Description
These gourmet muffins feature a tender, golden-brown top and a luscious cream cheese ribbon inside, making them a special occasion treat that’s easy to prepare for brunch or a weekend breakfast.
Ingredients
- For the Muffin Batter:
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons (10 g) baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon (2 g) salt
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1 cup (240 mL) milk, at room temperature
- 5 tablespoons (80 g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1 teaspoon (5 mL) vanilla extract
- For the Cream Cheese Ribbon:
- 4 ounces (115 g) full-fat cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 mL) vanilla extract
- ¾ teaspoon (2 g) ground cardamom
- For Garnish:
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon (remaining) ground cardamom
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prep Pan: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners to create a high dome.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Ribbon Mixture: In a small bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, egg yolk, vanilla extract, and ¾ teaspoon of cardamom. Whisk until completely smooth and free of lumps, then set aside.
- Combine Muffin Batter Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a separate medium bowl, combine the room-temperature egg, milk, cooled melted butter, and vanilla extract.
- Mix Batter and Fill Liners: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently fold together until just combined. Avoid overmixing. Spoon two-thirds of the batter into the prepared liners, then add dollops of the cream cheese mixture on top. Finish by adding the remaining batter over the filling.
- Create the Swirl Effect: Gently swirl a knife or skewer through the batter and cream cheese mixture 2-3 times in each cup to create a distinct ribbon pattern. Do not overmix the swirl.
- Bake with Temperature Adjustment: Bake the muffins for 5 minutes at 400°F (200°C). Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) and continue baking for another 15-18 minutes, or until golden brown and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and Garnish: Let the muffins cool in the tin for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust the tops with the remaining cardamom and powdered sugar before serving.
Notes
For a light and tender crumb, avoid overmixing the batter. Use the two-stage baking method (high then low temperature) to achieve a high dome and a perfectly cooked center. Ensure all dairy ingredients are at room temperature for the best texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 muffin
- Calories: 240 kcal
- Sugar: 17.5 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5.8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 0.8 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 19 mg