Pumpkin-Cream Cheese Streusel Muffins

Ingredients

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 3/4 cups sugar, divided
• 3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
• 4 tablespoons chilled butter
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup milk

Preparation

1. 1. Preheat oven to 375°. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with paper liners.
2. 2. Stir together cream cheese, vanilla extract, and 1/2 cup sugar in a medium bowl. Set aside.
3. 3. Combine 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl; cut in butter with a fork or pastry blender until large crumbs form. Set aside.
4. 4. Combine remaining 3 cups flour, remaining 1 3/4 cups sugar, remaining 2 teaspoons cinnamon, cloves, and next 3 ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk together eggs, pumpkin, oil, and milk in a medium bowl; stir egg mixture into flour mixture just until moist. (Do not overmix.)
5. 5. Spoon half of batter into prepared muffin pans. Dollop about 1 tablespoon reserved cream cheese mixture in center of batter, and top evenly with remaining batter. Sprinkle with reserved streusel mixture.
6. 6. Bake 20 to 23 minutes. Remove from pans; cool on a wire rack.