Anniversary Coffee Cake Muffins

This is a bit of special recipe that I am sharing today as it is in honor of the six year anniversary of my first date with my husband (hence the name "anniversary Coffee Cake Muffins")! Our first date was at a coffee shop somewhere in between our two respective homes. I was living in LA proper while he was living in the beach towns south of the city (most people in LA would consider this a long distance relationship!).

I remember watching him round the corner and walk down the sidewalk. I was intently watching him before he saw me sitting on the bench outside the front door, my goal: figure out if he looked as nervous as I felt! From where I was sitting, he looked calm, cool, and collected which was impressive given the fact that we had both to contend with driving through a massive (unknown to us) 5K race that made us both very late.

From the moment we ordered our coffee, I could tell that this was going to be something special. We sat outside in the sun, sipping on our beverages and watching the tables around us come and go until eventually he asked if I was hungry and would like to get some lunch at the taco shop next door. Upon looking at our phones, we saw that it was already 2PM and both of us were going to be late to the Oscars parties that we were attending! We said a hasty goodbye and made plans to meet again the following week for dinner. As they say... the rest is history!

Through the last six years we have been through it all, moves to new cities, familial deaths, getting married, and even inheriting a cat! It is hard to predict where this crazy ride of our lives will take us, but one thing is for certain... it has given me not only an incredible husband and partner, but also an extended family here in California that treats me as one of their own, including sharing family recipes with me!

These coffee cake muffins are a variation on my husband's favorite recipe from his grandmother's home cookbook, sour cream coffee cake! This is the cake that he consistently asks me to make for him on his birthday and for family celebrations, but because our first date was at a coffee shop, I thought I would change the cake into muffins!

I hope you enjoy these Anniversary coffee cake muffins in celebration with someone you love!

Muffin Batter

1/2 Cup butter, softened

1 Cup granulated sugar

1 Teaspoon vanilla extract

3 Eggs

1 Teaspoon baking soda

1 Teaspoon baking powder

1 Teaspoon kosher salt

8 Ounces Greek Yogurt (whole milk)

2 Cups all purpose flour

1 Cup semisweet chocolate chips

Nut Filling

3 Teaspoons cinnamon

6 Tablespoons butter, softened

1 Cup brown sugar

1 Cup walnuts, roughly chopped

In a large mixing bowl cream together 1/2 cup butter, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until light and fluffy. Switch the mixer to low speed and beat in eggs, one at a time.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With the mixer on low speed, add in batches, alternating with the Greek yogurt and making sure to incorporate well after each addition.

Stir in the chocolate chips and set bowl aside.

To create the filling, In a separate mixing bowl, cream together 6 tablespoons of butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Stir in the nuts.

When ready to bake, line a muffin tin with 12 cupcake wrappers. Pour 1/4 cup of batter into each one. Spread a layer of the nut filling over the top of the batter (make sure to leave some to top the muffins). Pour an additional 1/4 cup of batter over the nut mixture and top with remaining nut mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffin comes out clean. Let cool completely before eating.