Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl Muffins

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.
2. Beat the cottage cheese, cream cheese, 1/4 cup of the sugar and egg yolk in a large bowl at medium speed until combined. Set aside.
3. Whisk the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the remaining 1 cup sugar, oil and pumpkin in a large bowl at medium speed for 1 minute or until blended. At low speed, beat in the eggs, one at a time, until combined. Slowly beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture.
4. Divide the mixture between the muffin cups; top with the cottage cheese mixture. Using a small knife, swirl the cottage cheese mixture gently into the muffin batter. Sprinkle with the coarse sugar.
5. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes; remove from pan. Cool completely.