Thanksgiving day is near and often times we are so focused on prepping and serving Thanksgiving lunch and dinner that we forget a little something for breakfast. These Apple Cinnamon Cream Cheese Muffins are divine and perfect to hold everyone over for the big feast. They are even more delicious the next day and the next.

You and your family (and guests if you are hosting others this year) will love these! They are the perfect mix of sweet apples, cinnamon, and a sweet cream cheese filling that is the perfect little surprise inside. Trust me when I say…it will be hard to eat just one!

These are great to make all holiday season long. Brew a fresh cup or two of coffee, pour some milk for the kiddos, and dive into these mouthwatering muffins.

APPLE CINNAMON CREAM CHEESE MUFFINS

INGREDIENTS

• 1 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking power
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 8 tablespoons butter (1 stick, unsalted)
• 1 cup of white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cup chopped apples

CREAM CHEESE FILLING

• 1 8ounce full fat bar of cream cheese
• 1 cup of powdered sugar

CRUMB TOPPING

• 1/3 cup light brown sugar – packed
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 2/3 cup all purpose flour

EXTRAS

• extra chopped apples, a couple of tablespoons of unsalted butter, brown sugar *sauté together until apples are tender and spoon on top of muffins right before serving

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a muffin pan with liners.

Mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together until well blended and then set aside.

In a seperate bowl, beat together the softened butter, sugar, and eggs until well blended and smooth. Mix vanilla in and then gently stir in the apples. Gradually add in your dry ingredients that you set aside earlier and mix with the wet ingredients until well blended and smooth.

For the cream cheese center, beat together the room temperature/softened cream cheese and slowly add the powdered sugar. Mix until smooth and well blended.

For the crumb topping, mix the brown sugar, cinnamon and softened butter in a bowl. Add the flour until it starts to form into the shape of crumbs.

Put one heaping tablespoon of your apple batter into each liner. Next you will put a tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture. Then you will add another tablespoon of your apple batter on top. Finally, sprinkle the crumb mixture on top and bake for 20 minutes or until the tops are lightly browned. Let them sit and cool for 10-15 minutes. If you are adding the “extra” apple topping…make this while they cool and then spoon onto the top before serving. Enjoy!

Give these a try this holiday season and be sure to let me know what you think! As always, thanks so much for stopping by…see you back here real soon.