The 2024 Paris Olympics will be remembered for athletic achievements and an unexpected culinary sensation that swept through the Olympic Village and beyond. A humble chocolate muffin, originally intended as a quick breakfast option for athletes, became an internet phenomenon and a must-try-to-make at-home treat.
The Birth of an Olympic Star
What started as one item amongst traditional French baguettes and croissants to fuel athletes before their events quickly turned into the talk of the town. The muffins, created by French bakery supplier Coup de Pates, were distributed in the Olympic Village cafeterias. Little did anyone know that these unassuming treats would soon capture the hearts and taste buds of Olympians worldwide.
Social Media Explosion
The muffin’s rise to fame started with one man: Norwegian swimmer Henrik Christiansen, who fell in love with the muffin and declared himself to be the “muffin man” on TikTok. “I HEREBY DECLARE MYSELF AS THE OLYMPIC MUFFIN MAN,” he wrote in the caption of a video of himself lip-syncing the famous “Do you know the muffin man?” dialogue from “Shrek” — all while holding one of the chocolate muffins with crumbs and melted chocolate all over his mouth, no less.
Other athletes started posting their videos of the chocolatey goodness, turning this simple baked good into an overnight sensation.
What Makes These Muffins Special?
Food critics and enthusiasts have speculated about what makes these muffins so irresistible. Some point to the high-quality French chocolate used, while others praise the muffin’s ideal texture – neither too dense nor too crumbly. Or because it is a cupcake disguised as a muffin filled with decadent ganache! What will the French think of next?!
Olympic Village Favourite
As the Games progressed, muffins became the go-to snack for athletes with a sweet tooth that required carbs to keep them fueled and a reward for those like @_charihawkinswho, who could look forward to indulging after their event. They became a symbol of unity and shared experience among athletes. Stories emerged of muffins traded between national teams and used as good luck charms before important events.
Beyond the Olympic Village
TikTok videos have made the muffin an irresistible, must-try chocolate treat. While you could try to order the muffins from Coup de Pates online store, Chocolate fans worldwide would love to make these at home. So here is the recipe, thanks to the detective work of Tiktok phenom @Jordan_The_Stallion8
The Famous Olympic Mixi Muffin Chocolate Intense
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tsp. instant coffee
- 1/2 cup dutch cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chunks
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 2 cups unbleached flour
- 1 tbsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1/3 cup dark chocolate chunks
For the Filling
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup dark chocolate chunks
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
For the Muffins
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Add brown baking cups* into a jumbo six cup muffin tin.
- Add the milk, water and coffee into a saucepan and simmer. Add the cocoa powder, chocolate chunks and butter. Mix until melted, transfer into a bowl and let cool.
- In a separate bowl, add the flour, baking powder and salt and mix.
- Into the cooled chocolate add the sugars, oil, eggs and vanilla and mix together. Using a spatula add 1/3rd of the flour and blend in. Then fold in the remaining flour until just incorporated and you no longer see any flour. Fold in the remaining 1/3 cup of chocolate chunks.
- Bake for 24 minutes until the top of the muffin bounces back when lightly touched. The chocolate chunks will have melted so you aren't going to be able to do a toothpick test. Let the muffis completely cool on a cooling rack.
For the Filling
- In a double boiler heat the cream, and then add the chocolate chunks and stir until fully melted. Finish with the pinch of salt.
- Let cool.
Final Assembly
- Make a divot in the middle of the muffin and spoon in the ganache filling.
