Copycat-Starbucks Muffins / garnished with Candied Pumpkin Seeds
Ing---Cr/Cheese Filling: 8 oz Cr/Cheese ½ c Sugar 1 tsp Vanilla. Candied Seeds: ½ c Pumpkin Seeds 3 tbl Sugar ¼ tsp Cinnamon. Muffin Batter 2 c Flour 1 tsp B/Soda ¼ tsp Salt ½ c ea white Sugar/Brown Sugar ⅓ c veg oil 1 c Pumpkin Puree 2 Eggs ¼ c Milk 1 ½ tsp Cinnamon* 1 tsp Ground Ginger* ½ tsp ea Ground Cloves/Allspice* *or use tbl pumpkin spice
METHOD: Combine cr/cheese, sugar, vanilla smooth. Cover/chill firm. BATTER: Stir pumpkin, oil, sugars just until mixed. Add in eggs, spices, salt, b/soda and 1/2 flour. Mix/combine. Add milk, rest flour. Mix/combine. Fill paper muffin liners ⅔ full. Spoon one tbl cream cheese mixture into centers. Sprinkle w/ 4-5 pumpkin seeds. Bake 350 deg 15 min--pick comes out mostly clean. Serve warm.
Candied Pumpkin Seeds---Line sheetpan w/ parchment. Cook seeds, sugar, cinnamon in pan over med, stir constantly to caramelize sugar. Set seeds on prepared sheet; cool. Break apart seeds stuck together.