Behold My Chocolate Rx!
Sometimes we need a little chocolate therapy, right? In these challenging times, Marc and I often do. :) For an easy-to-make chocolate escape, I recommend these lusciously rich and satisfying Chocolate Brownie Muffins.
These babies are brilliant paired with coffee. And speaking of coffee, if you missed my "Spotlight Sunday" post (a new feature here at Mystery Lovers' Kitchen), click here or on the cup below to read it.
Through 19 titles over nearly 20 years and more than 1 million books sold, readers have watched our Coffeehouse characters face down cold-blooded criminals; fight past personal failures; and survive the general chaos of New York City with the strength of camaraderie and good strong coffee. ☕ If you ever wondered what inspired our bestselling series, this post will tell you.
19 titles over nearly 20 years
and more than 1 million books sold
started with this story...
 |
Cleo Coyle writes two bestselling mystery series with her husband. To learn more, click here. |
A Recipe Note from Cleo
Non-bakers fear not! This is a very easy recipe to make, foolproof really, using only one bowl and a rubber spatula to stir everything up. I call it a "pantry recipe," because it makes spectacular use of a few simple ingredients that many of us often have in our kitchens.
The result is a darn tasty cross between a double-chocolate brownie and a banana muffin. The mashed banana gives nice weight to the muffin and adds a bit of nutrition along with a subtle but lovely flavor. Combined with the peanuts (good protein) and melted chocolate chips (for the soul), this muffin’s flavor isn’t far from a chocolate-syrup drizzled banana split. Seriously, the hard part for me and my husband (after pouring our coffee) is eating only one.
May you eat with chocolate joy!
~ Cleo
To download this recipe
in a PDF document that you
can print, save, or share,
click here...
☕ Cleo Coyle's Easy
Double-Chocolate
Brownie Muffins
Makes: 12 muffins
Ingredients:
2 large eggs, lightly beaten with fork
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract (do not skip!)
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, melted and cooled
2 ripe bananas, mashed well with fork (until they resemble applesauce)
1 box Devil's Food Cake Mix (I used Pillsbury Moist Supreme)
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (I used Ghirardelli)
1/2 cup chopped dry roasted, unsalted peanuts (or your favorite nut)
Directions: Place all ingredients into a large mixing bowl. (Be sure the melted butter is not too hot. You don't want to cook the eggs.) Mix by hand until well blended, but do not over mix.
Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners and divide batter among them (filling each cup about 2/3rds full, see my photos). OR grease the cups and go naked.
Bake at 350° F. for about 20 minutes. (Do not over-bake.) Remove from oven and allow muffins to cool a bit before stripping away the paper and noshing. (No kidding...) If you try to remove the paper liners while the muffin is hot, you’ll have sticking problems. Simply allow the muffin to cool, and you should have no problem eating with joy.
Get a free Title Checklist of Cleo's
Coffeehouse Books in Order
Click here or on the image below.
Cleo's Foodie
P H O T O S
Eat (and read) with joy!
Now on SaleOur New Coffeehouse Mystery!
"I LOVED IT!...
It will hold a space on my
BEST READS list for this year."
—Lori Boness Caswell,
Escape with Dollycas into a Good Book
To Learn more or Buy:
"The powerhouse writing duo that makes up
Cleo Coyle has done it again with this
19th installment of the Coffeehouse Mysteries.
What do I love about these books? EVERYTHING…
HONEY ROASTED needs to be on every mystery
lover’s to be read list."
—Fresh Fiction
"Red herrings pop up at every turn and
relationships aren’t what they seem.
WITTY BANTER AND A TWISTY PLOT...
Coyle knows how to please cozy fans."
—Publishers Weekly
"Coyle's latest Coffeehouse mystery is
a honey of a tale....A primer on bees,
coffee, and some of New York's most
unusual and exciting areas make for a
FASCINATING AND MYSTERIOUS READ."
—Kirkus Reviews
"FANTASTIC WHODUNIT…well-written
and fast-paced…This is one of the best books
in the series and I can’t wait to see what
adventures await Clare and her friends."
—Dru Ann Love, award-winning reviewer,
Dru's Book Musings
Click here or on the image
above for the recipe guideto Honey Roasted.
Now on Sale
Our New
Coffeehouse Mystery!
"I LOVED IT!...
It will hold a space on my
BEST READS list for this year."
It will hold a space on my
BEST READS list for this year."
—Lori Boness Caswell,
Escape with Dollycas into a Good Book
Escape with Dollycas into a Good Book
To Learn more or Buy:
"The powerhouse writing duo that makes up
Cleo Coyle has done it again with this
19th installment of the Coffeehouse Mysteries.
What do I love about these books? EVERYTHING…
HONEY ROASTED needs to be on every mystery
lover’s to be read list."
—Fresh Fiction
"Red herrings pop up at every turn and
relationships aren’t what they seem.
WITTY BANTER AND A TWISTY PLOT...
Coyle knows how to please cozy fans."
relationships aren’t what they seem.
WITTY BANTER AND A TWISTY PLOT...
Coyle knows how to please cozy fans."
—Publishers Weekly
a honey of a tale....A primer on bees,
coffee, and some of New York's most
unusual and exciting areas make for a
FASCINATING AND MYSTERIOUS READ."
—Kirkus Reviews
"FANTASTIC WHODUNIT…well-written
and fast-paced…This is one of the best books
in the series and I can’t wait to see what
adventures await Clare and her friends."
—Dru Ann Love, award-winning reviewer,
Dru's Book Musings
Click here or on the image
above for the recipe guide
above for the recipe guide
to Honey Roasted.
Coffeehouse Books in Order
Click here or on the image below.
GIVEAWAY NEWS...
Click the link above to jump to our
recipe post and learn how to enter
our active comment giveaway.
recipe post and learn how to enter
our active comment giveaway.
HAVE A DELICIOUS
WEEK, EVERONE!
WEEK, EVERONE!
~ Cleo
My husband and I were just talking about banana splits and banana chocolate ice cream. We both agree this sounds a lot better. Thank you, Cleo
ReplyDeletePS: I am loving HoneyRoasted!
Bev
LOVE THIS! Please keep writing and cooking, Cleo. Honey Roasted was fantastic. I can't wait to try some of the recipes in your new book, and I will be baking these this weekend! TINA
ReplyDeleteI just got my copy of Honey Roasted and I am going to plan my weekend around reading it. I will probably make these muffins, too, though I am tempted to try your honey cupcake with honey buttercream icing recipe in Honey Roasted first!
ReplyDeleteCleo! These look so delicious. I'm a huge chocoholic and have to have some every day. Thanks for the recipe. And congrats on the book!
ReplyDeleteGood heavens! Where have I been? I missed two days. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteThese look wicked good.
I'm surprised you didn't add any coffee to punch up the chocolate flavor.