Pear, Date and Cream Cheese Muffins

Ingredients

Cream cheese filling

• 1/2 cup light cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup honey

Muffins

• 2 cups flour, sifted
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2/3 cup low-fat milk
• 1 pear, peeled, cored and diced
• 1/2 cup fresh dates, pitted and chopped

Directions

1. 1

   With the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 350°F Line 8 muffins cups with paper or silicone liners.

2. 2

   Cream cheese filling:.

3. 3

   In a bowl, whisk together the cream cheese and honey. Set aside.

4. 4

   Muffins:.

5. 5

   In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

6. 6

   In another bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer. Add the egg and beat until smooth.

7. 7

   With a wooden spoon, stir in the dry ingredients, alternating with the milk. Stir only until the flour is moistened. Add the pear and dates.

8. 8

   Spoon the batter into the muffin cups. Using the backside of a spoon, make a hole in the centre of each muffin and fill with 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture.

9. 9

   Bake until a toothpick inserted in the centre of a muffin but without touching the filling comes out clean, about 35 minutes.

10. 10

    Remove the muffins from the pan, place on a cake rack, cover with a clean tea towel and let cool.