The Creamy Addition That'll Make Store-Bought Muffin Mix Taste Bakery-Worthy - Tasting Table

"Store-bought muffin mix encompasses a broad range of brands, not to mention flavors. And, like boxed cake mixes, all you need is some water or milk and the oven to transform the dry mixture into fluffy muffins. But many household staples can give store-bought muffin mix a homemade touch. Cream cheese is one such staple that'll take store-bought muffins from homemade to bakery-worthy."

"As a wet ingredient with a substantial fat content, cream cheese also imparts moisture and tenderness to the muffin crumb. Since baked goods drying out is a common mishap for home cooks, a swirl or dab of cream cheese is a tasty preventative measure. Not only will the liquid and fat content make for a velvety and tender crumb, but depending on how you add cream cheese to your muffins, the cream cheese itself can create gooey pockets to savor with each bite."

Cream cheese adds richness, tang, and fat to muffin batter, improving moisture and tenderness of the crumb. The ingredient pairs well with flavors such as chocolate chips, bananas, and blueberries. Many households already keep cream cheese in the fridge, so adding it requires little extra expense or effort. The fat and liquid content helps prevent drying and can produce velvety texture and gooey pockets in each bite. Several incorporation methods exist; the simplest is chopping cold cream cheese into small cubes, sprinkling them on batter-filled muffin cups, and finishing with sugar so cubes sink and disperse during baking.

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