Muffin Episode # 8 - Lemon Curd Muffins

I have been trying to be good lately and haven't baked very much.

Actually, I was just too lazy - errr, just didn't have time :)

Hubby was out of town almost all of last week, so Friday night my friends Shelly and Monica came over for a girls' dinner (plus my sidekick of course). I met Shelly and Monica about 12 years ago when we all lived in the same apartment complex way back when I was still in college. They lived downstairs, my ex and I lived upstairs. We were neighbors for a good 3 years, but got so close during those years of practically living together that we have stayed close ever since. 12 years later Monica and I are married, Shelly has a live in BF and even though we don't have much time to get together, our girl time together is always fun and makes us feel young and crazy again! (OMG do I sound like an old person now??) 

I looked through my favorite muffin cookbook, and stumbled across the Lemon Curd Muffins.

I've never had lemon curd before, but heard it's the new best thing next to whipped cream, and I found a jar of it at Publix, my favorite grocery store in the world. Ok, my favorite in Florida. One of these days I might have time to be a more crafty cook and actually make my own lemon curd, but until then - store bought rocks! Easy breezy!

I made my Italian Pork Roast the night prior and just had to heat it up in the oven before the girls came in. 

We had my new favorite roasted green beans as a side. And I had absolutely no time for pictures since we were too busy chatting and catching up! Not even any iPhone pictures!

Even these muffin pictures were from the next day - of course I had to save two so I could take pictures later so my baby and I could enjoy them again :)

Honestly, they were gone so fast as we ate them as they were still warm from the oven! Monica turned out to be the best babysitter ever, which is just awesome since she will be a first time mom in November - her and her hubby are adopting a baby! And Shelly hung out in the kitchen with me and helped me bake these lemony treats. 

I think I fell in love.

With lemon curd.

And the lemon curd muffins.

Why didn't anyone ever actually TELL me how great lemon curd REALLY is??

I'm typically not a lemon fan. I like lemon, but for example, I've never liked Key Lime Pie. Of course I can eat it if I have a craving for sweets and Key Lime Pie is the only dessert available, but I'm not a huge fan.

I guess I thought Lemon Curd wouldn't be any more exciting than Key Lime Pie?

I was so wrong! I can still almost smell and taste it! Tastes like sweet and tart little lemon drops :)

And here is the scrumptious recipe:

Lemon Curd Muffins

Makes 12 muffins

What you need:

2 cups all purpose flour

1 tps baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 tbsp finely grated lemon zest

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1 egg

2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup lemon curd

2 tbsp turbinado sugar

How to make them:

Preheat oven to 350ºF

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

2. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium high speed, beat granulated sugar, butter and lemon zest until light and fluffy. Beat in cream cheese until blended. Beat in egg, lemon juice and vanilla until blended.

3. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and gently stir with a wooden spoon until just blended. 

4. Divide half the batter equally among prepared muffin cups. Spoon 2 tsp of the lemon curd into the center of each cup of batter. Top with the remaining batter and sprinkle with turbinado sugar.

5. Bake in preheated oven for 22 - 24 minutes or until tops are golden brown and spring back when touched. Let cool in pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then transfer to the rack to cool. 

Enjoy!

XOXO

Phanit