Strawberry Cheesecake Muffins

This recipe is from Taste of Home Best Holiday Recipes 2008


Ingredients

1 pkg (3 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 1/4 cups milk
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 cup strawberry jam

Directions

In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth; set aside. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. In another small bowl, whisk the egg, milk, brown sugar, butter, lemon peel and almond extract. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.
Spoon half of the batter into greased muffin cups. Top each with 1 tablespoon cream cheese mixture and 1 teaspoon jam. Top with remaining batter.
Bake at 375 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to wire rack.

We made these muffins for several different parties we had during Christmas time. My first batch didn't do too well, so I let me husband try his hand at it. His batches came out excellent.

The muffins have an interesting taste, and even though there is only a little lemon peel in them, the lemon flavor comes out really strong, but in a good way. I give these muffins a 3 out of 5. My husband gives them 3 out of 5 as well.