Fluffy Cheese Muffins

On Chanukah there is a tradition to eat dairy foods. I know what you're thinking, isn't Shavuot the holiday that we ate dairy and Chanukah is the holiday with the fried foods? Well on Chanukah we have the custom to eat delicious dairy foods as well as fried foods because of the story of one heroic woman. During the Chanukah story, the brave Yehudit goes to the tent of a Greek general, she feeds him salty cheese which causes him to be thirsty, and she then gives him plenty of wine. While he is drunkenly asleep she kills him and upon finding out that their general had been killed, the Greek army fled. 

In memory of Yehudit's bravery, we eat dairy products. This should also prove as to why latkes should only be eaten with sour cream, but we're not here for latkes let's talk fluffy cheese muffins! 

I wanted to create a muffin that flavor-wise reminds me of cheesecake, but is texturally a fluffy muffin. This muffin is made with farmer cheese which a soft mild white cheese with a slightly crumbly texture. The batter has plenty of vanilla extract and a tiny pinch of cinnamon which gives these muffins a delicious flavor.  

These muffins are not overly sweet so they are perfect for breakfast with a cup of coffee, but if you want to take these muffins to next level fold some chocolate chunks or berries into the batter or you can go full on Chanukah and make these into Muffganiot by adding a scoop of jam into the center of the muffin! 

Fluffy Cheese Muffins

2 1/2 cups flour 

1/4 tsp baking soda 

2 tsp baking powder 

3/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cinnamon

4 Tbsp/55 grams butter, melted 

3 large eggs 

1 7.5 oz package farmer cheese (in Israel look for גבינת טוב טעם)

1 Tbsp vanilla extract 

2/3 cup milk (whole milk is best, but 1% is fine too)

1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp sugar plus more for sprinkling over the muffins before baking

Preheat oven to 375°F/190°C

Line a standard-size muffin pan with paper liners or spray with non-stick cooking spray. 

In a large bowl mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon and set aside. 

In a separate bowl mix together the butter, eggs, farmer's cheese, vanilla, milk, and sugar. 

Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients making sure not to overmix. If you would like to add a mix-in like chocolate chunks or berries add them now. 

Scoop into prepared muffin pan and sprinkle each muffin with a pinch of sugar.

Bake for 18-20 minutes in the preheated oven. 

Allow the muffins cool for 5 minutes in the pan before removing and allowing to cool on a wire rack.