Marble Streusel Muffins

Welcome to the first installment in Baker Street‘s Muffin Monday holiday series! I suppose this just means the muffins get more and more decadent from this point onward? An excellent start, then, with this Marble Streusel Muffin.

This week’s recipe looked perfect just how it was. I didn’t want to change anything. A batter made of two parts chocolate, one part cream cheese, all swirled together and then topped with a chocolate chip streusel? This  muffin sounded like a treat for the eyes as well as the tastebuds.

I really wanted to know what they tasted like, especially after learning that cream cheese was getting involved.  [Heavens part. Enter heavenly choir.]

Marble Streusel Muffins

 Marble Streusel MuffinsA beautiful, bright morning for muffins.  

Marble Streusel Muffins

  

Jasmine of CookThatBookouted she and myself as cream cheese fanatics a couple of Mondays ago, so I know she was as happy to see this recipe as I was! I also know Anuradha keeps us company in the addicts club, and I suspect Elena does, too. Anyone else going to come forward? Hmm? We’re all friends here.

In any case, I am happy to report that this muffin is the perfect balance between muffin and cupcake: Sweet, but not too sweet. A treat without feeling like you’re completely over-indulging. Just perfect.

Marble Streusel Muffins
from Recipe Digest

Ingredients

Streusel:
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
2 Tbsp butter
1/4 cup chocolate chips

Muffins:
2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
110 g cream cheese
2 eggs
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil (I didn’t have any, so I used coconut oil)
1 tsp vanilla extract

Method
Streusel:
– Combine the sugar, cinnamon and flour.
– Add the butter and work it with your finger tips until the mixture is crumbly and then stir in the chocolate chips.

Muffins:
– Preheat the oven to 350F.
– Line a 12 pan muffin tin.
– Combine flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in a bowl.
– Remove half a cup of the flour mixture and set aside.
– Add cocoa powder in the remaining (first) mixture.
– Beat cream cheese, 1 egg and the reserved 1/2 cup of flour.
– In a third bowl, combine the egg, water, vanilla extract and oil.
– Add it to the cocoa mixture. Gently mix until incorporated.
– Spoon the batters side by side equally in the muffin cups. (I swirled the batter around a little with a knife.)
– Sprinkle the streusel on top and bake for 20 – 25 mins.

Marble Streusel Muffins

Marble Streusel Muffins
Muffin Monday is an initiative by Baker Street. A culinary journey of sharing a wickedly delicious muffin recipe every week. Drop in a quick line to join her on her journey to make the world smile and beat glum Monday mornings week after week.

Source: http://foodjetaimee.blogspot.com/2011/10/marble-streusel-muffins.html

Um, Favourite Monday? Cause Ally Missed Friday?

Sagres, Parade of Sail, Tall Ships Halifax 2009

Tall Ships Coming Back To Halifax Summer 2012