Cherry Almond Muffins (TOH Oct/Nov 99)
Batter:
1 ¾ c. all purpose flour
1/2 c. plus 1 T. sugar
½ t. baking powder
½ t. baking soda, ¼ t. salt
½ c. cold butter or margarine, 1 egg
¾ c. sour cream,1 t. almond extract
Topping:
1/3 c. all purpose flour, 2 T. sugar
2 T. cold butter or margarine, 1/3 c. chopped sliced almonds
Filling:
8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 egg, ¼ c. sugar
½ t. vanilla extract, ¾ c. cherry preserves, warmed
In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Beat the egg, sour cream, and almond extract until smooth; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened (batter will be thick). For topping, combine flour and sugar in a small bowl; cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in almonds; set aside. For filling, beat cream cheese, egg, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Fill greased jumbo muffin cups or regular muffin cups half full with batter. Divide cream cheese filling and preserves evenly between muffin cups; swirl gently. Cover with remaining batter. Sprinkle with topping. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes if using regular muffin cups or 30-35 minutes if using regular muffin cups or until muffins test done. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Yield: 7 jumbo muffins or 14 regular muffins.