Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

One of my favorite things about this time of year is all of the new and interesting pumpkin recipes and pumpkin flavored goodies that come popping up on menus everywhere.  I've made no secret of how much I LOVE Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte, but these Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins from Starbucks are also wonderful!  If you don't live near a Starbucks, or just prefer to make them on your own, this copy cat recipe came from food.com.

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground cloves

4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1 pinch cardamom (optional)

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

4 eggs

2 cups sugar

2 cups pumpkin

1 1/4 cups vegetable oil

8 ounces cream cheese

chopped pumpkin seeds (optional) or walnuts (optional) or pecans (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Put the entire brick of cream cheese on a piece of wax paper or parchment paper and shape it into a long log.
3. Put it in the freezer while you mix and fill the pans, up to an hour.
4. Unwrap and cut with a sharp knife so each cream cheese disk equals 1-2 teaspoons. If the cream cheese disks are too big around, cut thick slices and then cut them in half. This lets you push it down into the batter easier.
5. Mix all ingredients together (except cream cheese and nuts).
6. Fill muffin tins (greased or paper cups) half full.
7. Put cream cheese disc in the middle, pressing down.
8. Sprinkle with 1 tsp chopped nuts.
9. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean from the muffin part (do not touch the cream cheese!).
10. Let cool in pans for 5 minutes, then remove to racks to cool completely. Do not touch the cream cheese until it cools.

 

 

http://www.food.com/recipe/pumpkin-cream-cheese-muffins-like-starbucks-189156