Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins

Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins

Makes: About 45 mini muffins (12 regular)

For the filling:

•8 oz. cream cheese, softened
•1 large egg
•1 tbls flour

•1 cup confectioners’ sugar
For the muffins:

•1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
•1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
•1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
•1/2 tsp. ground cloves
•1/2 tbsp. plus 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
•1/2 tsp. salt
•1/2 tsp. baking soda
•2 large eggs
•1 cup sugar
•1 cup pumpkin puree
•1/2 cup + 2 tbls vegetable oil
For the topping:


•1/4 cup sugar
•2 1/2 tbsp. flour
•3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
•2 tbsp. cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Directions:

1.To prepare the filling, combine the cream cheese, egg, flour and confectioners’ sugar in a medium bowl and mix well until blended and smooth. Set aside. 

2.To make the muffins, preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Line muffin pans with paper liners. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, pumpkin pie spice, salt and baking soda; whisk to blend. In the bowl of an electric mixer combine the eggs, sugar, pumpkin puree and oil. Mix on medium-low speed until blended. With the mixer on low speed, add in the dry ingredients, mixing just until incorporated.

3.To make the topping, combine the sugar, flour and cinnamon in a small bowl; whisk to blend. Add in the butter pieces and cut into the dry ingredients with a pastry blender or two forks until the mixture is coarse and crumbly. Transfer to the refrigerator until ready to use.

4.To assemble the muffins, fill each muffin about 2/3 full with batter. Add a dollop of filling on top. (I would say I used about a tablespoon of batter and a heaping teaspoon of filling. They were pretty full going into the oven.) Sprinkle with topping. Bake or 14 minutes. Cool. Eat. Smile.