-MUFFIN BATTER-
1 1/4 c  Flour
3/4 c  Sugar
1/2 ts Baking soda
1/3 c  Unsweetened cocoa
1/4 ts Salt
2/3 c  Buttermilk
1/4 c  Vegetable oil
1    Lightly beaten egg
1 ts Vanilla
1/4 c  Lightly salted butter or
-margarine; melted & cooled
1/3 c  Semisweet chocolate chips;
-chopped

-TOPPING –
6 oz Softened cream cheese
1/4 c Sugar
1 Lightly beaten egg
1/8 ts Almond extract
1/4 c Toasted slivered almonds

Preheat oven to 375F, prepare pans. In a large bowl, stir together flour,
sugar, cocoa, baking soda & salt. In another bowl, stir together
buttermilk, oil, butter, egg & vanilla until blended. Add dry mix to wet
mix until just combined. Stir in chips. Spoon into pans. In a medium bowl,
stir together cream cheese, sugar, egg & almond extract until well blended;
stir in almonds. Spoon mixture over muffins. Bake 20-25 mins or until
cooked. Makes 12. These muffins freeze well.