Like a delicious pumpkin roll, these pumpkin cream cheese muffins combine perfectly spiced pumpkin muffins with cream cheese filling. Top the muffins with brown sugar crumb cake topping and you have an absolutely irresistible pumpkin spice breakfast treat.
I originally published this recipe in 2013 and have since added new photos, a video tutorial, and more success tips.
It’s time to cross something off your fall to-do list: make cream cheese-stuffed pumpkin muffins!
Every year when the weather begins to cool down, I suddenly begin craving all of the season’s comforting flavors. I’m pretty sure I’m not alone here—a pumpkin-spice alarm goes off in all our brains. First, I prepare a batch of homemade pumpkin pie spice. And then one of the first recipes I prepare each year are these pumpkin cheesecake muffins.
One reader, Sam, commented: “I was looking for a Starbucks dupe and this wasn’t it… it was so much better! Moist, fluffy, and absolutely delicious… ★★★★★”
Another reader, Isabel, commented: “Thank you, Sally, for yet another mouthwatering recipe! The house is still filled with the warm scent of pumpkin and spices from baking these pumpkin cream cheese muffins last night. They were the perfect way to welcome the arrival of fall, my favorite season. ★★★★★”
Everything to Love About Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins
- Tastes like dessert for breakfast
- Crave-worthy pumpkin spice flavor
- Lightly sweetened cheesecake filling, similar to the filling from my pumpkin cream cheese Bundt cake
- Easy to transport & share
- Stay moist & soft for days
- Like pumpkin coffee cake and pumpkin swirl cheesecake in 1!!
3 Parts to Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
- Pumpkin Muffins: There’s many different ways to prepare pumpkin muffins. You could leave these muffins completely plain without the cream cheese filling and crumb cake topping and they’ll be similar to my regular pumpkin muffins. You could also try these pumpkin crumb cake muffins or mini cinnamon sugar pumpkin muffins instead.
- Cheesecake Filling: You need 4 simple ingredients for the cream cheese filling. Bring some brick cream cheese to room temperature, then beat it with 1 egg yolk, sugar, and a touch of vanilla extract. The egg yolk helps the cream cheese filling “set” like cheesecake.
- Crumb Topping: You also need 4 ingredients for the crumb topping including flour, melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Make the crumb topping first so it’s ready. It’s nearly the same crumb topping we use for peach muffins in the summertime.
You need 4 mixing bowls: 1 for the muffin’s dry ingredients, 1 for the muffin’s wet ingredients, 1 for the cheesecake filling, and 1 for the crumb cake topping.
Overview: How to Make Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
- Prepare crumb cake topping.
- Prepare pumpkin muffin batter. Use a whisk to bring all the ingredients together.
- Prepare cheesecake filling. You need a mixer for this step.
- Layer the pumpkin batter and cheesecake filling together.
- Add crumb cake topping. Press it down into the tops of each muffin so it sticks.
- Bake. Your kitchen will smell like a pumpkin spice candle!
Which part of these pumpkin cheesecake muffins will you like best? I’m not sure I can play favorites! There’s just so much to love because every layer has a different texture and taste. A moist and flavor-packed tender pumpkin muffin, generously spiced and lightly sweetened with brown sugar. The cheesecake is a tangy, yet sweet ripple of creamy goodness. And the buttery slightly crunchy crumbles on top add the perfect finishing touch.
Not to mention, they taste fantastic for breakfast with a cup of coffee and homemade pumpkin coffee creamer. Fall breakfast bliss!
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 12-14 muffins
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Like a delicious pumpkin roll, these pumpkin cream cheese muffins combine perfectly spiced pumpkin muffins with cream cheese filling. Top the muffins with brown sugar crumb cake topping and you have an absolutely irresistible pumpkin spice breakfast treat.
Ingredients
Crumb Topping
- 1/3 cup (67g) packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup (4 Tbsp; 56g) unsalted butter, melted
- 2/3 cup (84g) all-purpose flour
Pumpkin Muffins
- 1 and 3/4 cups (219g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon store-bought or homemade pumpkin pie spice*
- 1/2 cup (100g) packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 cup (227g) canned pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup (120ml) vegetable oil (or melted coconut oil)
- 1/3 cup (80ml) milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Filling
- 6 ounces (170g) full-fat brick cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 egg yolk, at room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 Tablespoons (36g) granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (218°C). Spray a 12-count muffin pan with nonstick spray or line with cupcake liners. This recipe makes 12-14 muffins, so you may need a 2nd muffin pan or bake this recipe in batches.
- Make the crumb-topping first: Mix the brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter together in a small bowl until combined. Add the flour and use a fork to gently mix until crumbs form. Don’t over-mix into a paste. Just mix until it is crumbly. Set aside.
- Make the pumpkin batter: Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice together in a large bowl. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk the brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, pumpkin, oil, milk, and vanilla extract together. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk or stir until just combined. Avoid over-mixing.
- Make the cheesecake filling: Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese in a medium bowl on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy. Beat in the egg yolk, vanilla extract, and sugar until combined.
- Spoon 1 heaping Tablespoon of pumpkin muffin batter into the muffin cups. Layer with about 1 spoonful (not quite a full Tablespoon) of cheesecake filling, then another heaping Tablespoon of muffin batter—or however much batter is needed to fill the cups all the way to the top. Some cheesecake filling may poke out of the top or on the sides. Sprinkle crumb topping onto each, then press it down into the tops of the muffins to help prevent it from falling off as the muffins bake.
- Bake for 5 minutes 425°F (218°C) then, keeping the muffins in the oven, reduce heat to 350°F (177°C)* and continue baking for another 15-17 minutes. The total time these muffins should be in the oven is around 20-22 minutes. Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes in the pan before serving.
- Cover leftover muffins tightly and store at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Notes
- Freezing Instructions: For longer storage, freeze the muffins for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then heat up in the microwave if desired.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): 12-count Muffin Pan | Cupcake Liners | Glass Mixing Bowls | Whisk | Electric Mixer (Handheld or Stand)
- Pumpkin Pie Spice: You can find pumpkin pie spice in the baking aisle of most grocery stores or make your own homemade pumpkin pie spice. If you don’t have either and want to use individual spices, use 1/4 teaspoon each: ground ginger, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, and ground allspice. This is in addition to the 2 teaspoons of cinnamon—you will still add that.
- Why the initial high oven temperature? Like I do for most muffin recipes, bake the muffins for 5 minutes at a very hot temperature. Then, keeping the muffins in the oven, switch to a lower temperature for the remaining bake time. This initial high temperature will quickly lift the muffin tops so they’re extra high, then the centers will bake during the lower temperature bake time. This trick makes beautiful bakery-style muffins every time.
Reader Comments and Reviews
I combined your two recipes, this one and the crumb topped pumpkin muffins and our family LOVED them. I have to say, they are even better the next day or 2. However, long they last. These would be freeze great as well. Hubby would like mini chocolate chips mixed with the cream cheese OR nuts/raisins with the muffin part. This made 12 gorgeous high topped muffins. No, these are not super sweet, just perfect, like pumpkin bread.
So, by combining the two recipes I used the following measurements:
CRUMB TOPPING:
1/4 c. white sugar
1/4 c. brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
6 Tbls butter, melted
3/4 c. all purpose flour
MUFFFINS:
1-3/4 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 c white sugar
1 can (1-1/2 c) pure pumpkin puree
1/4 c milk
1.2 c vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla
CREAM CHEESE FILLING (as written)
6 oz cream cheese, softened
1 egg yolk, room temperature
1/2 tsp vanilla
3 Tbls sugar
I have half and half, and almond milk. Will either be ok in this recipe?
Hi Mary, almond milk will be your best best.
I have to tell you that this muffin recipe was off the charts yummy! In my experience when people give me hugs after taking a bite of food that I have prepared then I know it is a success and these muffins got me alot of hugs! Seriously my only advice is to double this recipe because a dozen is not enough.
Thank you too for so may wonderful recipes. Today in fact I am making your Black Forest Gateau,
I make it every year for my brother for his birthday. I appreciate your attention to detail, the fact that you include suggestions for substitutions and tips of what works and what doesn’t. The tip of starting muffins off in a 425 oven and then lowering to 350 is spot on. I have never gotten such a crown on muffins. Thaks again…
Noel
Thank you so much! (And I agree… doubling this recipe is always a good idea. 😉 )
Hi Sally,
I love these muffins so much! But I always have a problem with making the crumb topping! No matter how little I mix it it becomes a paste. I use the correct amount of all ingredients but it feels like there’s too much butter or the butter is too hot or something, do you recommend using cooled melted butter? Or adding more flour in if it becomes a paste?
Hi Mackenzie, if it’s not over-mixing that is causing this, you could try letting your melted butter cool a bit before adding it, but don’t let it cool so much that it re-solidifies. Also, how are you measuring the flour? Are you spooning + leveling, or weighing?
Wow another fabulous recipe. I rushed through the directions, Placed some of the ingredients in the wrong bowls, and they still turned out absolutely delicious. I can’t wait to see how they are when I make the recipe the correct way! I’m not sure why some comments said they aren’t sweet enough, it’s just the right balance of pumpkin, spices, and sweetness. Kudos to another delicious recipe Sally thank you! I’ll definitely be making them again! The biggest problem is figuring out how not to eat all of them before I take them to work for my coworkers lol!
I loved this recipe but when it was done, the cheesecake portion disappeared. What went wrong?
Hi Pamela! Did you use full fat black-style cream cheese? Using anything else will have a higher water content and could disappear into the muffin.
I tried the recipe this morning just as written. They came out delicious and just as pictured. Tasted great, not too sweet, crumbs stayed in place because you told us to press them on top. Best of all, they went wonderfully with your Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer in my coffee.
Amazing! So fluffy and moist!
I love this recipe! Literally everyone I have given a muffin too has said it’s the best muffin they’ve ever tasted. Even those who said they don’t like sweet things have told me it’s the best thing they’ve ever tasted! I usually add the maple glaze from a different pumpkin muffin recipe you have and it makes the muffin even better!
Just tried these…SO delicious!! Baking @450 for five minutes really did make the tops rise a bit which is a great trick!! I reduced the two sugars by 1/3 cup each and they were still sweet enough.
Thanks for sharing!
Could I swap the flour for a 1:1 gluten-free flour mix?
Hi Cait! We haven’t tested it, but some readers have reported success using 1:1 flour substitutes (like Cup4Cup). If you try it, let us know how it goes!
I loved this recipe and it was very easy and straightforward to follow. I didn’t have a question about testing for doneness since you didn’t indicate what to look for to indicate doneness. Usually I would poke a toothpick but the cheesecake mixture was making it challenging so I ended up poking only on the top part of the muffin and also pressing on it to make sure it bounced back. It might be helpful to add this info?
Oh my sweet goodness, these were delicious! Made them for a family brunch and they were a hit. Perfect addition for our early Fall brunch with Ina Garten’s roasted vegetable frittata. Sally thank you for delivering the best recipes to find take any meal over the top!
Another hit! No surprise!
Can these be done without the pumpkin, so just as a regular cream cheese muffin ? If so, what would be measurements?
Hi Darne, you could try swapping the pumpkin with applesauce, but we fear they may taste a bit rubbery. Or, you may enjoy these cream cheese zucchini muffins (can’t taste the zucchini!) or strawberry cheesecake muffins instead.
Not sweet at all and not much flavor. Streusel topping is a mess. It falls all over putting it on and taking out of tins and mess to eat.
Hi Sally! I wonder if this cream cheese mixture would work in other muffin recipes, e.g., with lemon muffins, or blueberry. I’m not a big fan of pumpkin but have been looking for recipe for lemone cream cheese muffins ever since I found one at a bakery. Thanks!
Can’t see why not! We also have a recipe for cream cheese zucchini muffins. Let us know if you give it a try with lemon!
Hello Sally,
I recently made the Blueberry Muffins with the walnut brown sugar topping. Those were a 12/10 btw!!! It got me thinking about the fall and how a pumpkin muffin would be good, and of course you had a recipe for it! I felt like the walnuts were a huge success in the blueberry muffins and wanted to know if I could add chopped pecans to the topping of this pumpkin cream cheese muffin, or if you think that would mess up the recipe.
Thank you,
Will be trying this come fall! Your blueberry muffins were, “FIRE”!!! I looked through quite a few blueberry muffin recipes and after reading a few I knew yours were the best on the internet.
Mike C
Hi Mike, we can’t see why not! Nuts would be a delicious addition to the topping. Let us know how it goes and thanks so much for making and trusting our recipes!
Hi Sally,
Could I add oats to this recipe to make it more of a breakfast-y muffin? If so, how much would you recommend? Would you reduce the amount of flour?
Thank you so much!
Hi Brianna, we haven’t tried oats in these, but you may love our pumpkin baked oatmeal cups.
This was the first recipe I made from this site. Just made these again and they’re incredible. This time I did add the maple glaze from your maple cinnamon roll recipe. Takes some time to make these, but worth it! Next time I’ll try it in a 9×5 loaf pan. Thanks for so many great recipes!
I’ve made these muffins a few times now and every batch has come out great! Always a family favourite. Do you think this recipe would work if I wanted to make mini muffins?
Hi Pav, definitely! For mini muffins, bake at 350 degrees (the entire time) for about 12-14 minutes, give or take. Keep a close eye on them and use a toothpick to test for doneness.
I absolutely love all of Sally’s recipes, they are the only ones that I use for baking. This one absolutely hit it out of the park, I have had such positive feedback leaving everyone wanting more when I made these muffins!!! Highly recommend making these coming from a baker!!!
Have you ever baked this as a cake?
Hi Saloni! You could bake this muffin batter in a 9×5 loaf pan, but for a cake we recommend our pumpkin cake recipe instead!
These were exactly what my Halloween morning needed! My first reaction was that they weren’t too sweet. Great balance of the cheesecake and pumpkin. I used buttermilk to get a moister muffin.
While I did use canned pumpkin puree, I wanted to know if using fresh pumpkin does the recipe need any modification? I much prefer roasting and pureeing pumpkins this time of year.
Hi Lori, you can use fresh puree here with no other changes needed. So glad you enjoyed these muffins!
Would this work as a bread instead of individual muffins?
Absolutely! We recommend a 9×5 inch loaf pan. The bake time will be longer. Use a toothpick to test for doneness.
I have leftover cream cheese frosting – think that would work in place of the cream cheese filing in the recipe?
Hi Jocelyn, we don’t recommend that swap, the frosting will likely melt into the muffins instead of staying in a nice creamy layer in the muffins. But you could always make plain pumpkin muffins and add cream cheese frosting on top after baking!
Is it possible to use jumbo muffins cups? If so, approximately the baking time?
Hi Brenda, absolutely! We’re unsure of the exact bake time, but should be about the same as these jumbo blueberry muffins.
Could I use softened butter instead of melted butter for crumb topping? ( like on a crumb top apple pie?)
Btw; so far I’ve loved all the recipes I’ve tried from you! Thank you so much!!
Hi Joann, I wouldn’t use softened butter because that could create more of a paste than a crumble. You could try using cold and cubed butter and cut it in using a pastry cutter though. (That’s how we make the topping for Pumpkin French Toast Casserole.)
Can I use melted browned better instead of oil
Hi Luke, for absolute best results, we recommend sticking with oil in this recipe.
Hi Sally,
I made this recipe and it came out exactly like those pictures above, the only thing that I would change is the sweetness of the cupcake itself. I would increase the amount of sugar a bit more.
I will absolutely make these again. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
– Ariel
I wish I had read this before I baked them because I think they need a bit more sweetness too. I think I’ll add a glaze to mine.
They’re muffins not cupcakes, they are to be enjoyed with coffee. It’s not supposed to be sweeter than what the recipe calls out for.
These turned out so lovely! Moist, the perfect amount of sweet, and that satisfying crumble texture. Followed the recipe exactly. I’d say prep was a bit longer than 20 minutes, but no big deal.
I bought pumpkin pie filling instead of purée. Will that work?
Hi Vicki, pumpkin pie filling contains extra ingredients and sweeteners and is also a different consistency than pumpkin puree. It’s best to wait until you can purchase pumpkin puree, otherwise the taste and texture will be compromised.
@Vicki Accidentally bought pumpkin pie filling instead of regular (sugar and spice-less) canned pumpkin. Didn’t change the baking instructions at all and they came out perfectly! Coworkers said they were amazing and just the right amount of sweetness.