(Middle of the) Cinnamon Roll Muffins

Do you swoon when you get within 100 yards of a Cinnabon? Does the combination of butter and cinnamon loosen your inhibitions? Well, then have I got a muffin for you. These "middle of the cinnamon roll muffins" are easily as good as that yeasty confection that we find so addicting. That they require no yeast or rising just means you can start eating them faster. This recipe is originally from Framed Cooks and was posted on the blog Fantastical Sharing of Recipes.

Makes 12 muffins

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place paper liners in each cup of a 12 cup muffin tin.

For the cinnamon topping:

1/4 cup brown sugar
4 tbs finely chopped pecans
1 heaping tsp of cinnamon

Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside.

For the muffins:

1/3 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2/3 cup milk

In a stand mixer, beat the butter for 30 seconds on high until fluffy.

• Lower speed to medium and add sugar. Beat for 2 minutes, scraping down sides as needed.
• Add egg and beat until combined.
• Add vanilla and beat until just combined.

In a medium bow whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.

• Alternate adding flour mixture and milk on low speed (1/3 flour, 1/2 milk; 1/3 flour, 1/2 milk; 1/3 flour

Spoon 1 tbs batter into each cup of a 12-muffin pan lined with paper liners.

• Top each cup with a heaping tsp of the cinnamon topping.
• Divide remaining batter among cups.
• Sprinkle with remaining cinnamon topping.

Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.

For the glaze:

1 cup confectioner's sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

3 tbs milk

Mix together glaze ingredients in a small bowl.

Cool muffins in the muffin pan for 12 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Drizzle warm muffins with the glaze.

Try not to gobble these all up at one sitting.

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TASTE NOTES

I was skeptical about the claim that these muffins tasted like the middle of my beloved cinnamon buns. Let me tell you:  they do! The ease of preparation is, of course, one reason I love these. But it's the taste that will inspire me to make them again and again.