Decadent Cherry Almond Cream Cheese Muffins

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a jumbo muffin tin. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Cut in the cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

2. 2

   In a separate bowl, beat the egg, sour cream, and almond extract until smooth. Gently stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients just until moistened (the batter will be thick).

3. 3

   In another bowl, beat the cream cheese, egg, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Warm the cherry preserves in a saucepan over low heat. For the topping, combine the flour and sugar in a small bowl, then cut in the cold butter until crumbly. Stir in the chopped almonds.

4. 4

   Fill the prepared muffin cups half full with the muffin batter. Divide the cream cheese filling and warmed cherry preserves evenly among the muffin cups, then gently swirl them. Top with the remaining muffin batter and sprinkle with the almond streusel topping.

5. 5

   Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Serve the muffins warm.