Cheery Cherry Muffins

Look for a surprise in the center of each cherry studded muffin.

Recipe Ingredients:

1/2 pound fresh or frozen cherries, pitted
1/4 cup margarine
1/4 cup reduced-fat cream cheese
1/2 cup Splenda® Granulated No Calorie Sweetener
1 large egg
2 cups self-rising flour, sifted
1 cup nonfat milk

Cooking Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners. Lightly spray liners with vegetable cooking spray.
2. Set aside 12 cherries. Chop remaining cherries. Place cherries on a paper towel to drain.
3. Beat margarine and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add Splenda® Granulated Sweetener, beating well. Add egg beating until blended.
4. Add flour to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Do not over beat. Stir in chopped cherries.
5. Spoon one tablespoon of batter into each muffin cup. Place a cherry in the center of each cup. Top with remaining batter, filling muffin cups three-fourths full.
6. Bake 25 minutes or until muffins are lightly browned. Remove from pans immediately, and cool on wire racks.

Makes 12 muffins.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 muffin): Calories 150 | Calories from Fat 50 | Fat 6g (sat 1.5g) | Cholesterol 20mg | Sodium 340mg | Carbohydrates 21g | Fiber 1g | Sugars 5g | Protein 4.

Recipe courtesy of Splenda, Inc. Splenda® is a no-calorie sweetener made from sugar that is suitable for diabetics. For more information regarding this product, please call 1-800-777-5363 or visit their website at www.splenda.com.