Description
Fall-inspired pumpkin cream cheese muffins featuring moist pumpkin spice batter surrounding a creamy cheesecake center, topped with optional streusel for the perfect autumn treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz full-fat cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup granulated sugar (for filling)
- 1 large egg (for filling)
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract (for filling)
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup pure pumpkin puree
- 1 cup granulated sugar (for batter)
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs (for batter)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (for batter)
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour (for streusel)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar (for streusel)
- ¼ cup brown sugar, packed (for streusel)
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon (for streusel)
- 3 tablespoons cold butter, cubed (for streusel)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
- Beat softened cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add egg and vanilla extract, beating until well combined. Transfer to a piping bag.
- Whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, cloves, and salt in a large bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree, sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and gently fold together just until combined.
- For streusel topping: combine flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Cut in cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Fill each muffin cup about ⅓ full with pumpkin batter. Add a tablespoon of cream cheese filling to the center, then top with more pumpkin batter until ¾ full.
- Sprinkle with streusel topping if using.
- Bake for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the edge comes out clean.
- Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For the smoothest filling, ensure cream cheese and eggs are at room temperature.
- Use pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling.
- Count your stirs when mixing wet and dry ingredients—aim for no more than 15-20 folds to prevent dense muffins.
- Use an ice cream scoop for consistent batter portions.
- Rotate muffin tin halfway through baking for even browning.
- Let muffins cool for at least 20 minutes for optimal flavor.
- Spray paper liners with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 muffin
- Calories: 275
- Sugar: 21g
- Sodium: 230mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: pumpkin cream cheese muffins, fall baking, pumpkin spice, cream cheese filling, pumpkin muffins, bakery-style muffins, autumn recipes, pumpkin dessert