Dark Chocolate Cherry Muffins

Submitted by Fili Eve

"I bake daily and having failed to find a chocolate muffin recipe that 'hit the spot' I decided to take matters into my own hands, hence this recipe. Somewhat similar to a cupcake in texture, a lighter crumb and good depth of flavour gives you a muffin that's totally chocolate dream delicious!"

 

• Ready In: 32mins
• Ingredients: 16
• Yields: 6 muffins
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 75 g dark chocolate (I use Lindt 70%)
• 59.14 ml unsalted butter (melted)
• 236.59 ml flour
• 4.92 ml baking powder
• 1.23 ml salt
• 59.14 ml sugar
• 59.14 ml light brown sugar
• 1 large egg (lightly beaten)
• 59.14 ml buttermilk
• 20 20 ml buttermilk or 20 ml yogurt
• 2.46 ml vanilla extract
• 1.23 ml almond extract
• 78.78 ml dried cherries, plus
• 29.58 ml dried cherries
• 29.58 ml brown sugar
• 0.61 ml cinnamon

directions

1. Preheat oven to gas mark 4/350F/180°C.
2. Prepare muffin tin with paper liners or brush cups with butter.
3. Put cherries in a small dish and cover with boiling water. Leave to rehydrate for 5-10 minutes. Discard water and transfer cherries to kitchen paper where they can drain of any excess moisture. (If your cherries are particularly plump then you can skip this step as it shouldn't be necessary).
4. In a small microwavable bowl, on low/medium heat setting, melt chopped chocolate and butter in microwave stirring at 30 second intervals until smooth and combined. Set aside to cool slightly.
5. Chop cherries into pieces and set aside.
6. In a small dish combine 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and cinnamon, set aside. (This is to sprinkle on the muffins before they go in the oven).
7. Into a large mixing bowl, sift flour, baking powder and salt, whisk to combine. Mix in the 1/2 cup sugar, make a well in the center and set aside.
8. In a small bowl (or measuring jug) whisk together lightly beaten egg, buttermilk, sour cream, vanilla and almond extracts. Now gradually add this to the cooled chocolate and butter mixing well until smooth and even in colour.
9. Now pour this into the flour/sugar and mix using a folding action until all traces of flour have disappeared and is smooth and even in colour. Finally fold in cherries. (This is a rich and sticky batter so don't be alarmed!).
10. Spoon into muffin tins, sprinkle with sugar/cinnamon and bake on the middle shelf of oven for 20-22 minutes.
11. NB: I use a Chicago Metallic muffin pan which appears to allow for larger muffins. If your pan is similarly sized then this recipe will make 5 generous sized muffins with good crowns.(23-25 mins cooking time).

Reviews

[Kathyd1947]

I used my jumbo cupcake pan and got 4 muffins. I had a bit over 75 grams of chocolate and didn’t want to leave that little bit out so I added it all and I think it made them very chocolatey but I found the texture to be a bit mushy. I’ll try them again with the correct amount of chocolate. I also thought it needed more cherries and I won’t soak them this time because I think that also added to the mushy texture. I’ll post again after I make the next batch.

 

[Annacia]

I really like that this makes a small amount. My chocolate of choice was bittersweet with 2 Tbsp of Splenda Brown and fat free sour cream. The outcome is delicious, who doesn't like chocolate and cherries together?! I ate one while still warm, kept two out and froze the other 3 because back up is good. Made for PAC, Spring 2014.

 

[Donna M.]

Very delicious! I also added a quarter cup of chopped walnuts because I was using this as a dessert. It's a keeper. Thank you.