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Cream Cheese Pumpkin Muffins

Cream Cheese Pumpkin Muffins

These Cream Cheese Pumpkin Muffins are a delightful fall treat, combining warm spiced pumpkin muffins with a rich and creamy cream cheese center. Perfect for breakfast, a snack, or dessert, they bring all the comforting flavors of autumn in every bite.

  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 12 muffins 1x

Ingredients

Scale

Pumpkin Muffins Ingredients:

  • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin puree (unsweetened)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Filling Ingredients:

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional Topping:

  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1.  Preheat the Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or lightly grease the muffin cups. This ensures easy removal once your muffins are done baking.
  2. Make the Cream Cheese Filling: In a medium mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Set the mixture aside while you prepare the muffin batter.
  3. Prepare the Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. These spices are essential to bring out the pumpkin flavor and give the muffins that signature fall taste.
  4. Combine the Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, pumpkin puree, and vanilla extract until smooth. The pumpkin puree adds moisture, making the muffins incredibly soft and tender.
  5. Mix the Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir just until everything is combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in dense muffins.
  6. Assemble the Muffins: Fill each muffin cup about two-thirds full with the pumpkin batter. Next, drop about 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture into the center of each cup. If you’re adding the cinnamon-sugar topping, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together and sprinkle it over the tops of the muffins.
  7. Bake the Muffins: Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the muffin (not the cream cheese center) comes out clean. Let the muffins cool in the tin for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
  8. Serve and Enjoy: These Cream Cheese Pumpkin Muffins can be enjoyed warm or at room temperature. They’re incredibly delicious on their own but also pair wonderfully with a hot cup of coffee or tea.

Notes

  • Pumpkin Purée vs. Pumpkin Pie Filling: Be sure to use pumpkin puree, not the pie filling. The latter has added spices and sugar, which can throw off the flavor and texture of your muffins.
  • Room Temperature Ingredients: For the smoothest cream cheese filling, make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature before mixing.
  • Storing: These muffins store well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months.
  • Customizable: If you’re feeling adventurous, try adding chocolate chips, nuts, or even dried cranberries to the batter for an extra layer of flavor.
  • Author: Elina
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 muffin
  • Calories: 290 kcal
  • Sugar: 23g
  • Sodium: 220mg
  • Fat: 16g
  • Saturated Fat: 6g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 8g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 35g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 4g
  • Cholesterol: 55mg

Keywords: Pumpkin cream cheese muffins, Fall muffin recipes, Spiced pumpkin desserts, Cream cheese-filled muffins