Breakfast

Cherry Muffins with Dark Chocolate Chunks

Fresh baked cherry muffins loaded with chunks of dark bittersweet chocolate. These are the perfect way to start your day along with some hot coffee!

To recipe
Who doesn't love fresh baked muffins? Especially if they're cherry muffins loaded with chunks of dark chocolate!
Recipe insights & TIPS

Fresh baked Cherry Muffins loaded with chunks of bittersweet chocolate. This is how I wish everyday would begin!

Who doesn't love fresh baked muffins? Especially if they're cherry muffins loaded with chunks of dark chocolate!

Give me anything baked for breakfast and I'm sold! Plain old cherry muffins would do fine. But when you find a few bars of dark chocolate in the pantry, then your mind starts to go a little crazy. I can't take full credit for these cherry muffins though, like all good baked goods they have to start off with a solid base. I usually always use this recipe from The New York Times when I get the urge to make muffins from scratch. They turn out just how I like them, so naturally I tried to figure out how to change them but still keep that muffin trust. Cherries are everywhere right now, whenever I walk in my grocery store I'm met with an avalanche of them all tightly packaged in those perfect to-go bags that drive me crazy. Yup, I'm that person that won't just pick up a bag and be done. I usually take some out and add them to another bag, I want to be in control of my cherries, but I think they're trying to get me to buy more.

Dusting some fresh baked cherry muffins with powdered sugar

Anytime I bake with fresh fruit I try to soften it first instead of adding it to the recipe raw. I feel you can end up with more flavor, add a spoonful of jelly or a splash of red wine and simmer in a pan for five minutes. I added some brown sugar to my cherries until they started to pop, they don't get mushy but the sugar creates a sort of glaze and the cherries fold through the batter just right.

Fresh baked cherry muffins with chocolate chunks

Obviously these muffins are best served warm from the oven, but if you still have some left you can ding them in the microwave for five seconds, just to loosen up the chocolate. I'd be surprised if you had any extras though!

Fresh baked cherry muffins loaded with chunks of dark bittersweet chocolate. These are the perfect way to start your day along with some hot coffee!
A white, fluffy chef's hat with an orange band, logo of Foodness Gracious.

Recipe

Who doesn't love fresh baked muffins? Especially if they're cherry muffins loaded with chunks of dark chocolate!

Course:
Breakfast
COOKing TIME:
30 minutes
Total TIME:
45 minutes
CUISINE:
American
PREP TIME:
15 minutes
SERVINGS:
12

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cherries, pitted
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup softened butter
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 whole eggs
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1 3.5oz bar dark chocolate, chopped into chunks

Ingredient Swaps

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375. Line a muffin pan with paper liners and set aside.
  2. Combine the cherries and the brown sugar in a small pan and simmer for about 5-7 minutes. Let cool while you make the batter.
  3. Using a stand mixer beat the softened butter with the granulated sugar until light and creamy.
  4. Add the eggs one at a time scraping down after each one then add the vanilla.
  5. In a bowl whisk together the flour and baking powder.
  6. Gradually add some of the flour and the milk alternately until all of both have been added. Scrape down and mix on low until smooth.
  7. Fold the cherries into the muffin batter along with the chocolate chunks.
  8. Divide the batter evenly between the 12 muffin liners.
  9. Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown on top and they spring back when gently pushed with your finger.

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