Chocolate Cream Cheese Muffins, Lightened

Nutritional analysis for these muffins is at the end of the recipe, which can make 8 large-size or 18 regular-size muffins.

For cream-cheese filling:
3/4 cup light cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 T granulated sugar
3 T Splenda
1 large egg
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips, optional (Adding chocolate chips will add 20 calories and 1.5g fat per muffin to regular muffins and 45 calories and 3.5g fat to large-size. Adding almonds will add 12 calories and 1g fat per muffin to regular muffins and 27 calories and 2.5g fat to large-size.)

For chocolate batter:
3/4 cup unbleached white flour
3/4 cup whole-wheat flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup Splenda
5 T unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup water
2 T canola oil
3 T fat-free sour cream
1 T vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 cup sliced almonds, optional

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 18 regular or 8 Texas-size
muffin cups with baking cups, or coat the pan with canola cooking
spray.

To prepare filling:
Combine cream cheese, vanilla, sugar, Splenda and
egg in a small mixing bowl; beat until smooth. Stir in chocolate
chips; set aside.

To prepare batter:
Combine flours, sugar, Splenda, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl; beat on low until well mixed.

Add water, canola oil, sour cream, vinegar and vanilla; beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl and the beaters after 1 minute.

Fill muffin cups 2/3 full with chocolate batter. For regular-size muffins, top each with 1 tablespoon of the cream-cheese mixture. For Texas-size muffins, top with 3 tablespoons cream-cheese mixture. Sprinkle with almonds.

Bake until muffins are cooked through and the middle springs back when pressed lightly, about 18 to 20 minutes for regular size and 25 to 30 minutes for Texas size. Let cool completely. Store in refrigerator.

Per regular size muffin: 137 calories; 4.5g fat (29 percent calories from fat); 1.5g saturated fat; 17mg cholesterol; 4g protein; 21g carbohydrate; 2g fiber; 190mg sodium.

Per large-size muffin: 308 calories; 10g fat (29 percent calories from fat); 3.5g saturated fat; 38mg cholesterol; 9g protein; 47g carbohydrate; 4.5g fiber; 428mg sodium.