Chocolate Surprise Muffins

Susiecat too's Note:

Ssshhhhh! The surprises are: 1) the raspberry in the center, and 2) these muffins are good for you, with bran and wheat germ, and no added fats! Don't tell, and they will never know.

• Total Time: 30 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 12

• 1⁄3; cup plain yogurt
• 1 cup milk
• 1 egg , beaten
• 2⁄3; cup honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 ½ cups natural bran (I used oat bran, use whatever kind is your favorite)
• ½ cup wheat germ
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1⁄3; cup cocoa powder
• 1⁄3; cup raspberry preserves , divided

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and grease muffin tins.
2. In a large bowl, mix the yogurt with the milk. Mix in the beaten egg, honey and vanilla.
3. Add the bran and wheat germ, mix and let stand for several minutes to absorb the liquids.
4. Into another bowl, sift the flour, baking soda, salt and cocoa powder. Stir together well.
5. Add to the wet mixture and stir only until combined.
6. Drop mixture into muffin tins until 1/3 full.
7. Add 1 heaping teaspoon raspberry preserves to the middle of each muffin tin.
8. Top with remaining muffin batter until each tin is 3/4 full.
9. Place the muffin tins on a baking sheet and bake 15-20 minutes, until muffins have a firm feel and slightly springs back when lightly touched.
10. Let cool 5 minutes in the tins, then turn out and let cool completely on a wire rack.

Reviews

[Sydney Mike]

OUTSTANDING! Loved the chocolate & raspberry combo, not to mention the neat surprise! I did take another reviewer's suggestion & used 1/2 cup of cocoa, but then I REALLY LIKE CHOCOLATE! Thanks for sharing a real keeper of a recipe! [Tagged, made & reviewed in Went to the Market cooking game]

[CoffeeB]

I agree with a previous reviewer that these are WW worthy if using a SF type jam. I did on two (as that's all I had) and the rest I used regular Smucker's Brand Raspberry Jam. These muffins are plenty dense as a good bran muffin should. I love the choco-flavor added for my choco-fix. This recipe is easily adaptable as you could omit the chocolate if not a lover of choco-raspberry. (or any flavor). I give this 5 stars!!! Made for MarketTag~

[LUv 2 BaKE]

Cool...these are like chocolate bran muffins! The texture was great, heavy, moist and fluffy. I would have liked to have a bit more of a chocolate flavour. After eating one my dad commented that there must be a lot of molasses in here to make them so dark. Next time I think i would increase the cocoa to 1/2 cup. The raspberry surprise in the centre was great! Overall we really enjoyed these. Thanks! Reviewed during ZWT 4.