ALMOND MOCHA MINI-MUFFINS

ALMOND MOCHA MINI-MUFFINS image

Number Of Ingredients 15

1/2 cup butter (2 sticks)
4 oz unsweetened chocolate, roughly chopped
2 oz bittersweet chocolate, roughly chopped
3/4 tsp chili powder
2 tsp espresso powder
1/2 tsp salt
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/3 cup molasses
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup amaretto
1 cup ground almonds
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted (preferably dutch process)
2/3 cup mini-semi-sweet chips
confectioners sugar (if desired), for dusting tops

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease 4 mini-muffin pans (48 muffins total). Melt butter in microwave (2-3 minutes on 50% power, depending on oven). Stir in chocolate until melted (microwave additional :30 second increments at 50% power if necessary). Stir in chili powder, espresso powder and salt. Beat eggs, and then add sugar and molasses. Beat well. Stir in vanilla and amaretto. Fold in chocolate mixture, then mix in almonds and cocoa powder. Fold in mini-chips. Divide among mini-muffin cups. Bake 15-18 minutes. Dust tops with powdered sugar if desired.