Holiday Brunch Strategy: Strata!

Chocolate Muffins With White Chocolate and Dried Cherries

Makes 1 dozen large muffins

If short on time melt the butter and mix it with the egg and yogurt, stirring this wet mixture into the dry ingredients.

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

10 tablespoons butter

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 1/2 cups plain low-fat yogurt

1 cup each: white chocolate chips and dried cranberries, divided

Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Mix flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.

Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer over medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Alternating between ingredients beat in 1/3 each of the yogurt and flour mixture until both are fully incorporated and batter is smooth. Stir in 3/4 cup each of the chips and cranberries.

Spray a 12-cup muffin tin with vegetable cooking spray. Use a large ice cream scoop to divide batter evenly among the cups (they will be full). Top with remaining 1/4 cup cherries and white chocolate.

Bake until muffins are browned and cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes. Let sit a couple of minutes in muffin tin and then turn onto a wire rack to cool slightly. Serve.

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