double chocolate protein muffins (Costco copycat, no protein powder)

0 Preheat oven to 425°F and line a muffin tin with aluminum liners. This batter likes to stick so best to use parchment paper liners or aluminum ones. 
1 Chop the [wprm-ingredient text="1-1/4 cups chopped dark chocolate, 60 to 70%" uid="21"] into bits. 
2 Whisk the [wprm-ingredient text="1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour" uid="1"], [wprm-ingredient text="2/3 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder" uid="2"], [wprm-ingredient text="1/2 cup almond flour" uid="3"], [wprm-ingredient text="1/4 cup ground flax seeds" uid="4"], [wprm-ingredient text="2-1/2 tsp baking powder" uid="5"], [wprm-ingredient text="3/4 tsp baking soda" uid="6"], and [wprm-ingredient text="3/4 tsp salt" uid="7"].
3 Lightly blend together [wprm-ingredient text="1-1/2 cups cottage cheese" uid="10"], [wprm-ingredient text="1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce" uid="11"], [wprm-ingredient text="3 eggs" uid="12"], [wprm-ingredient text="1 tbsp vanilla extract" uid="13"], [wprm-ingredient text="3/4 cup maple syrup" uid="14"], [wprm-ingredient text="2 tbsp brown sugar" uid="15"], [wprm-ingredient text="1/3 cup Greek yogurt" uid="16"], and [wprm-ingredient text="1/3 cup avocado oil" uid="17"]. Don't overblend!
4 Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir. Some flour streaks are ok. Rest the batter 15 minutes. The flax and cocoa need this time to hydrate, and skipping it is what makes chocolate muffins bake dry.Fold in the chocolate chunks. Save some for the top of the muffins.
6 Heat the [wprm-ingredient text="1/3 cup hot milk" uid="19"] (or coffee) until steaming. Stream it into the batter, stirring just until it comes together. The batter will loosen and go visibly darker.
7 Scoop immediately into the lined tin, filling only every other cup, very full and domed. Work in two batches. 
9 Bake at 425°F for 10 minutes, then reduce to 350°F and bake 15 to 18 more without opening the oven.
10 Cool in the pan 10 minutes, then transfer and cool completely, about 30 minutes, for the centers to finish setting. If you try to peel back the liners while they are still warm they will stick a lot! Especially paper ones. Remember to increase the oven temperature again before baking the second batch!