Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins 🎃🧀🧁 Moist, Spiced, and Filled With a Sweet Creamy Center
These bakery-style muffins are soft, tender, and full of pumpkin spice, with a luscious cream cheese filling baked right inside.
They’re perfect for cozy fall mornings or as a crowd-pleasing treat for brunch.
Ingredients (Makes 12 muffins)
For the muffins
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1½ tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- Pinch of cloves (optional)
- ½ cup vegetable oil or melted butter
- 1 cup pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup milk (dairy or non-dairy)
For the cream cheese filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Optional topping
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tbsp cold butter, cubed
Step 1: Preheat oven
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease lightly.
Step 2: Make the cream cheese filling
In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Set aside.
Step 3: Mix dry ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.
Step 4: Mix wet ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together oil, pumpkin purée, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, and milk until smooth.
Step 5: Assemble muffins
Gently fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients until just combined. Fill each muffin cup about ⅓ full with batter, add a heaping teaspoon of cream cheese filling, then top with more batter until cups are about ¾ full.
Step 6: Add optional topping
If using streusel, combine brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and butter in a small bowl, cutting in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over muffins.
Step 7: Bake
Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the muffin (avoiding the cream cheese center) comes out clean.
Step 8: Cool and serve
Let muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Flavor Variations
- Use maple extract in the cream cheese filling for a maple-pumpkin twist
- Add mini chocolate chips to the batter for extra sweetness
- Swap streusel for a cinnamon-sugar topping for a lighter finish
- Mix a little pumpkin spice into the cream cheese filling for double spice
Pro Tips
- Don’t overfill muffin cups — the cream cheese needs space to stay contained
- Use a piping bag for a neater cream cheese layer
- Chill cream cheese filling for 10 minutes before assembling for easier handling
- Store muffins in the refrigerator due to the cream cheese center
Final Thoughts
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins are moist, warmly spiced, and filled with creamy goodness — a bakery-worthy fall favorite you can make at home.
Mix it. Fill it. Bake autumn into every bite. 🎃🧀🧁
🎃 All-Purpose Pumpkin Recipes 🎃
Fall in love with pumpkin all over again! From cozy pies and muffins to cheesecakes, cookies, and savory twists, this collection covers every craving. Whether you’re baking for the holidays or just want a taste of autumn, you’ll find the perfect recipe here.
Explore All Pumpkin Recipes → – Savory and sweet ways to enjoy pumpkin in every meal.
- 🥄 Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix – Homemade spice blend for all your pumpkin treats.
- 🌰 Pumpkin Seeds Recipe – Crunchy, roasted snack with endless seasoning options.
- 🥥 Pumpkin Soup with Coconut Milk – Creamy, lightly sweetened fall soup.
- 🥞 Pumpkin Pancakes – Fluffy and warmly spiced breakfast favorite.
- 🍝 Pumpkin Pasta Sauce – Savory-sweet sauce perfect for fall pasta dishes.
- 🧁 Pumpkin Muffins – Soft, moist muffins for a cozy snack.
- 🌶️ Pumpkin Chili – Hearty, savory chili with a pumpkin twist.
- 🥙 Pumpkin Hummus – Creamy dip with seasonal flavor.
- 🍞 Pumpkin Bread – Classic, moist pumpkin loaf.
🥧 Classic Pumpkin Pies
See All Classic Pumpkin Pies → – Timeless pies for Thanksgiving and beyond.
- 🥧 Traditional Pumpkin Pie – The holiday classic.
- 🥛 Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pie – All the flavor, no dairy.
- 🍁 Maple Pumpkin Pie – Sweetened with pure maple syrup.
- 🥟 Mini Pumpkin Pies – Perfect for parties and portion control.
- 🌾 Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie – Delicious and celiac-friendly.
- 🍫 Chocolate Swirl Pumpkin Pie – Rich chocolate meets creamy pumpkin.
- ❄️ No-Bake Pumpkin Pie – Easy, oven-free dessert.
🍨 Creative Pumpkin Pies
See All Creative Pumpkin Pies → – Unique flavor twists on the classic.
- 🍰 Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie – Creamy cheesecake meets pumpkin pie.
- 🔥 Brûléed Pumpkin Pie – Caramelized sugar topping for extra flair.
- 🍫 Chocolate Ganache Pumpkin Pie – Decadent and rich.
- 🥥 Coconut Pumpkin Pie – Tropical, creamy twist.
- 🍮 No-Bake Pumpkin Mousse Pie – Light, fluffy, and no oven needed.
- 🌰 Pecan Streusel Pumpkin Pie – Sweet and crunchy topping.
- 🍦 Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie – Cold, creamy holiday treat.
- 🥜 Peanut Butter Pumpkin Pie – Nutty, sweet fusion.
🍮 Pumpkin Puddings & Custards
See All Pudding & Custard Recipes → – Creamy, smooth pumpkin desserts.
- 🍮 Pumpkin Pudding – Simple and silky.
- 🍞 Pumpkin Bread Pudding – Cozy, custardy comfort food.
- 🥤 Pumpkin Pie Smoothie – Drinkable pie in a glass.
- 🍨 Pumpkin Mousse – Light and airy.
- 🍮 Pumpkin Custard – Creamy baked goodness.
- 🥧 Pumpkin Pie Dip – Perfect for fruit or cookies.
- 🌱 Pumpkin Chia Pudding – Healthy and satisfying.
- 🔥 Pumpkin Crème Brûlée – Fancy caramelized dessert.
🍞 Pumpkin Breads, Cupcakes & Scones
See All Bread, Cupcake & Scone Recipes → – Bakery-worthy fall treats.
- 🍞 Pumpkin Bread – Moist and spiced.
- 🍫 Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread – Sweet chocolate in every bite.
- 🧁 Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting – Classic fall cupcakes.
- 🥄 Pumpkin Spice Muffins – Warmly spiced and fluffy.
- 🍥 Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Bread – Creamy ribbon through moist bread.
- 🍯 Pumpkin Streusel Muffins – Crunchy topping perfection.
- 🍪 Pumpkin Scones with Maple Glaze – Bakery-style treat.
- 🍩 Glazed Pumpkin Donuts – Soft baked donuts with glaze.
🍰 Pumpkin Cheesecakes
See All Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipes → – Creamy cheesecake with pumpkin spice magic.
- 🍰 Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie – Hybrid of cheesecake and classic pie.
- ❄️ No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake – Creamy and oven-free.
- 🍮 Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake – Beautiful marbled presentation.
- 🧁 Mini Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites – Bite-sized indulgence.
- 🍫 Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars – Creamy cheesecake in bar form.
- 🍪 Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies – Cookie and cheesecake fusion.
- 🌰 Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake – Nutty crunch with creamy filling.
- 🍫 Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake – Deep chocolate meets pumpkin spice.
🍪 Pumpkin Cookies
See All Pumpkin Cookie Recipes → – Soft, chewy, and perfect for fall.
- 🍪 Classic Soft Pumpkin Cookies – Fluffy and spiced.
- 🍫 Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies – Classic combo of sweet and spice.
- 🌰 Chewy Pumpkin Molasses Cookies – Deeply flavored and chewy.
- 🍥 Pumpkin Cream Cheese Sandwich Cookies – Creamy filling between soft cookies.
- 🌾 Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies – Hearty and wholesome.
- 🍯 Frosted Pumpkin Cookies – Sweet icing on top.
- 🌀 Pumpkin Snickerdoodles – Cinnamon-sugar perfection.
- 🍪 Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies – Cookies with cheesecake swirls.
- 🍬 Pumpkin Sugar Cookies – Soft and sweet cut-out style.
📏 Pumpkin Bars
See All Pumpkin Bar Recipes → – Shareable pumpkin squares for any gathering.
- 📏 Pumpkin Bars – Classic pumpkin dessert bars.
- 🥧 Pumpkin Pie Bars – All the pie flavor, easier to serve.
- 🍥 Cream Cheese Pumpkin Bars – Tangy cream cheese layer.
- 🍫 Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars – Cheesecake and pumpkin bar fusion.
🧁 Pumpkin Muffin
See All Pumpkin Muffin Recipes → – Soft, warm, and full of spice.
- 🧁 Pumpkin Muffins – Classic, moist muffins.
- 🍯 Pumpkin Streusel Muffins – Sweet, crunchy topping.
- 🍫 Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins – Chocolate in every bite.
- 🍥 Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins – Creamy surprise inside.
- 🥄 Pumpkin Spice Muffins – Boldly spiced and fluffy.
🍰 Pumpkin Cakes
See All Pumpkin Cake Recipes → – From simple loaves to layered showstoppers.
- 🍰 Pumpkin Cake – Simple and spiced.
- 🥄 Pumpkin Spice Cake – Extra spice for extra flavor.
- 🌀 Pumpkin Roll Cake – Rolled with cream cheese filling.
- 🎂 Pumpkin Layer Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting – Impressive centerpiece dessert.
- 🍩 Pumpkin Bundt Cake – Pretty and perfect for glazing.
- ☕ Pumpkin Coffee Cake – Crumb topping for brunch vibes.
- 🍯 Pumpkin Crunch Cake – Sweet, buttery topping with crunch.