Shelly's Recipe

PUMPKIN CREAM CHEESE MUFFINS

Category: Muffins

Filling
1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp brown sugar

Streusel Topping
4 1/2 tbsp flour
5 tbsp sugar
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
3 butter
3 tbsp chopped pecans

Muffins
2 1/2 cups flour
2 cups white sugar
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 1/3 cups canned pumpkin
1/3 cup oil
2 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375. Grease and flour 18 muffin cups, or use paper liners.

To make the filling: In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until soft. Add egg, vanilla and brown sugar. Beat until smooth, and then set aside.

For the streusel topping: In a medium bowl, mix flour, sugar, cinnamon and pecans. Add butter and cut it in with a fork until crumbly. Set aside.

For the muffin batter: In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Make a well in the center of flour mixture and add eggs, pumpkin, oil and vanilla. Beat together until smooth.

Place pumpkin mixture in muffin cups about 1/2 full. Then add one tbsp of the cream cheese mixture right in the middle of the batter. Try to keep cream cheese from touching the paper cup. Sprinkle on the streusel topping. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Makes 18 muffins