They Belong Together Like PB&J {Recipe: Peanut Butter Surprise Muffins}

This is a twist to a recipe I used to make as a kid from one of my first cookbooks, Betty Crocker's Cookbook. The recipe is a suggested variation of the traditional muffin recipe in the book called "Surprise Muffins" and are filled with jam or jelly. I am surprised it took me this long to think of making a PB&J version of these muffins, I mean, what goes better together?

Peanut Butter Surprise Muffins

Preheat oven to 400ºF. Spray 8 wells of a muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray; set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together:

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup natural peanut butter

1/2 cup milk

2 tablespoons oil

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

In another mixing bowl, whisk together:

1-1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

Filling for muffins:

3 tablespoons jam or jelly

Pour peanut butter mixture into the flour mixture and stir until just combined, being careful not to over stir. The mixture will be thick. Fill the prepared wells of muffin tin about 1/2 way. Create a small indentation in the center of the batter with a small spoon or fingertip (dampen spoon or fingertip with water, if needed, the batter is sticky). Fill each dip with a teaspoon of jam or jelly. Distribute the remaining of the batter to cover the jam or jelly. Bake muffins for about 15-20 minutes, or until nice and golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of one comes out clean.  

Yields 8 muffins

Enjoy!