
Sue McCarthy
I like Milk chocolate but will eat anything !
Susan Laing
i love anything that involve white chocolate
Samantha Mason
Mint chocolate
Gwyn Sharps
Normal milk chocolate
andrea tinkler
I do like orange milk chocolate…yummy xxx
lucy higgins
milk
Holly Gibson
I love mint chocolate, especially mint creams!
Emily Knight
I’m a huge fan of salted caramel milk chocolate – it’s so addictive!
Heather T
My favourite chocolate is anything with caramel or toffee in it
Andrea Fletcher
milk chocolate or anything with caramel.
Laura Jeffs
Dark chocolate is my absolute favourite! Can’t resist it 😉
Tracey Belcher
I think ALL – seriously I guess Milk is my favourite
laura stewart
milk chocolate orange yummy x
Tasha Corder
Salted caramel it’s lovely!
Alix Boswell
I Love Dark Chocolate
lorraine dunne
salted caramel
Lynne Durkin
Love milk chocolate x
stephen ashdown
Milk chocolate, with strawberry. Had joy of skiing in Austria many years ago and discovered proper Milka bars. Divine!
Tania Atfield
Milk. But also love it with salted caramel
laura banks
dark chocolate with caramel
Andrea storey
I absolutely love chilli chocolate <3
Lisa Parker
I love orange flavouredchocolate x
Rebecca Cusick
White chocolate is my favourite chocolate so white choc and strawberry sounds gorgeous. I do love strawberry cremes too
Mari Sutherland
Dark chocolate – the darker the better!!
Emma Nixon
I like minty chocolate
Sharon Heath
Milk chocolate
Louise Comb
At the moment, it’s probably salted caramel milk chocolate – yummy 🙂
John Tingay
Dark chocolate is my favourite.
Claire D
Chocolate orange
Rachael G
Caramel is my favourite.
Marycarol
Love dark chocolate
Nina McFadden
Dark Chocolate Mint
Sophie Spiby
White
Natalie Charman
White chocolate
Lyla
Milk chocolate with hazelnuts
Jules Naybur
Dark chocolate with raspberry
kate CARRINGTON
white chocolate
Jo Carroll
Plain Dark Choc is my fave. x
Anthony Harrington
Dark Chocolate
Char
Wow it looks amazing. Fav is just choc.
Corinne Henson
Nutty chocolate
Leah Wheatley
Milk Chocolate
Justine meyer
Love dark minty chocolate
Abigail Cullen
I do like dark mint chocolate.
Rikka B
I like plain choccy best
amy bondoc
i love caramel chocolate or chocolate with raspberries in
ElizM
Really creamy milk chocolate
Iris Tilley
So love Caramac & Pistachio nuts
Rosie
My favorite is white chocolate, then milk chocolate, and also chocolate with orange.
Angela McDonald
I adore Sea Salted Chocolate!
Annamarie V
I love milk chocolate and my second favorite is white chocolate.
jennifer thorpe
salted caramel at the moment
clair downham
dark chocolate with chilli or seasalt
David Thomson
Fruit & Nut in Milk.
Glen @ APL
Oh no, not Divine! They sell them in my local Oxfam and i’ve started buying them to feel like my own gluttony is offset by the good it does for a charity. A dark (chocolate) path, let me tell you.
helen tovell
dark chocolate with mint
Julie Feathers
Dark Chocolate
Harline parkin
After eights
Gail Reid
Caramac <3 nommitastic
Krzysia
White chocolate with raspberries
Lucy @ Globe Scoffers recipes
WOW! I want one now these look delicious!
lisa thomas
dark
Amanda
I love orange chocolate
Rosie Dunningham
I love love love salted caramel chocolate! Wonderful recipe & giveaway xx
doug gerard
MILK Chocolate has always been a life-long favorite
judy kennedy
Dark Mint
natalie moore
milk chocolate orange!
Jayne Kelsall
Mint chocolate is my favourite.x
Mary Houlihan
Dark chocolate orange.
Stevie
I like mint chocolate the most.
jayne hall
love milk and white
Paula Burnside
I love Milk chocolate
Julie
I like all chocolate, but I love a good dark chocolate.
Solange
Milk chocolate
kelly mobbs
milk chocolate with mint yummy! Love it! Thanks for hosting a fantastic giveaway, fingers crossed xxx
Karren Haller
Our favorite chocolate with 72% Cacao, so healthy and smooth flavor.
Michelle Ferguson
I love dark chocolate
Tracey Parker
Chilli and lime is my treat
chickie brewer
I like lots of different types.. Right now I am thinking of semi sweet.
Suchitra
Your double chocolate muffins are making me drool! My kids would enjoy these! Saving the recipe! Happy FF!
Emma Walker
Either seasalt or salted caramel.. mmmm!
Miranda
I love sea salt chocolate or orange flavoured! 🙂
Debby
I’ve always had a penchant for nutty flavoured dark chocolate – almonds, hazlenuts, pecans, cashews etc, or mixed nut chocolate. Fingers crossed as this would be a lovely prize to share with my better half and his business partner.
Ahila
Lovely treat… Happy Fiesta, Hannah! 🙂
Nicki Evans
Chilli and Lime
Ray Dodds
Turkish Delight
Jennifer Haden
White chocolate, as I can’t tolerate any caffeine. x
Julia Nicholls
I love a plain dark chocolate and a salted caramel milk
Angela Treadway
White chocolate x
Joanne Beale
Love Mint Chocolate
janet humphrey
love salted caramel and dark chocolate
Tammy Westrup
I love chocolate orange
Hazel Rea
I love plain dark chocolate – 85% is my favourite.
judy parslow
mint dark
Martina Pichova
I love any fruit and nut chocolate.
Kristyn Harris
My favourite chocolate flavour is milk chocolate with nuts
Kim M
Love praline chocolates x
Patricia Avery
I love plain dark chocolate 🙂
Richard R
Milk Chocolate
William G
I love toffee or caramel covered with milk chocolate, or chocolate covered raisins, rather than flavoured chocolate!
Ruth Harwood
I love white chocolate xx
MANDY DOHERTY
Dark chocolate
jo liddement
I love orange chocolate
Robert Slipper
Any kind of dark (darker the better) chocolate floats my bat
lyn burgess
raspberry plain chocolate
pete c
mint chocolate is my favourite
Margaret Glover
chocolate orange
katrina walsh
I love white chocolate, the creamier the better
Naz M
I love dark chocolate
grainne marnell-fox
mint chocolate is my favourite
Jayne T
Mine is orange, thanks for the lovely giveaway.
Corinne Peat
Love milk chocolate
Nora K
Dark chocolate with nuts is my favourite .
Hannah Scudder
Milk chocolate
Lynne OConnor
Dark with marzipan and or cherries
christine szlobodnik
salted caramel & dark chocolate
Margaret Clarkson
Milk Chocolate
Rey Chunara
I love orange flavoured chocolates
Katie Kingsbury
Salted caramel.
Lesley Bain
Dark choc is my favourite 🙂 x
barbara daniels
double chocolate
carole n
milk chocolate for me
Elizabeth Gurney
I love milk chocolate
Sylvia Paul
I adore milk chocolate and caramel xx
Amanda
Those muffins ooze chocolaty yumminess! I want one!
Sarah Wilson
Milk 🙂
kim neville
Praline chocolate
Jessica Pickering
I love plain dark chocolate!
Eleanor Wigmore
I like milk but good quality milk with a higher cocoa count like 50%.
Michelle O'Neill
dark chocolate x
Jess Powell (Babi a Fi)
I love orange chocolate 🙂
JULIE WARD
Any chocolate but plain dark
Simon C
I’m an absolute sucker for white chocolate. In fact, just typing that has made me want some.
Pam Francis Gregory
I love white chocolate
jessica catherine
milk chocolate
Catriona Hutchinson
Anything with hazelnut!
Mary Baldwin
Dark chocolate with a hint of spice.
Phyllis Ellett
Dark chocolate, darker, the more bitter the better.
Greig spencer
Milk chocolate
irene gilmour
orange
Robert Price
White chocolate
Caroline J Robinson
I’m a dark chocolate fan
Lorna Cox
Orange Milk chocolate x
Sheri Darby
Dark chocolate with ginger
Christine Caple
I love praline chocolate
Amanda Young
Coffee
ailsa sheldon
Milk Chocolate
Martina Alban
milk chocolate with fruit and nuts
Allan Fullarton
Milk chocolate
helen newton
My favourite is Dark Chocolate 🙂
Allan Wilson
White
kimberley ryan
mint dark chocolate is my favourite
Angela Paull
Milk for eating straight from the bar but dark for baking
Gemma Massey
Milk chocolate is my favourite xx
Susan B
I love honeycomb chocolate though I am also very fond of nut truffles.
Emma H
Milk chocolate with chilli
Sam McKean
I love milk chocolate, salted or caramel or salted caramel varieties are a particular favourite!
kate knight
Praline chocolate
Sandra Jo Siddall
I love Salted Caramel Chocolate! Yummy!
Rebecca Powell
I love milk chocolate
Karen B
Dark chocolate
Heidi Brown
I just love Dark Chocolate, darker the better – if I would choose a fav, then raspberry and dark chocolate
Chris Fletcher
The dark chocolate with raspberries is delicious!
olivia Kirby
Milk chocolate is my favourite
Alison MacDonald
White Chocolate with Raspberries 🙂
Laura Nice
Chocolate orange
Laura Pritchard
I love praline chocolate!
Chloe Bailey
White!! Xx
Victoria Prince
Mine is Plain Chocolate, at least 70% 🙂 Those muffins look amazing!
Sarah Williams
White chocolate and orange is a favourite
Michelle Sykes
Milk chocolate
jessica cook
I love coffee chocolates
Faye Reed
I love mint chocolate x
Andrea A
Mint flavoured dark chocolate
Alison Johnson
Love milk chocolate
ellie spider
I tried lemon flavoured white chocolate recently which was immense it was so good
Melissa Red
I like mint chocolate.
Natalie Gillham
Milk chocolate x
alice lightning
love all different chocolate, I confess I’m,a chocoholic but love caramac
Denfor Hopkins
I love white milk chocolate
Sheila Reeves
I love Dark chocolate with salted caramel
tricia cowell
I love salted caramel
Kathleen Thomson
Milk chocolate for me
Julie Davies
Dark chocolate with chilli is my favourite.
Ann Williams
Mint is my favourite flavour wth chocolate although orange comes a very close second
Hayley Colburn
milk chocolate orange or praline are my fave flaves 😀
Laura Kevlin
Dark chocolate mint – would love to try rose or violet as they are my absolute favourite flavour but I’ve only ever found them as filled bars i.e. Turkish Delight or Violet Creme
Sarah Lee
Milk chocolate with caramel
Pam Smith
Milk chocolate with a marzipan centre
sharon martin
milk chocolate
Beverley Cousins
Love mint and orange 🙂
Eileen McCann
honeycomb
Ellie Jacobs
I LOVE Lindor Lindt Chocolate, But any GOOD quality Milk Chocolate and I am putty on your hands LOL
Laura Harrison
White, salted caramel and milk xx
carol boffey
yummy I love milk chocolate
Anne Alexis O
Dark chocolate and sea salt…yum!!
Georgina prince
white chocolate
Karl Borowy
ORANGE TYPE
paul jackson
milk with a strawberry filling
Laura Findlay
I like Milk Chocolate, actually I don’t just like I love it! X
katy bulcock
milk chocolate 🙂
SUSAN L HALL
I like Dark European Chocolate
Alison Macdonald
Love plain chocolate with orange
tracey baker
Love any Coffee flavoured Chocolate x
EJ Dunn
I love white chocolate
Oksana Fitzgerald
Mint chocolate
Beryl drake
Mint chocolate
Diana
Milk chocolate 🙂
Nicole S.
Milk Chocolate! 🙂
Ruth Wollerton
White chocolate with strawberries. Yummytastic
Clare B
OOooo almost any chocolate but especially chilli and or ginger
Kerry Webber
My favourite is dark chocolate – the darker the better!
alison clark
Dark chocolate with ginger