It's time for the Monthly Improv hosted by Kristen of Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker! This month our flavor combo is Cherry and Almond and since I'm a a muffin roll...well...I couldn't resist. Of course, I used Greek yogurt and buttermilk, and to make them really special, I threw in some dark chocolate. Who wouldn't like that?
Black Cherry and Dark Chocolate Chunk Muffins
Printable Recipe
2 cups flour
¾ cup granulated sugar, divided
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 ½ cups fresh or frozen dark, sweet cherries, halved
1 (4 oz) bar good quality dark chocolate, roughly chopped
1 egg, slightly beaten
½ cup unsalted butter, melted
1 (6 oz) container Black Cherry Greek Yogurt (sub plain or
vanilla Greek Yogurt, if desired)
½ cup buttermilk
½ teaspoon almond extract
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.; line a 12 cup muffin tin
with paper liners.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, ½ cup
sugar, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Fold in the cherries and the chocolate;
set aside.
In a medium bowl or measuring cup, combine the beaten egg,
butter, yogurt, buttermilk and almond extract.
Fold into the flour mixture until just blended, being careful not to
over mix.
Use a cookie scoop to divide the batter into the muffin
cups. Sprinkle the remaining sugar over the tops of the muffins. Bake for 18-20
minutes, or until the tops spring back when lightly touched.
Using frozen cherries was easy. Leave them frozen...they will be easier to slice and will mix well with the batter.
Use a good quality chocolate bar...you won't regret it.
I'm loving my little micro-plane spice grater...it was perfect for grating some fresh nutmeg into the batter.
Put the cherries and the chocolate in with the flour mixture and you won't have to stir so much when you add the liquid.
The batter will be fairly thick. Please don't over mix or you'll have tough muffins!
Now, check out what everyone else is making with Cherries and Almonds!
Really, WHY have I never put cherries in a muffin??? WHY???
ReplyDeleteThese look SO delicious!
heh heh! I bought those same dark cherries when I first saw your recipe! Was just waiting for your recipe! DROOL!
ReplyDeleteAnd the same chocolate! Love that Ghirardelli!
DeleteWhat gorgeous muffins!
ReplyDeleteDark Chocolate + cherries = true ♥!
You have outdone yourself with these muffins. What a great addition that cherry yogurt must have been!
ReplyDeleteOh these look delicious! And with the yogurt and buttermilk, I bet they are super moist, too! And the dark chocolate...such a perfect idea for the cherries and almonds!
ReplyDeleteYum! Your muffins look fantastic! What a great idea for the Improv Challenge!
ReplyDeleteOk these do look quite delish and mouth watering! Thanks for sharing! PLease come check out my post! #32
ReplyDeletePhenomenal! The texture on these muffins is out of this world. Thanks for the very helpful instructional guide!
ReplyDeleteOkay, those of you who paired the cherries with chocolate are geniuses! Sounds so good! What pretty muffins.
ReplyDeleteOhmigosh I bet these were delicious!
ReplyDelete#27
These muffins look delicious. I haven't had one in quite a while, and I don't know if I have ever had a cherry muffin. Yum! Can't wait to make these!
ReplyDeleteFirst I want a spoonful of the batter to sample...then I want at least one muffin :) They sound fabulous~
ReplyDeleteThese look delicious, but more importantly sound amazing! I love chocolate and cherries together! I have never come across the dark cherries, but I will look for them now!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great flavor combination. I will have to put this on my list of muffins to make.
ReplyDelete