Salted Molten Caramel Chocolate Muffins

SALTED MOLTEN CARAMEL CHOCOLATE MUFFINS

1 1/2 Cups All-Purpose Flour

3/4 Cups Sugar

1/2 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

2 tsp Baking Powder

1/4 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 Cup Chopped Semi-Sweet Chocolate (plus more for tops of muffins)

1 Cup Milk

1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil

2 Large Eggs

Trader Joe's Fleur de Sel Caramels (or quality jarred caramel sauce)

Sea Salt 

Heat oven to 375. Line a 12 count muffin tin with paper liners. Whisk dry ingredients (flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt) in a large bowl. Add chopped chocolate to bowl and mix. Whisk wet ingredients (milk, oil, eggs) in a small bowl until smooth. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir until just combined. 

Fill muffin cups about two-thirds full. Bake for 8-10 minutes until the edges are set (the center will still be uncooked). Remove from oven and place a caramel into the center of the muffin (if you are using caramel sauce, drop about a teaspoon of sauce into the center of each muffin). Return to the oven and bake for 10-15 more minutes or until a toothpick inserted to the edge of the muffin comes out clean. Do not insert into the caramel!

Remove the muffins from the oven and sprinkle with chocolate and sea salt.

Makes 12 muffins 

These are delicious warm, so heat next day muffins in microwave for about 10 seconds!