Print

Cozy Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins with Easy Brown Sugar Streusel

pumpkin cream cheese swirl muffins - featured image
Print Recipe

Soft pumpkin-spiced muffins with a tangy cream cheese swirl and a buttery brown sugar streusel topping, perfect for cozy fall mornings or gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ¾ cups (220g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • 1 cup (200g) packed light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup (240ml) canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup (120ml) buttermilk or plain yogurt
  • 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup (65g) all-purpose flour (for streusel)
  • ½ cup (100g) packed light brown sugar (for streusel)
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (for streusel)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt (for streusel)
  • 4 tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed (for streusel)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or lightly grease it.
  2. Make the streusel topping: In a medium bowl, combine ½ cup flour, ½ cup light brown sugar, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Add cold, cubed butter and cut into the mixture until coarse crumbs form. Chill in the fridge.
  3. Prepare the cream cheese swirl: Beat softened cream cheese with granulated sugar until smooth. Add egg yolk and vanilla extract, beat until silky. Set aside.
  4. Mix dry muffin ingredients: Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
  5. Combine wet muffin ingredients: Whisk melted butter with brown sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, then stir in pumpkin puree, vanilla extract, and buttermilk or yogurt.
  6. Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients gently until just combined; batter will be thick and slightly lumpy.
  7. Assemble muffins: Spoon about 2 tablespoons batter into each muffin cup. Add 1 tablespoon cream cheese filling on top, then cover with another 2 tablespoons batter. Swirl gently with a toothpick or skewer.
  8. Sprinkle a generous tablespoon of chilled streusel topping on each muffin.
  9. Bake for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted (avoiding cream cheese) comes out clean.
  10. Cool muffins in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

Use room temperature eggs, butter, and cream cheese for best swirl texture. Do not overmix batter to keep muffins tender. Keep streusel chilled until topping to maintain crunch. Gently swirl cream cheese filling to preserve marbled effect. Check muffins at 20 minutes to avoid overbaking.

Nutrition

Keywords: pumpkin muffins, cream cheese swirl, brown sugar streusel, fall baking, autumn recipe, easy muffins, cozy breakfast

Find it online: https://bitesienna.com/cozy-pumpkin-cream-cheese-swirl-muffins-with-easy-brown-sugar-streusel-recipe/