Cream Cheese Filled Bran Muffins

Ingredients:

1/2 cup boiling water
1 cup bran cereal (not flakes)
3/4 cup raisins or chopped dates, optional
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup 1% buttermilk
1 egg, partially beaten
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups flour
1 1/4 teaspoons soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup bran flakes
Filling (see below)

Method:
Preheat oven to 4000 F. Prepare filling (below) and set aside. Grease, or line standard muffin tin with cupcake papers.
Pour boiling water over bran cereal and optional raisin/dates; and allow to stand 5 minutes.
Stir in melted butter, buttermilk, egg, and sugar; mix well. Stir in flour, soda, and salt. Add bran flakes and stir just until combined. Place approximately 1 tablespoon batter in bottom of prepared muffin tins; gently spread batter over bottom of cup. Spoon in approximately 2 teaspoons prepared filling. Cover filling with additional muffin batter to fill cup approximately 3/4 full. Bake 20 minutes or until done. Makes 12-15 muffins

Filling

Ingredients:

1 package (8 oz) low-fat cream cheese
2 T sugar
1 egg

Method:
Soften cream cheese; add sugar and egg. Beat together until smooth and creamy.
NOTE: If desired, soften 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, add 1 teaspoon milk and stir until smooth. Divide into small bowls; add a drop of food color to each bowl, and stir. Spread cream cheese over muffins. Use different the colored cream cheese in pastry tubes to create fun designs.