Cherry Chocolate Chip Muffins

Soft, tender, and filled with the delicious pairing of sweet cherries and chocolate, these cherry chocolate chip muffins are a beautiful and flavorful treat. Made with fresh sweet cherries, a hint of almond extract, and just the right touch of lemon zest, they bake up golden and fragrant with melty chocolate in every bite.

Perfect for summer mornings, brunch with friends, or a quiet afternoon with coffee, these muffins are simple to make and lovely to serve.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Made with fresh sweet cherries

• Chocolate chips add richness and fun

• Moist, soft texture with a tender crumb

• No mixer required

• Freezer-friendly and easy to make ahead

Tips for Success

• Pit and chop the cherries into small pieces, about the size of blueberries, for even distribution in the batter.

• Gently blot the cherries dry if they’re very juicy to avoid excess moisture.

• Roughly chop regular chocolate chips if you don’t have mini chips on hand.

• Stir the batter just until combined to keep the texture light and tender.

• A sprinkle of sugar or sliced almonds before baking gives a pretty and tasty finish.

How Many Muffins This Recipe Makes

This recipe yields about 12 to 14 standard muffins. You can also use any extra batter to fill a small ramekin or mini loaf pan.

Storage and Freezing

Let muffins cool completely before storing. Keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, wrap muffins individually and freeze in a freezer-safe container. Thaw at room temperature or warm gently in the microwave.

When to Serve

These muffins are wonderful for breakfast, packed into a lunchbox, or shared with a friend over tea. They make a thoughtful homemade gift and look especially inviting on a brunch or dessert table.

Final Thought:
With fresh cherries, warm almond flavor, and just the right amount of chocolate, these muffins are a sweet and simple way to enjoy summer’s best. Keep a bowl of cherries nearby and bake a batch while they’re in season.

How to make Cherry Chocolate Chip Muffins

Prep the cherries: To remove the cherry pits, you can use a small knife, but I find it much easier (and a lot less messy) to use a cherry pitter. It really speeds things up making the task much easier. After pitting the cherries, chop into small pieces, about the size of blueberries, so they blend evenly into the batter

You can use cupcake liners for you pan, but I usually just grease the bottoms of the muffin cups (not the sides). This allows the batter to grip the sides of the pan as it rises, helping the muffins bake up taller with nicely domed tops. You will need to run a thin knife around the edges after baking to loosen them before lifting out.