Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins – An Easy Fall Treat

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins are the perfect way to embrace the flavors of fall. These moist, spiced pumpkin muffins are elevated with a luscious swirl of cream cheese, making them an irresistible treat for any occasion. Whether you’re serving them for breakfast, dessert, or a cozy snack with coffee, these muffins are sure to impress.

Ingredients

For the Muffins:

  • 1¾ cups (220 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp (5 g) baking soda
  • ½ tsp (3 g) salt
  • 1 tbsp (8 g) pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 cup (240 g) canned pumpkin puree (make sure it’s 100% pumpkin, not pie filling)
  • ½ cup (120 ml) vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1¼ cups (250 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract

For the Cream Cheese Swirl:

  • 4 oz (115 g) cream cheese, softened
  • ¼ cup (30 g) powdered sugar
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) milk

How to Make Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners, or lightly grease each muffin cup if you prefer not to use liners.

Step 2: Prepare the Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. These dry ingredients will form the base of your muffins, ensuring a well-risen, fluffy texture with the perfect balance of fall spices.

Step 3: Mix the Wet Ingredients

In a separate bowl, mix together the pumpkin puree, vegetable oil, eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract until the ingredients are well combined. The oil and pumpkin will keep the muffins moist, while the sugar and vanilla add sweetness and flavor depth.

Step 4: Combine the Wet and Dry Mixtures

Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring just until combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in dense muffins. Stirring just enough to incorporate the ingredients will keep your muffins light and tender.

Step 5: Make the Cream Cheese Swirl

In a small bowl, beat together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and milk until smooth and creamy. The cream cheese swirl adds a tangy sweetness that complements the spiced pumpkin base.

Step 6: Fill the Muffin Cups

Spoon the pumpkin batter into the prepared muffin tin, filling each cup about halfway. Then, add a spoonful of the cream cheese mixture on top of each muffin. Use a toothpick or skewer to gently swirl the cream cheese into the pumpkin batter, creating a beautiful marbled effect.

Step 7: Bake the Muffins

Place the muffins in the preheated oven and bake for 18–22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. The tops should be golden brown, and the cream cheese should have set into a smooth, swirled pattern.

Step 8: Cool and Serve

Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. These muffins are delicious when served slightly warm, or you can let them cool entirely and enjoy them at room temperature.

Helpful Tips

  • Swirling the Cream Cheese: When swirling the cream cheese into the pumpkin batter, be gentle to maintain a distinct swirl pattern. Overmixing will cause the two batters to blend too much, losing the marble effect.
  • Don’t Overmix the Batter: To keep the muffins light and fluffy, stir the wet and dry ingredients just until they’re combined. Overmixing can lead to tough muffins.
  • Enhance the Flavor: If you prefer a stronger spice flavor, feel free to increase the amount of pumpkin pie spice or add extra cinnamon for a warming, aromatic boost.

Cooking Tips

  • Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Allow your eggs and cream cheese to come to room temperature before mixing. This helps ensure smoother, more evenly mixed batters, resulting in better texture and rise.
  • Evenly Portion the Batter: Use an ice cream scoop or a measuring spoon to ensure each muffin cup gets the same amount of batter. This will help the muffins bake evenly and consistently.
  • Add Crunch: For extra texture and flavor, fold in ½ cup of chopped walnuts or pecans into the pumpkin batter before filling the muffin cups.

Serving Suggestions

These Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins are versatile and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways:

  • Warm Breakfast Treat: Serve the muffins warm with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate for a cozy fall breakfast.
  • Decadent Dessert: For a more indulgent treat, drizzle the muffins with a simple glaze made from powdered sugar and milk.
  • Elegant Dessert Option: Pair these muffins with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra-special dessert.

Nutritional Information (Per Muffin)

This recipe yields about 12 muffins, with each muffin containing approximately:

  • Calories: 280 kcal
  • Fat: 13 g
  • Carbohydrates: 37 g
  • Protein: 4 g
  • Sugar: 22 g
  • Fiber: 1 g

These Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins are not only visually stunning but also incredibly delicious, with the perfect balance of spiced pumpkin and creamy sweetness. They’re an easy fall recipe that you’ll want to make over and over again!