Fluffy Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins Recipe That Dazzles

Crisp autumn mornings become magical when you whip up these delectable pumpkin cream cheese muffins.

Seasonal spices dance through each tender bite, creating warmth in your kitchen.

Soft cream cheese swirls add unexpected richness to every morsel.

Baking becomes an adventure with this simple yet stunning recipe.

Each muffin promises a perfect balance between sweet pumpkin and tangy cheese.

Home bakers of all skill levels can master these delightful treats.

You’ll want to savor every crumbly, spiced moment of these irresistible muffins.

Why Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins Are A Fall Favorite

• Craft Seasonal Comfort: Dive into the ultimate autumn treat that captures the warm, cozy essence of fall with rich pumpkin and creamy filling.
• Elevate Baking Skills: Master a delightful recipe that looks impressive but is surprisingly simple to prepare, perfect for bakers of all experience levels.
• Crowd-Pleasing Breakfast: Transform your morning routine with a decadent muffin that satisfies sweet cravings while delivering a nutritious pumpkin punch.
• Customize with Ease: Experiment with additional spices or toppings to make this recipe uniquely yours, adapting it to personal taste preferences or dietary needs.

What You’ll Need For Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

• All-Purpose Flour: A key component that provides the base structure for the muffins.
• Baking Powder, Baking Soda: Leavening agents that help the muffins rise and become light and fluffy.
• Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves: Warm spices that add rich, aromatic flavor to the pumpkin muffins.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the muffins.

• Pumpkin Puree: Adds moisture and classic autumn flavor to the muffins.
• Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar: Provide sweetness and help create a tender texture.
• Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and contribute to the muffins' structure.
• Vegetable Oil: Ensures the muffins remain moist and soft.

• Cream Cheese: Creates a rich, tangy filling that complements the pumpkin flavor.
• Sugar: Sweetens the cream cheese filling.
• Egg Yolk: Helps bind the cream cheese mixture.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds depth of flavor to the cream cheese filling.
• Brown Sugar, Flour, Cinnamon: Form the streusel topping for a crunchy, sweet finish.
• Cold Butter: Helps create the crumbly texture of the streusel topping.

Bake Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins Like A Pro

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Get your oven ready by setting it to 375°F. Prepare a 12-cup muffin tin by lining it with paper cups or giving it a light spray of cooking oil.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

• Flour
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Cloves
• Salt

Whisk these together until they’re well combined.

Step 3: Blend Wet Ingredients

• Pumpkin puree
• Granulated sugar
• Brown sugar
• Eggs
• Vegetable oil

Mix until the mixture looks smooth and everything is fully incorporated.

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures

Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir just until they’re mixed – don’t go crazy with mixing or your muffins might turn tough.

Step 5: Prepare Cream Cheese Filling

• Softened cream cheese
• Sugar
• Egg yolk
• Vanilla extract

Keep mixing until the filling is creamy and looks uniform.

Step 6: Create Streusel Topping

• Brown sugar
• Flour
• Cinnamon

Cut in cold butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs.

Step 7: Fill Muffin Cups

Pour pumpkin batter into each muffin cup, filling them halfway. Add a dollop of cream cheese filling right in the center.

Step 8: Top Off the Muffins

Cover the cream cheese filling with more pumpkin batter. Fill each cup about 3/4 full.

Step 9: Add Streusel Topping

Sprinkle the prepared streusel over the top of each muffin.

Step 10: Bake to Perfection

Pop the muffin tin in the oven and bake for 18-22 minutes. They’re done when a toothpick comes out clean from the center.

Step 11: Cool and Enjoy

Take the muffins out of the oven. Let them sit in the pan for 10 minutes, then move them to a wire rack to cool completely. Get ready to devour these delicious treats!

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins Tips That Help

• Prevent Overmixing: Stir the batter gently and briefly to keep muffins tender and soft, stopping just when dry ingredients are incorporated.
• Soften Cream Cheese Properly: Let cream cheese sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes to ensure smooth, lump-free filling.
• Control Moisture Balance: Use canned pumpkin puree instead of fresh pumpkin to maintain consistent moisture and prevent soggy muffins.
• Distribute Streusel Evenly: Use light fingers when sprinkling topping to create a uniform, crumbly layer that bakes into a delightful crispy texture.
• Check Doneness Carefully: Insert a toothpick at an angle near the center to confirm muffins are fully baked without disrupting the cream cheese filling.

Yummy Twists For Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

• Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins: Add 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips to the batter for a rich, decadent version that combines classic pumpkin warmth with chocolate sweetness.
• Pecan Crunch Pumpkin Muffins: Replace streusel topping with chopped pecans and sprinkle them over the muffins before baking for extra nutty texture and crunch.
• Maple Glazed Pumpkin Muffins: After cooling, drizzle muffins with a simple maple glaze made from powdered sugar and maple syrup for a sweet, autumn-inspired finish.
• Nutty Cream Cheese Pumpkin Muffins: Mix chopped walnuts into the cream cheese filling for added depth and nutty complexity to the original recipe.

Perfect Pairings For Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

• Pair Warm Spiced Coffee: Brew a medium-roast coffee with cinnamon and nutmeg to complement the muffin's autumn spices, creating a harmonious flavor profile that enhances the pumpkin and cream cheese notes.
• Serve with Vanilla Bean Whipped Cream: Whip heavy cream with real vanilla bean seeds to add a luxurious, smooth texture that balances the muffin's dense and rich characteristics.
• Match with Caramel Drizzle: Prepare a light salted caramel sauce to drizzle over the muffin, which will amplify the sweetness and provide a decadent finishing touch to the dessert experience.

Best Way To Store Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

• Store cooled muffins in an airtight container inside the refrigerator for up to 5 days, keeping them fresh and preventing spoilage.
• Wrap individual muffins tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for up to 3 months for long-term storage.
• Keep muffins at room temperature in a sealed container for 1-2 days, ideal for short-term enjoyment within 48 hours of baking.
• Remove frozen muffins from the freezer and let them thaw at room temperature for 1-2 hours, or gently warm in the microwave for 15-20 seconds.

FAQs About Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

• What ingredients give these muffins their signature pumpkin flavor?

Cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves blend with pumpkin puree to create the classic warm, spicy autumn taste that makes these muffins irresistible.

• How do I prevent the cream cheese filling from sinking to the bottom of the muffin?

By carefully layering the batter – first adding half the pumpkin batter, then a dollop of cream cheese filling, and finally covering with remaining batter – you’ll ensure the filling stays centered.

• Can I make these muffins healthier?

Substitute some all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour, reduce sugar slightly, or use Greek yogurt instead of some oil to boost nutrition without compromising texture.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins Recipe

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4.7 from 8 reviews

• Total Time: 48-52 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Autumn whispers through classic Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins, blending warmth of seasonal spices with creamy cheese centers. Rich, comforting bites invite you to savor fall’s most delightful bakery treasure.

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Ingredients

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Muffin Base:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp salt

Cream Cheese Filling:

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Topping:

• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or lightly grease with cooking spray.
2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
3. In a separate bowl, combine pumpkin puree, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vegetable oil. Mix until smooth and well-incorporated.
4. Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, stirring until just combined. Avoid overmixing to ensure tender muffins.
5. For the cream cheese filling, beat softened cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla extract in a medium bowl until creamy and uniform.
6. Create the streusel topping by mixing brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Cut in cold butter using a pastry cutter or fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
7. Fill each muffin cup halfway with pumpkin batter, then add a dollop of cream cheese filling in the center.
8. Cover the cream cheese filling with remaining pumpkin batter, filling each cup about 3/4 full.
9. Sprinkle prepared streusel topping evenly over each muffin.
10. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
11. Remove from oven and let cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

• Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth mixing and even baking of the muffin batter.
• Gently fold wet and dry ingredients to prevent overmixing, which can lead to tough, dense muffins.
• Chill the cream cheese filling for 10-15 minutes before adding to create cleaner, more defined layers.
• For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend and ensure all other ingredients are gluten-free certified.
• To reduce sugar, replace half the granulated sugar with a natural sweetener like stevia or monk fruit extract.
• Create a dairy-free alternative by using coconut cream cheese and plant-based butter in the filling and streusel topping.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 18-22 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 220
• Sugar: 14 g
• Sodium: 180 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 40 mg