Peanut Butter Muffins

When I was trying to come up with this week's #muffinmonday flavor I was thinking of what I like to eat and that is peanut butter. I have a true weakness for peanut butter. It's dangerous for me to have peanut butter cups in the house and I love sneaking a spoonful late at night (you know you do it too).

This week's recipe is a twofer. Make one basic peanut butter batter and then either you can mix in chocolate chips for the greatest combo of peanut butter and chocolate or you can fill the center of each muffin with a scoop of jelly for a muffin take on the classic pb&j.

Batter 
1 3/4 cups flour
1 Tbs baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup oil
1 cup milk of your choice
2 eggs
1 Tbs vanilla extract
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter

Preheat oven to 375°F/190°C
Spray a standard-size muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray or line with paper liners.
In a large bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt. In a liquid measuring cup mix together the oil, milk, eggs, and vanilla. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients along with the sugar and peanut butter. Stir until just combined.

For Peanut Butter Chocolate Muffins fold in 1 cup mini chocolate chips. Scoop into prepared muffin pan.
For Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins fill up each muffin cup halfway with batter. Press the batter down slightly in the middle with the back of a spoon. Fill the space with 1/2 tablespoon of jelly of your choice. Top with the remaining batter.

Bake for 18-22 muffins. Allow to cool for 5 minutes in the muffin pan and then using a knife run around the outside of each muffin to release from the pan and allow to cool completely on a cooling rack.

To go super all out peanut butter you can top the muffin batter before baking with a peanut butter streusel.

Peanut Butter Streusel 
1/3 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
Pinch of salt
2 Tbs creamy peanut butter
2-3 Tbs oil

In a small bowl mix together the flour, sugar, salt, and peanut butter. Drizzle in the oil until the mixture resembles wet sand. Top each muffin with a big pinch of the streusel slightly pressing the crumbs into the batter. Bake according to directions above.