It’s hockey time peeps…
That’s right peeps, hockey starts today. And not a moment sooner I might add. For sitting around not being able to do much but sit propped up in front of the TV coughing (I recommend bacterial pneumonia to no one) gets old pretty quick when about the only thing going on is the election. And I am pretty darn sick of all of that at this point.
So imagine my glee in knowing that my beloved Flames play this evening. Knowing that, at least for a few hours I will just be watching something where no one is insulting each other (well, at least not that I can hear). Though I must say boo to the Flyers who on Saturday will be having Palin drop the puck for the game…grr, get politics out of my happy time darn it all!!!
Having been sick we are pulling from the archives for the next couple of posts I am sure. No baking, no cooking, no nothing as of late. 
This is a Orange Cream Cheese Muffin topped with sugar and toasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds). There are a lot of steps but I think the crunch really does add something to these muffins. It comes from one of my favorite cookbooks for breakfast breads, Great Coffee Cakes, Sticky Buns, Muffins and More. It is a good resource to have if you don’t you might want to add that to your holiday list of things you want.
Orange Cream Cheese Muffins with Pepita Crunch
Pepita Crunch
1 large egg white (reserve yolk)
2 TBSP plus 1 tsp granulated sugar
½ cup pepitas
Muffins
1/3 cup fresh orange juice
zest of ½ a small orange
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature, broken into 3-4 pieces
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp baking soda
1 cup superfine sugar
½ cup unsalted butter, slightly firm
2 large eggs
1 large egg yolk (reserved from Pepita Crunch)
1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Pepita Crunch:
Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a rimmed cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
In a small bowl, whisk together the egg white and 1 TBSP of the granulated sugar. Add the pepitas, tossing to coat well with the egg/sugar mixture. Pour into the prepared cookie sheet and spread evenly in a single layer. Sprinkle 1 more TBSP of the sugar over the pepitas. Bake for 7-8 minutes, stir the pepitas with a fork, and bake another 7 minutes. Remove from oven, stir the pepitas , sprinkle with the remaining 1 tsp of sugar, and bake for another 3 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Break up any clusters with your fingertips and set aside.
Making the Batter:
Increase oven temperature to 375F.
In a food processor, process the cream cheese, orange juice and orange zest, in three 10-second intervals.
In a large bowl, thoroughly whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.
Cut butter into 1-inch pieces and place in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until smooth and lightened in color, about 1 minute. Stop the machine and add the cream cheese mixture, and mix on medium speed for 1 minute. Add the superfine sugar in a steady stream, then blend in the eggs, the reserved yolk, and the vanilla. Reduce the mixer to low speed and add flour mixture in 3 additions, mixing just until blended after each addition.
Scoop muffins into a prepared muffin pan. Sprinkle the top of each muffin with 1 TBSP of the Pepita Crunch. Be sure to use any sugar that remains in the pan.
Bake for 22-25 minutes, or until the muffins are golden brown an the tops are springy to the touch. To ensure even baking, toward the end of baking time, rotate the pans top to bottom and front to back. Remove from the oven and place on rack to cool.
Orange Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
5 TBSP fresh orange juice
1 ½ tsp light corn syrup
Combine sugar, orange juice and corn syrup. Whisk until smooth and pour over muffins.
Adapted from Great Coffee Cakes, Sticky Buns, Muffins and More by Carole Walter
33 Responses
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October 9th, 2008 at 1:00 am
Those Muffins look incredibly good! Droolworthy and beautiful!
Get better soon!
Cheers,
Rosa
October 9th, 2008 at 1:26 am
I wonder when to add the flour mixture into the batter ???
October 9th, 2008 at 1:39 am
oh you are too funny – that first pic cracks me up! and the other two – weel they make me drool, but you knew that already!
October 9th, 2008 at 2:48 am
Ahh Gracie, I am so sorry you are sick – I hope you feel better very soon! And I agree.. screw politics elbowing their way into hockey – that’s just not right.
The muffins look and sound amazing, of course!
Feel better my love!!
xoxoxoxoxo
October 9th, 2008 at 4:28 am
Hooray for hockey season and scrumptious muffins!!
But BOO to being ill 
PLEEEEASE get well soon, Peabody!!
October 9th, 2008 at 4:57 am
The muffins look incredible! I’ve had my eye on that book, so I’ll be sure to add it to my list this year
October 9th, 2008 at 5:18 am
You know, you can put lipstick on a hockey puck, and it’s still a…sorry…
What do you and your husband eat during hockey-watching game nights–you need to do a list of that stuff!
October 9th, 2008 at 5:41 am
Yummm… looks delish! Hope you feel better asap!
October 9th, 2008 at 6:14 am
I totally dig that photo of the peeps playing hockey. I seriously was sitting her laughing hard.
I was at home recouping from knee surgery during the last election. I feel your pain. TV sucks during an election.
And those muffins look ridiculous good!
October 9th, 2008 at 6:27 am
This off season seemed longer than usual for some reason, and actually it was shorter for the Pens this year. So glad its hockey time again.
Hope you are feeling better soon! xo
And the muffins look awesome!
October 9th, 2008 at 6:28 am
oh boy, feel better soon! i just bought some pepitas for another dish, these muffins look like a perfect way to use them up!
October 9th, 2008 at 6:43 am
I don’t know where I’ve been, but I don’t think I’ve seen pepitas on a sweet treat before – usually just savory! These look so good, though, and make me wish I had one for breakfast!
Hope you’re feeling better!
October 9th, 2008 at 7:36 am
I fixed the flour instructions. Whoops. Thanks for catching that.
October 9th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Feel better. And these look great.
October 9th, 2008 at 8:55 am
i love muffins and these look so good! get better soon!
October 9th, 2008 at 9:09 am
REALLY sorry to hear you’re not doing well. I’ve had lots of years of that crap, but thankfully, not in the last several. Must be ’cause I get more ornery as I age? Mmm…pepitas. And on top of all that cheesy loveliness? YUM. Enjoy the hockey and get well, peabody.
October 9th, 2008 at 9:45 am
I LOVE your peeps playing hockey picture! (Your muffins look yummy too!) Hope you feel better soon!
GO FLAMES GO!!
October 9th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Feel better! The peep picture is hilarious!!!
October 9th, 2008 at 11:49 am
That book is already on my Amazon wishlist. The muffins look wonderful. I hope you’re feeling better soon!
October 9th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
My husband is also inexplicably excited at the start of hockey season. Go figure….
October 9th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Pnuemonia is serious stuff! Take good care. I hope you have someone making you chicken soup and pressing the buttons on the converter for you!
October 9th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Anything with the word pepita is a winner for me! The muffins look great and I hope you fell better soon!
October 9th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Drop the puck! Happy Dance! I should be in The Tank in less than three hours and then HOCKEY! Who me excited? Nah.
And I almost puked when I read about the Flyers puck dropper.
October 9th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I love when hockey season starts – you really come to life.
October 9th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
your enthusiasm is contagious!
meanwhile, i think i’ve concluded that cream cheese is the very best cheese. your muffins look and sound tremendous–the glaze seals the deal for me.
October 9th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Those muffins sound incredible — pepita crunch?! Please!
Hope you are on the mend!!
October 9th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
That first picture truly made my day. As awful and artificial as peeps are, they are so damn cute.
October 10th, 2008 at 2:50 am
Love your peeps playing hockey!
October 10th, 2008 at 10:56 am
I’m glad to hear hockey is beginning again, because I know that will help you feel better!
Love the idea of adding seeds to the muffins, Pea.
October 11th, 2008 at 9:19 am
This is a seriously delicious muffin. Great flavors…
October 12th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Yes, I need to spend some serious time with this book – at least I have it and don’t need to buy it.
I hope you’ve gotten rid of the buggies! Sick is just not the thing . . . I guess you know that already.
This muffins with those pumpkin seeds look terrific.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
These muffins look so yummy. I wouldn’t have thought of sprinkling pepitas on top – but yes!! Thanks for the recipe!
February 4th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
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