Tangerine Cream Dreams~

Browsing delectable Food Blogs this week I happened upon Peabody's Pepita Crunch Muffins.
I didn't have Pepitas..but I had my sweet almonds from Christmas..I had the cream cheese..and loads of little clementine/tangerines..


So I stirred up a small 1/2 batch today and they really are quite good.



Here is Peabody's recipe..


Orange Cream Cheese Muffins with Pepita Crunch

Pepita Crunch
1 large egg white (reserve yolk)
2 TBSP plus 1 tsp granulated sugar
½ cup pepitas

Muffins
1/3 cup fresh orange juice
zest of ½ a small orange
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature, broken into 3-4 pieces
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp baking soda
1 cup superfine sugar
½ cup unsalted butter, slightly firm
2 large eggs
1 large egg yolk (reserved from Pepita Crunch)
1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Pepita Crunch:
Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a rimmed cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
In a small bowl, whisk together the egg white and 1 TBSP of the granulated sugar. Add the pepitas, tossing to coat well with the egg/sugar mixture. Pour into the prepared cookie sheet and spread evenly in a single layer. Sprinkle 1 more TBSP of the sugar over the pepitas. Bake for 7-8 minutes, stir the pepitas with a fork, and bake another 7 minutes. Remove from oven, stir the pepitas , sprinkle with the remaining 1 tsp of sugar, and bake for another 3 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Break up any clusters with your fingertips and set aside.

Making the Batter:

Increase oven temperature to 375F.
In a food processor, process the cream cheese, orange juice and orange zest, in three 10-second intervals.
In a large bowl, thoroughly whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.
Cut butter into 1-inch pieces and place in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until smooth and lightened in color, about 1 minute. Stop the machine and add the cream cheese mixture, and mix on medium speed for 1 minute. Add the superfine sugar in a steady stream, then blend in the eggs, the reserved yolk, and the vanilla. Reduce the mixer to low speed and add flour mixture in 3 additions, mixing just until blended after each addition.

Scoop muffins into a prepared muffin pan. Sprinkle the top of each muffin with 1 TBSP of the Pepita Crunch. Be sure to use any sugar that remains in the pan.
Bake for 22-25 minutes, or until the muffins are golden brown an the tops are springy to the touch. To ensure even baking, toward the end of baking time, rotate the pans top to bottom and front to back. Remove from the oven and place on rack to cool.

Orange Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar
5 TBSP fresh orange juice
1 ½ tsp light corn syrup
Combine sugar, orange juice and corn syrup. Whisk until smooth and pour over muffins.

Adapted from Great Coffee Cakes, Sticky Buns, Muffins and More by Carole Walter



I used the sugared almonds I already had..and fresh clementine/tangerine juice and peel.


PS Did everyone see La Tartine Gourmande's darling new Lulu?Makes you smile as wide as the screen.