dark chocolate cherry muffins

Dark Chocolate Cherry Muffins
recipe adapted from Dying for Chocolate (reprinted from Gourmet, January 2005)

Ingredients:
6 tablespoons butter
5 ounces 70% dark chocolate, chopped
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sweet cherries, pitted and chopped


Directions:
1. Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Melt butter, half of chocolate, and milk in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Cool 15 minutes. Add eggs and whisk until smooth.

3. Whisk together flour, cocoa, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Add chocolate mixture and stir until just combined. Fold in remaining chopped chocolate and chopped cherries.

4. Divide batter among 12 greased or lined muffin cups. Bake until toothpick comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cool in pan on a rack.