Dark Chocolate Cherry Muffins Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Grease bottoms only of 6 jumbo muffin cups (3 1/2x1 3/4 inch) or 12 regular-size muffin cups (2 1/2x1 1/4 inch) with shortening, or line muffin cups with paper baking cups.
• In medium bowl, beat milk, oil and egg with fork. Stir in remaining ingredients except cherries, juice and powdered sugar just until flour is moistened. Stir in cherries. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups. (For 12 regular-size muffins, cups will be almost full.)
• Bake jumbo muffins 23 to 25 minutes, regular-size muffins 18 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool jumbo muffins 10 minutes or regular-size muffins 5 minutes; remove from pan.
• In small bowl, mix powdered sugar and reserved 2 tablespoons cherry juice with spoon; drizzle over warm muffins. Serve warm.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a muffin tin with paper liners.
• Mix flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl.
• Whisk oil, milk, egg, and almond extract together in a small bowl. Pour into flour mixture; stir gently until incorporated. Fold cherries into the batter.
• Spoon batter into the muffin cups, filling each 2/3 of the way full. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon sugar on top.
• Bake muffins in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to gas mark 4/350F/180°C.
• Prepare muffin tin with paper liners or brush cups with butter.
• 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).
• 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.
• Chop cherries into pieces and set aside.
• 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).
• 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.
• 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.
• 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!).
• Spoon into muffin tins, sprinkle with sugar/cinnamon and bake on the middle shelf of oven for 20-22 minutes.
• 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).