Pesto Surprise Muffins

These are great served with an Italian meal as an alternative to garlic bread.

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Serves: 12
• Yields: 12 muffins

Ingredients

• 2  cups all-purpose flour
• 3  tablespoons parmesan cheese, grated, divided
• 1  tablespoon baking powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1  cup milk
• 1⁄4 cup  vegetable oil
• 1  egg
• 1⁄4 cup  prepared pesto sauce

Directions

1. Preaheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease 12 (2 1/2-inch) muffin cups or line with paper baking cups.
2. Combine flour, 2 tbs. cheese, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Combine milk, oil and egg in a small bowl; stir until blended. Stir into flour mixture until just moistened. Do not overmix. Spoon into prepared muffin cups, filling one-third full. Stir pesto sauce; spoon 1 teaspoons sauce into each muffin cup. Spoon remaining batter evenly over pesto sauce. Sprinkle remaining 1 tbs. cheese evenly over batter.
3. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpicks inserted into centers come out clean. Cool in muffin pans on wire rack 5 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on wire rack 10 minutes.