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The Best Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins Recipe

The Best Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins

Moist pumpkin muffins flavored with pumpkin pie spice and finished with a creamy vanilla cream-cheese swirl. This recipe makes 12 bakery-style muffins.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 33 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pumpkin Muffin Batter
  • 1 3/4 cups (219 g) All-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon Baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) Neutral-flavored vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) Granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) Packed light brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups (about 340 g) Pumpkin purée, not pumpkin pie filling
  • 2 eggs Large eggs, room temperature
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) Milk
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Cream-Cheese Swirl
  • 8 ounces (226 g) Full-fat cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup (50 g) Granulated sugar
  • 1 yolk Large egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
  2. Whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice together in a medium bowl.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk the oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, pumpkin purée, eggs, milk, and vanilla until smooth.
  4. Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and stir just until no dry flour remains. Do not overmix.
  5. Beat the softened cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla until smooth and lump-free.
  6. Fill each muffin cup about two-thirds full with pumpkin batter. Add approximately 1 tablespoon of cream-cheese mixture to each muffin.
  7. Use a toothpick or skewer to gently swirl the cream cheese through the top of the batter, keeping it near the surface.
  8. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, until the pumpkin portion springs back lightly and a toothpick inserted into the pumpkin batter comes out clean. Do not test directly through the cream-cheese center.
  9. Cool the muffins in the pan for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack.

Notes

Use room-temperature cream cheese for the smoothest swirl. Store cooled muffins covered in the refrigerator because they contain cream cheese; serve slightly cool or bring briefly to room temperature.