Preparation Steps

• Preheat the oven to 375° F (190° C).
• In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt, and stir.
• Cut the cream cheese into cubes and work it into the dry ingredients with a pastry blender until small chunks of cream cheese remain.
• In a medium bowl, beat together the egg, oil, milk, lemon juice and zest.
• Stir the wet ingredients gently into the dry ingredients until just combined.
• Scoop the batter into prepared muffin liners so the cups are about 0.75 full.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the tops are a light golden and a tester inserted in the centre comes out clean.
• Stir together the sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl to make the syrup. Use a pastry brush to brush the syrup on top of the hot muffins.
• Let them cool in the pan on a rack for 5 minutes, then remove from the pan and let cool completely on the rack.