How to Make Chai-Spiced Cheesecake Muffins?

Ingredients

• For 16 muffins,
• Muffins
• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour(215 g)
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 cups applesauce(520 g)
• 1 ¼ cups brown sugar(275 g)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup vegetable oil(120 mL)

• Cheesecake filling
• 8 oz cream cheese(225 g), room temperature
• ¼ cup granulated sugar(50 g)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• nonstick cooking spray, for greasing

Method

• Preheat oven to 375˚F (190˚C).
• Make the muffin batter: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt with a fork.
• In a separate large bowl, combine the applesauce, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, and vegetable oil. Mix with a fork, then gradually incorporate the dry ingredients until the batter is thick and smooth.
• Make the cheesecake filling: In a medium bowl, use a fork to mix together the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until fluffy and smooth.
• Grease a 2 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick spray.
• Scoop about ¼ cup (30 g) of muffin batter into each cup. Add a teaspoon of cheesecake filling to the center of each cup. Use a toothpick to swirl the cheesecake into the batter.
• Bake for 18 minutes, or until the muffins are springy and lightly browned around the edges.
• Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
• Enjoy!