Chocolate Mud Muffins

These muffins you can let the kids lick the batter. No eggs!

12 muffins ~ 400 degree oven

2 cups flour
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla

Chocolate treats:
Choose 1 or more of these to total one cup:
Chocolate chips
colored chocolate-covered peanuts
chocolate-covered peanut-butter pieces

1. Make sure rack is in center of oven. Generously spray or grease muffin cups and the top of a tin.
2. In a large bowl, with a fork or whisk, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. In a medium bowl, mix buttermilk, oil, and vanilla. Add wet mixture to the dry mixture, then stir just until combined. In 2 or 3 strokes, mix in chocolate treats. (Optional: hold back about 1/4 cup of treats to sprinkle on top.)
   
3. Divide the "mud" equally among muffin cups, then sprinkle the remaining treats on top, if you wish. (You can taste the batter - no eggs!) Bake about 25-30 minutes or until the tops are very well cooked.