Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins

Fall is all about baking cozy desserts, isn’t it? When temperature starts to
drop, it’s time to preheat the oven for pumpkin pies, muffins, and apple
tarts.

 Fall flavors like pumpkin, maple, apple, and cinnamon make these autumnal treats one of our favorites.
Today, I’m here with a new fall recipe that makes a perfect start for your
day. Featuring the delicious flavors of fall and a creamy cream cheese swirl,
these Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins are a must-try! Don’t forget to double the batch because these gems won’t last long!

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A Feel Good Fall Dessert

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I can’t tell you how happy I am that fall has arrived! The leaves are falling and crunching under my feet on the sidewalk, and the mountains are turning all kinds of gorgeous shades of red, yellow, and orange.

Aside from the beauty of autumn, I’m enjoying all of the pumpkin recipes I’ve been making recently: Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies, No-Bake Pumpkin Spice Energy Bites, No-Bake Pumpkin Lasagna Dessert, Sheet Pan Pumpkin Pancakes, and Special Baked Pumpkin Spice Donuts, and I have another delectable recipe for you today: these Pumpkin Muffins with a Cheesecake Swirl!!

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What Makes these Pumpkin Cheese Swirl Muffins Special?

It is hard to resist a muffin packed with pumpkin spice and a rich swirl of cream cheese. A tried and true recipe, I hope you enjoy it too as much
as I do!

Whether you’re a pumpkin fan or just looking for the best pumpkin muffins
ever, these Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins will not disappoint.

This muffin’s base is an extra moist pumpkin muffin made with the pumpkin
puree. When they are baked, we top them with a thick swirl of sweet cream
cheese that melts right into the top. It’s almost like a muffins that frosts
itself!
Moreover, these pumpkin muffins have few calories and
only take less than 30 minutes to bake! WAY lighter than muffins from coffee shops or bakeries.

Another thing to love about this recipe is that we use an entire can of pumpkin, so you’re not left with pumpkin puree leftovers.

And the best part? Your kids will love decorating and frosting their own pumpkin cream cheese muffins!

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Ultra-moist and Decadent Muffins

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Pumpkin Cheese Swirl Muffins Ingredients

• Flour: You will need all purpose flour.

• Cream cheese : Adds a rich, creamy, and slightly tangy flavor to our muffins. Mascarpone cheese can also be used.

• Pumpkin spice: Also known as “pumpkin pie spice,” can be found in the spice section of your local supermarket. Or follow my instructions below to make your own!

• Pumpkin puree: Also known as “canned pumpkin,” this can usually be found in the baking aisle of your grocery store (be careful not to grab the pumpkin pie filling by mistake).

• Brown sugar: Adds a deep, caramel-like flavor to our muffins. If you don’t have brown sugar, you can use coconut brown sugar.

• Eggs: Eggs allow us to incorporate more air into our muffins, resulting in a light and fluffy texture. Make sure your eggs are sitting at room temperature.

• Baking Soda: Baking soda is the leavening agent that will make your muffins rise beautifully.

• Honey: You will need honey for the muffin batter and the cream cheese filling. if you don’t have honey, you can use granulated sugar or maple syrup.

• Oil: You can use vegetable oil, coconut oil, or avocado oil.

• Salt: Add a dash of salt to balance the flavors.

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A Delicious Pumpkin Treat

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

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A Crowd Pleaser!

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Variations and Substitutions

• Dairy-free: Use plant-based cream cheese.
• Vegan: Replace the eggs with 2 flax eggs (to make a flax egg, combine tablespoon ground flax seed with 3 tablespoons water). Add a few tablespoons of water Allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes until it becomes gelatinous.) Also, use plant-based cream cheese.
• Gluten-free: To make gluten-free, use all-purpose gluten-free flour (1:1 ratio).
• Chocolatey: Add some chocolate chips to make your own chocolate chip pumpkin muffins.

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Top Tips

• Use canned pumpkin (often labeled pure pumpkin puree) for this recipe, which contains only pumpkin. Pumpkin pie filling is a different ingredient that includes sweetener and spices.
• Storage: Store your pumpkin cheesecake muffins in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Freezing: To freeze, wrap each completely cooled muffin in foil and place in a freezer bag. Muffins can be frozen for up to three months.
• Make your own homemade pumpkin spice if you don’t have any on hand!
• These muffins can be made sugar free by substituting honey for sugar free maple syrup and brown sugar for a sugar free form.

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Steps to Prep Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins

First, preheat the oven at 350°F. In a large bowl combine the dry ingredients, white flour, pumpkin spice, baking soda and salt.  

Next, add the wet ingredients, honey, brown sugar, pumpkin purée, eggs, coconut oil, and vanilla extract to the flour mixture.  Mix until very well combined.

Then, In a medium bowl mix together the softened room temperature cream cheese, honey and vanilla extract. 

After that, Scoop about 1/4 cup batter into oil sprayed cupcake liners or muffin tin.  I used large cupcake liners which made 8 big cupcakes but this recipe will make about 16 regular sized cup cakes.  

Now, heat the softened cream cheese mixture for 15 seconds in the microwave, then scoop in the center of each pumpkin batter about 1/2 tablespoon of cream cheese mixture. Using a toothpick, gently swirl around the top of each muffin.

Finally, place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake muffins for 18-20 minutes. Enjoy!

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Other Fall Recipes You Must Try:

• Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
• No-Bake, Pumpkin Spice Energy Bites
• No Bake Pumpkin Lasagna Dessert
• Sheet Pan Pumpkin Pancakes
• Special Baked Pumpkin Spice Donuts
• No Bake Marshmallow Crunch Cookies
• Dalgona Coffee
• Caramel Spice White Hot Chocolate
• Healthy Coconut Macaroons
• Double Chocolate Banana Bread Recipe

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