Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

You may begin to notice the word pumpkin used often in my posts in the coming weeks and months, so consider this your warning.  I can't help myself, I love pumpkins!

I love them sitting on my porch next to potted mums.  I love the cute little mini pumpkins displayed as the center piece for my table. I love the pumpkin latte from Starbucks.  I love the pumpkin scones from Starbucks too. (oh, am I ever glad that we found the deal on a treadmill in the classifieds-just in time!)
I love pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, and even pumpkin in my chili! Don't judge me. I'll share some recipes on this crazy stuff and you'll love it.  ;)
I also love taking the kids to the pumpkin patch and I even love the color orange that pumpkins so beautifully display.

Did I mention that I love pumpkins?

Okay, moving on to the whole reason that you probably even clicked on my blog today.....
introducing the best fall muffin recipe ever!

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

Ingredients:

8 ounces of cream cheese (i use the low-fat)

3 eggs

2 1/2 cups sugar

2 1/2 cups flour (I use 3/4 cup wheat and the rest unbleached all purpose flour)

1/4 cup chopped pecans

3 T butter, melted

2 1/2 t cinnamon

1/2 t salt

2 t baking powder

1/4 t baking soda

1 1/4 cups solid packed pumpkin

1/3 cup veg. oil (i use applesauce instead)

1/2 t vanilla extract

*I also add in 2 T wheat germ

Instructions:

Heat oven to 375 degress. You'll need two 12 cup muffin tins.

Mix cream cheese, 1 egg, and 3 T sugar in small bowl. Set aside.

Toss 5 T sugar, 1/2 cup unbleached flour, pecans, butter, and 1/2 t cinnamon in medium bowl. Set aside.

Combine the remaining sugar, flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon in large bowl.

Lightly beat the remaining eggs, pumpkin, oil (applesauce) and vanilla in medium bowl.

Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the pumpkin mix to it. Mix with fork.

Spoon mix into pans. Place 2 t of cream cheese mix in the center of each cup and then fill with the remaining batter. Sprinkle some of the pecan mix on top of each muffin and bake for about 20-25 minutes.

 Voila!

It makes a lot so either host a get together or freeze some for a ready made breakfast sometime!

You're welcome.