Inside-Out Pumpkin Muffins

Ingredients

● TOPPING ●

1⁄4 cups

all-purpose flour

1⁄8 cups

brown sugar (packed)

1⁄8 cups

rolled oats (old-fashioned or quick cooking)

1 pinch

salt

2 tablespoons

butter (room temperature)

● FILLING ●

4 ounces

creem chees (at room temperature)

1⁄8 cups

granulated sugar

1⁄4 teaspoons

vanilla extract (or a few drops Fiori di Sicilia, optional)

● MUFFINS ●

1⁄2 cups

pumpkin pureé

large egg

1⁄4 cups

brown sugar (packed)

1 1⁄2 tablespoons

vegetable oil

1⁄8 cups

boiled cider (for best flavoer, or dark corn syrup, or honey)

1 pinch

salt

3⁄4 teaspoons

pumpkin pie spice (or 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon + 1/8 teaspoon cloves + 1/8 teaspoon ginger)

1 teaspoon

baking powder

1⁄4 teaspoons

baking soda

1⁄4 cups

milk

3⁄4 cups

all-purpose flour

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a standard 6-cup muffin pan with muffin papers, and grease the papers.
To make the streusel: Whisk together the flour, sugar, oats, and salt. Work in the butter, mixing until coarse crumbs form. Set the topping aside.
To make the filling: Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature. If it's not, place it in a microwave-safe bowl, and heat on low power for 40 seconds, just to soften it. Stir in the sugar and vanilla or Fiori di Sicilia.
To make the batter: Whisk together the pumpkin, eggs, brown sugar, oil, boiled cider, salt, spices, baking powder, baking soda, and milk. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.
Add the flour and mix until well combined. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and beat briefly to incorporate the scrapings.
Drop a scant 2 tablespoons of the batter into each muffin cup (a heaping tablespoon cookie scoop works well here), spreading it to cover the bottom. Dollop on a generous tablespoon of filling (one level cookie scoop), then cover with another 2 tablespoons of batter (another heaping cookie scoop).
Sprinkle each muffin with some of the streusel topping. (A slightly heaped tablespoon cookie scoop is about right.)
Bake the muffins for 18 to 20 minutes, until a cake tester or toothpick inserted towards the edge (not into the filling) comes out crumb-free.
Remove the muffins from the oven. As soon as they're cool enough to safely handle, transfer them to a rack to cool completely.
Enjoy fresh-baked muffins within 2 to 3 hours; refrigerate up to 3 days for longer storage. Freeze, well-wrapped, up to 3 weeks. Rewarm cold muffins in a preheated 350°F oven, tented with foil. Or heat briefly in a microwave set at low power.

Source: Adapted from King Arthur Flour Baker's Compaion by King Authur Flour Baking Company
Prep time: 30 minutes	Cooking time: 20 minutes	Total time: 50 minutes