This Gingerbread Cream Cheese Muffin Recipe From Animal Kingdom Looks Delicious

Disney

With the holidays rapidly approaching, it's time to start thinking about what Christmassy treats to bake this year. This Gingerbread Cream Cheese Muffin recipe from Disney's Animal Kingdom sounds absolutely delicious. 

Gingerbread-Cream Cheese Muffins

Makes 12

Cream Cheese Filling

1/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened

4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

1 egg yolk

1/2 tsp lemon juice

Combine sugar and butter in bowl of electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment and beat on low speed until there are no lumps. Add cream cheese and mix on medium speed for 3 minutes, until smooth. Reduce speed to low. Add egg and lemon juice and mix until smooth. Refrigerate at least 2 hours, up to 3 days, until ready to use.

Gingerbread Muffins

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3 tsp ground ginger

2 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp ground cloves

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 cup canola oil (1/4 cup butter, softened, may be substituted)

1/2 cup light brown sugar

3 Tbsp molasses

3 Tbsp honey

2 eggs

1 cup buttermilk

Cream Cheese Filling

Preheat oven to 325°F. Prepare a muffin pan with 12 liners and set aside. 

Sift flour, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into medium bowl and set aside. Combine oil or butter, brown sugar, molasses, honey, and egg in bowl of electric mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Mix on medium speed until combined. Reduce speed to low and add buttermilk until incorporated. Add flour mixture and mix on low speed until combined. Scrape sides of mixer and mix an additional 30 seconds. Batter will be slightly lumpy.

Scoop batter into prepared muffin pan, filling each cup 3/4 full. Place reserved cream cheese filling in piping bag fitted with large round tip. Insert piping tip into the center of each muffin, piping about 1 tablespoon into the center, then pipe a swirl around the top of the muffin.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, until top of muffin is firm when touched. Cool before serving.

If baking is not your thing and you'll be in Animal Kingdom between December 1 and January 2, you can find these muffins at Isle of Java and Harambe Fruit Market.