Honey & Goat Cheese-Filled Fig Muffins

By Alqualonde

Sweet figs and a filling of tangy goat cheese give a surprising twist to these hearty breakfast muffins. Make a batch of these on the weekend and enjoy them for breakfast all week long. If you’re not a fan of goat cheese, try them with cream cheese instead.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup crumbled soft goat cheese, or reduced-fat cream cheese; Neufchâtel
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest, freshly grated
• 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
• 2 cups white whole-wheat flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 large egg white
• 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed dark or light
• 1 cup buttermilk, low-fat or nonfat
• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 1/4 cup dried figs, chopped
• 3 tablespoons turbinado, or granulated sugar

Details

Preparation time 40mins
Cooking time 100mins

Preparation

Step 1

1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Line 12 (1/2-cup) muffin cups with paper liners or coat with cooking spray.

2. Thoroughly combine goat cheese (or cream cheese), honey, lemon zest and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla in a small bowl. Set aside.

3. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Lightly beat eggs and egg white in a medium bowl; add brown sugar and the remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla and whisk until the sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute. Gradually whisk in buttermilk and oil until smooth. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined; do not overmix. Fold in figs.

4. Spoon half the batter into the prepared muffin cups. Add 1 generous teaspoon of the reserved cheese filling to the center of each muffin, and cover with the remaining batter. (The filling should not be visible.)
Sprinkle the muffins with sugar.

5. Bake the muffins until the edges start to brown and the tops spring back when gently pressed, 13 to 15 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool.