Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Strawberry Cheesecake Muffins with Streusel Topping

Strawberry Cheesecake Muffins

Like so many years past, I had a wonderful Easter potluck with friends. I made a couple of things, but these muffins seemed to be the hit. I had the idea to make these a while back with pumpkin, but California strawberries are reaching their peak season and I have so many ideas of what to cook with them. The strawberries help keep the muffins light and the cheesecake and streusel add a touch of decadence. These are amazing right out of the oven, but keep well overnight.

Strawberry Cheesecake Muffins with Streusel Topping




Strawberry Cheesecake Muffins with Streusel Topping
(By Esi)

Makes 12 muffins

Cheesecake Layer:
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
Scant 1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon flour
1 large egg, at room temperature

In a medium mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients. Using a handheld mixer, beat until smooth, about 2 minutes.

Streusel topping:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup butter melted and cooled
Dash cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest

Combine all of the ingredients in a medium bowl using a fork. Set aside.

Strawberry muffins:
1 stick butter, melted and cooled
1 pint strawberries, washed hulled, and pulsed in a small food processor until finely chopped (it is ok if some chunks remain)
1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
2 large eggs at room temperature
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 scant cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking power
1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Lightly spray a muffin tin with cooking spray and set aside.

In a medium bowl whisk together the butter, strawberries, egg, and lemon zest. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, and salt together in a large bowl.

Gently stir the strawberry mixture in to the flour mixture and mix until just combined.

Spoon 1/4 cup of the muffin mixture into each muffin tin. Spoon 1 tablespoon of the cheesecake mixture over the top of the muffin batter. Spoon 1 tablespoon of the remaining muffin batter over the cheesecake layer. Top each muffin with a few of the streusel crumbs.

Bakes 20-25 minutes until a toothpick or skewer inserted into the center muffin comes out clean. Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. then turn the muffins out onto a cooling rack. Let the muffins cool for abut 10 minutes or until cool.


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23 comments:

Banana Wonder said...

You had me at "cheesecake muffin." Love the lemon zest in the strudel topping too.

susan said...

Yikes-O-Rama, Esi - these look fantastic. I love the streusel topping!

Maria said...

Oh my these look delicious. Love that streusel topping!

vanillasugarblog said...

fabulous! i do love strawberries used in muffins.

Kathy - Panini Happy said...

These sound fabulous, Esi!

Joanne said...

Strawberries are FINALLY going on sale at whole foods around here on Friday and these are SO in my future! Definitely the perfect Easter (or any/every day) treat!

Erica said...

Yum! Strawberries are SO in season here too! The plantation down the road has pick your own and I've been meaning to do it for weeks. Love the looks of that topping too. Glad you had a nice Easter

Diana said...

And here I was so proud of my donut muffins.

This look amazeballs. But can I substitute Greek yogurt for the cream cheese and cherries for the strawberries and splenda for the brown sugar in the streusal?

Amanda said...

Fantastic flavor combination's... I bet this just melts in your mouth!

Unknown said...

These look delicious, what a great combination and anything with streusel is right up my alley!

Memória said...

Wow, even with the long ingredient list, I'm so tempted to make this. It looks fantastic!

Olga @ MangoTomato said...

so pretty! and spring/summer-y. Can you ship me some to have for breakfast? :)

marla said...

These muffins are sweet and fabulous treats!

Marie said...

Oh my God, you had me at streusel topping.

Elly said...

These look SO delicious. Cheesecake? Stawberries? Streusel? So many good things in one. Bookmarking these to hopefully try soon.

Unknown said...

The muffins look great!

Jill said...

I think the melted stick of butter is left out of the directions-it is listed in the ingreds for the muffins, so I am going to dump it in.........and I hope I am supposed to add the struesel topping before baking............?

Jill said...

does the melted butter go into the muffin mix? Add the struesel topping prior to baking? Ready to pop these in the oven for a sick friend...........wish me luck! :-)

Esi said...

Hi Jill, sorry for the late reply. I've ammended the recipe to include the things I left out, but yes, butter goes in with the strawberries and the streusel goes in before baking.

Lauren at Keep It Sweet said...

I absolutely need to make these!

Anonymous said...

i can't believe i missed these muffins! you mentioned them when I saw you so I looked them up :) and I have a ton of strawberries in the fridge to use up yay!

Unknown said...

my, my, these are fabulous! oh the cheesecake layer and streusel topping, two of my downfalls :)

Alicia Foodycat said...

I WANT SOME! Strawberry cheesecake is my favourite flavour icecream (and cheesecake) so I know I would love these.