Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
Description
These soft and moist pumpkin cream cheese muffins are filled with a creamy cheesecake center and perfectly spiced for fall. Easy to make at home, they combine tender pumpkin-flavored batter with a rich cream cheese surprise, making them a perfect breakfast, snack, or dessert. This recipe is ideal for bakers of all levels and yields bakery-quality muffins without any fuss.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 0.75 tsp baking soda
- 0.75 tsp baking powder
- 0.75 tsp kosher salt
- 1.5 tbsp pumpkin spice blend
Wet Ingredients
- 0.5 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 0.5 cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 7.5 oz pumpkin puree about half of a 15 oz can
Cream Cheese Filling
- 3 oz cream cheese softened
- 0.75 tbsp granulated sugar
- 0.25 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Prepare Pan and Cream Cheese Filling
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
- In a small bowl, blend the cream cheese with sugar until smooth, then stir in vanilla extract. Set aside.
Prepare Muffin Batter
- Whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin spice blend in a medium bowl until evenly combined.
- In a large bowl, combine the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and oil. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then fold in the pumpkin puree until smooth.
- Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until no streaks of flour remain. Avoid overmixing.
Assemble and Bake
- Divide the batter evenly among the muffin liners, filling each about 3/4 full.
- Place a small scoop (about 1 inch) of the cream cheese mixture in the center of each muffin and gently press down.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until the tops spring back when touched and a toothpick inserted near the edge comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Let muffins cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Use pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, for the best texture and flavor.
- Softened cream cheese ensures a smooth filling.
- Avoid overmixing the batter to keep muffins tender.