Tasty Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins Recipe
Pumpkin cream cheese muffins are the ultimate treat for fall, combining the warm, spiced flavor of pumpkin with a rich, creamy swirl of sweetened cream cheese. These muffins are moist and tender, thanks to the pumpkin purée, and spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, giving them that cozy autumn feel. The cream cheese center adds a delightful tangy sweetness, perfectly complementing the earthy pumpkin flavor.
Whether you’re enjoying them with a hot cup of coffee in the morning or as a midday snack, these muffins are pure comfort in every bite. The subtle crunch of a cinnamon-sugar topping adds texture, while the balance between the spiced muffin and the creamy filling makes them a crowd-pleaser for breakfast, brunch, or even dessert.
I’ll be sharing my favorite pumpkin cream cheese muffins recipe, the recipe that ensures they’re tasty and soft as should be.
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins Recipe
Equipment
- 12 Muffin tin (12-cup)
- 3 Mixing bowls
- Hand or stand mixer
- Spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Ice cream scoop (optional, for even batter distribution)
Ingredients
For the Muffins:
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp salt
For the Cream Cheese Filling:
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Streusel Topping:
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup cold butter cubed
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease it.
Step 2: Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling
- In a small bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth. Set aside.
Step 3: Prepare the Muffin Batter
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
- In another bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined.
Step 4: Make the Streusel Topping
- In a separate small bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add the cold, cubed butter and mix using your fingers or a fork until the mixture forms coarse crumbs.
Step 5: Assemble the Muffins
- Fill each muffin cup about ⅔ full with the pumpkin batter.
- Add a spoonful of the cream cheese mixture in the center of each muffin.
- Sprinkle the streusel topping generously over each muffin.
Step 6: Bake
- Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 18–22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the muffin (avoiding the cream cheese center) comes out clean.
