Here at Delish, we believe in the supremacy of cream cheese-filled baked goods, and these Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins are no exception. Classic pumpkin muffins are the perfect fall treat to ring in the changing leaves and cozy weather, with plenty of festive pumpkin flavor and warming spices. But, the swirl of cheesecake batter added to these decadent muffins offers a tangy balance to the sweet pumpkin cake. These are so easy to prepare, we’ll be enjoying them every morning this fall — and you should too!
Why the cream cheese?
A surefire way to make a baked good better is to add cream cheese to it. Adding an egg yolk to a cream cheese filling — like we did here — helps it “soufflé” a bit in the oven, just like cheesecake. Whether it’s banana bread, brownies, or pineapple upside-down cake, adding a cheesecake-inspired filling takes things to the next level of deliciousness.
When should I serve these?
These muffins are perfect served at brunch, as an afternoon snack or even as an easy dessert from September through November (or, who are we kidding, all year long). Double down on the fall vibes with a homemade pumpkin spice latte or spiced apple cider.
Can I use add anything else?
We went with cinnamon in the batter rather than pumpkin spice, but if you have that on hand and want to amp up the pumpkin vibes, swap it in instead. If you want to upgrade these to something even more decadent, top the swirl of cream cheese with a sprinkle of streusel! If you’re going that direction, use the crumb topping from these apple cinnamon muffins.
Made these fall treats? Let us know how it went in the comments below?