Description
Seasonal warmth fills kitchens with these delectable pumpkin cream cheese muffins with caramel swirl, blending autumn’s rich spices and creamy textures. Comforting flavors invite bakers to savor each spiced, caramel-kissed bite of pure seasonal bliss.
Ingredients
Scale
Pumpkin 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 powdered sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Caramel Swirl and Topping:
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)
- 2 tbsp turbinado sugar (for sprinkling)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners, ensuring even spacing.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt in a large mixing bowl to create a uniform dry mixture.
- In a separate bowl, vigorously blend pumpkin puree, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vegetable oil until smooth and well-incorporated.
- Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet pumpkin mixture, stirring until just combined to avoid overmixing.
- For the cream cheese filling, beat softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until creamy and well-blended.
- Fill each muffin liner halfway with pumpkin batter, creating a base layer.
- Carefully pipe or spoon a dollop of cream cheese mixture into the center of each muffin.
- Top the cream cheese with additional pumpkin batter, covering the filling completely.
- Drizzle caramel sauce in a swirling motion across the top of each muffin.
- Sprinkle turbinado sugar and chopped pecans over the muffins for added texture and crunch.
- Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean with minimal crumbs.
- Remove from oven and let cool in the tin for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Make the muffins gluten-free by substituting all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend for those with wheat sensitivities.
- Reduce sugar content by using monk fruit sweetener or stevia in equal measurements to create a lower-calorie version of these indulgent muffins.
- Enhance the cream cheese filling’s texture by ensuring cream cheese is at room temperature, preventing lumps and creating a smoother consistency.
- Prevent caramel sauce from sinking by using a thicker, more concentrated caramel that holds its shape during baking and creates beautiful surface swirls.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 265
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg