Charlene's Recipe

Cherry Surprise Muffins

Category: potluck

Makes 12 muffins
Makes 1 1/4 cups icing

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 Tbsp cocoa, sifted if lumpy
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 large egg
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup cooking oil
1 tsp vanilla
4 oz block of cream cheese, softened
3 Tbsp granulated sugar
12 pitted Bing cherries, drained
CHERRY ICING:
block of cream cheese, softened
hard margarine (or butter) softened
cherry brandy (or maraschino cherry syrup)
1 1/2 cup Icing (confectioners) sugar
1/4 cup chocolate curls (or grated chocolate)

Combine first 5 ingredients in large bowl. Make a well in center.
Beat next 4 ingredients in a small bowl. Add to well. Stir until just moistened. Spoon 2 Tbsp batter into each of 12 greased muffin cups.
Beat cream cheese and second amount of sugar in same small bowl until smooth. Spoon 2 tsp cream cheese mixture on top of batter in each muffin cup.
Place 1 cherry on top of cream cheese mixture in each. Spoon remaining batter into muffin cups. Spread evenly to cover cream cheese mixture and cherries. Bake in 400 F oven for about 20 minutes until muffin feels firm when pressed. Let stand in pan for 5 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely.
CHERRY ICING: Beat cream cheese and margarine in small bowl until smooth. Add brandy. Beat well.
Add icing sugar 1/4 cup at a time, beating well after each addition until spreadable consistency. Makes about 1 1/4 cups icing. Spread 1 1/2 Tbsp icing on each muffin.
Sprinkle 1 tsp chocolate curls on top of each muffin.