InnCognito: Mendocino Magic (Recipe: Chocolate-Cheesecake Muffins)

by Sandie on October 24, 2009

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{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }

1 grace October 24, 2009 at 8:14 am

deeply dark, indeed! wowza, those look rich and decadent. the midnight-blackness of the muffins contrasts perfectly with the pure white cream cheese. gorgeous.

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2 Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) October 24, 2009 at 8:20 am

Those look like seriously chocolate muffins — and they remind me of the Hostess muffins we used to love when I was a kid.

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3 Mental P Mama October 24, 2009 at 9:19 am

Oh. Dear.

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4 Lucy October 24, 2009 at 10:28 am

Oh gosh. These look mighty mighty goood! I can easily imagine myself happily eating way too many of these beauties :D

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5 natalie October 24, 2009 at 10:46 am

oh.my.gosh. these look DIVINE!!! i need a glass of milk!

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6 Sandie October 24, 2009 at 12:50 pm

Grace – The colors are striking, aren’t they? Like night and day.

Lydia – So funny you should mention that. While they don’t resemble Hostess Cupcakes or Ding Dongs in real life, while I was shooting them I kept thinking, “They look like Ding Dongs,” lol. Must be, as Grace touched on, that striking deep chocolate and cream cheese contrast.

Mental P Mama – I know. Not helping with the snug fat jeans issue are they? ;)

Lucy – While they aren’t quite as rich as you might imagine (or as they appear), about a half a muffin at a time will fix your deepest chocolate (or sweets) craving. And of course, it won’t be long before you’re going back for the other half as well! :)

Natalie – YES. A glass of milk (or coffee, or tea) is mandatory with these muffins. So moist and dense, you really need something to drink!

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7 Karine October 24, 2009 at 2:23 pm

These look so decadent! Every bite must be amazing :)

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8 Frenchie October 24, 2009 at 7:57 pm

This sound unreal, they remind me a bit of “Farm Cakes” they used to sell at a place near my school. I love the chocolate cream cheese combination, I wish I had been there to steal one away as well.

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9 chocolate shavings October 24, 2009 at 8:24 pm

The dark chocolatey color of those muffins is amazing!

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10 Chloe @ Big Mill B&B October 24, 2009 at 11:35 pm

Sandie, I can’t wait to try these muffins. I love the idea of the “cheesecake” in the middle, I think my guests at Big Mill B&B would like this chocolate jolt in the morning! Chloe

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11 ABowlOfMush October 25, 2009 at 12:38 am

These look really fantastic! Very tempting! :)

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12 pigpigscorner October 25, 2009 at 5:46 pm

love the black and white…delicious!

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13 Sophie October 26, 2009 at 4:41 am

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM,..these look fabulous!!!

What moere can I say?? Pure indulgence!!

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14 patsy October 26, 2009 at 12:43 pm

I’m sure they wouldn’t last long in my house either! What gorgeously, rich muffins… and with that sweet cream inside? Wow!

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15 Chris October 27, 2009 at 3:25 pm

I just whipped up a batch and they’re excellent. I was able to get the 12 the recipe calls for but you’re right, keeping the extra batter and making 9 would give the tops a little more substance.

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16 Kristen October 27, 2009 at 4:03 pm

Oh my – you can bet I am sooooo all over these muffins. Yum!

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17 Michele October 28, 2009 at 9:49 am

I made these muffins last night. I thought they were good, but not great. Loved the texture and flavor of the muffin itself, but wasn’t crazy about the filling. Might try again with a little peanut butter added to the cream cheese.

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18 Sandie October 28, 2009 at 12:24 pm

Karine – They are good. My husband, in particular, loved them.

Frenchie – “Farm cakes,” I’m intrigued! What were they exactly? I’d love to know.

Chocolate Shavings – Almost midnight black they are so chocolatey. The color is very similar to that of the Deep Dark Chocolate Cake recipe that appeared on Inn Cuisine a few months ago.

Chloe- Make sure you serve these muffins with plenty of milk, coffee, tea or water. They’re so rich, you really need plenty to drink with them!

A Bowl of Mush – Thank you.

PigPigsCorner – The contrast reminds me of the retail boutique White House/Black Market. Do you have those in the UK?

Sophie – Indulgence says it all!

Patsy – The filling adds a nice touch that really lets the chocolate flavor of these muffins shine; very complementary.

Chris – You managed 12? I’m impressed. Glad to hear you loved them! I think you’re right though—squeezing the batter into just 9 gives the muffins a bit more height.

Kristen – After the Deep Dark Chocolate Cake, maybe these would be appropriate for your 36th plus 1-month birthday? ;)

Michele – Not everyone would be crazy for the cream cheese filling. For those that aren’t, I think your substitution/addition of peanut butter to the center is a brilliant idea—-like Reese’s Peanut Butter cups, but in muffin form. I love it!

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19 Karen U October 29, 2009 at 1:06 pm

These look absolutely delicious. I was thinking about making them for a meeting I have on Saturday (halloween) and thought that adding orange extract and orange food color to the cream cheese mixture might make the muffins look more colorful. Plus, I like the combination of chocolate and orange.

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20 Sandie October 29, 2009 at 1:59 pm

Karen – I love that idea! Instead of the orange extract (provided your meeting is adults only) you could add a smidgen of orange-flavored liqueur instead…something like Grand Marnier; then add a touch of orange food coloring to give it that festive, Halloween pizazz. If you make this, send me pics—I want to see! :)

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21 Chris October 31, 2009 at 7:36 am

Sandie, to make the 12 I didn’t use all of the cream cheese mixture. I wouldn’t have had enough batter to cover it if I had. Still, I ended up with a bit of hollowing:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/DrButcher/Food/Picture899.jpg

I do agree with Michelle to an extent. Once completely cooled, the texture of the cream cheese changes, adding something to keep it creamier might be a good idea.

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22 Sandie October 31, 2009 at 10:20 am

Chris – Your muffins look great! I’m curious, what type of cocoa did you use?

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23 Chris November 1, 2009 at 10:24 am

Sandie, it was a store brand cocoa available up here in Canada. I was a little disappointed they weren’t as dark as yours, but, they still tasted great which is really what matters.

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24 jennifer November 8, 2009 at 12:31 am

love the deep dark color! can’t wait to make some.

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25 veggiebelly November 9, 2009 at 6:40 pm

wow, looks so good with the filling inside!

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26 marla {family fresh cooking} July 26, 2010 at 10:08 am

Of course you had to eat these cupcakes straight from the oven. Love how dark they are with that white cream cheese filling.

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27 Beverly August 1, 2010 at 9:18 pm

Awesome! I can just taste the chocolate which I am craving right now!

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