Make a batch of pumpkin cream cheese muffins for a quick, easy, fall-inspired breakfast. Each handheld treat contains fresh pumpkin, bold spices, a creamy filling, and crunchy praline pepitas.
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When the fall season arrives, so do many enticing pumpkin-flavored treats. In particular, the pumpkin cream cheese muffins at Starbucks always catch my eye as I’m ordering apumpkin spice latte. Just like the drink, here is my homemade version of the muffins so that you can bake a big batch for the family to enjoy throughout the week.
一个温柔的南瓜饼,是理想的添加velvety cream cheese mixture and some candied pumpkin seeds. The freshly baked muffins rival coffee shop versions and will save you money by making them at home. Win, win!
Make the pumpkin seed pralines
The tops of the muffins are sprinkled with crunchy, candied pumpkin seeds. This adds extra texture to the surface. It’s delicious! I use pepitas, which are hulled pumpkin seeds that are green in color. To candy them, they cook over medium heat in melted butter and granulated sugar. Once the mixture turns a light golden brown hue and looks glossy, a caramel flavor will emerge in just a few minutes.
This process happens between 320 to 350ºF (160 to 177ºC). Don’t let it get too hot, or it will burn! Cool the candied seed mixture in a single layer on the parchment paper-lined sheet tray. In about 10 minutes, the sugar coating will harden. You can roughly chop it up or sprinkle them whole on the muffins. If you want to skip this step, instead, add the plain pumpkin seeds.
Pumpkin selection
Pumpkin puree is added as the base ingredient, adding a creamy, slightly sweet taste of winter squash. For convenience, use canned pumpkin, also labeled as100% pumpkin. You could also make thepumpkin pureefrom scratch androast the pumpkin seeds对于一个健康的零食。
Skip the canned pumpkin pie filling. It is already sweetened with spices added. It will make the muffins too sugary.
Make the pumpkin muffin batter
I used my trustypumpkin muffin recipeas the base. It’s brimming with flavor, brown sugar for a hint of molasses, and plenty ofpumpkin pie spice. When baked, the aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and allspice fill your home.
A combination ofbaking powder and baking sodaguarantees soft muffins with the sought-after domed top. The dry ingredients mix with pumpkin puree, eggs, sour cream, sugars, and vegetable oil. The bright orange batter is ready to be filled.
Make the cream cheese frosting
When taking a bite into the muffin, getting a part of the tangycream cheese frostingin the middle of the cake is a delicious combination. The filling is a simple combination of softened brick cream cheese, sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and cornstarch.
The starch creates a thicker consistency when baked. All-purpose flour is a good swap if you don’t have cornstarch. Like the Starbucks version, I add about 2 teaspoons of filling per muffin. If you enjoy more cream cheese in the center, double the recipe and the amount added.
How to make pumpkin cream cheese muffins
When the pumpkin muffin batter, cream cheese filling, and praline pumpkin seeds are ready, it’s time to assemble. Use a 12-portion muffin pan, then line it with a muffin cup. I like to double up on the paper liners. Add about ⅓ cup of batter per cup. Use a piping bag to add about 2 teaspoons of filling to the top and center of each muffin.
Sprinkle pumpkin seeds on top of the batter. Don’t place them too close to the edge, as they can burn as the muffins rise and come in contact with the pan. Bake at 350ºF (177ºC) until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean, about 20 minutes. I only let the muffins sit in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack so that they don’t get dried out due to the residual heat.
Serve them with
FAQ
Yes, they are the same ingredient.Pumpkin pureeis made with no added seasoning, just 100% of the cooked and pureed squash that’s been canned. Different brands use different pumpkin varieties, so the taste and color may vary slightly.
No! The filling is pumpkin puree that has already been sweetened with sugar and has added spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. It’s meant to be mixed with eggs and evaporated milk as a shortcut filling for pumpkin pie. Use 100% pumpkin for making muffins and cakes to control the seasoning levels.
Candied pumpkin seeds add a caramelized flavor to the surface and extra crunch to the muffins. You can omit the candying step and sprinkle plain pepitas on top of the muffins.
Checking for doneness of pumpkin muffins
Typically cakes are done baking when they reach about 210ºF (99ºC. However, there will be carryover cooking once removed from the oven. Muffins are mini cakes and can dry out easily. A toothpick is a good way for a visual check, no crumbs should be attached. Use a thermometer for more accurate measurement. The cake should reach between 200 to 205ºF (93 to 96ºC), and the residual heat will gently complete the cooking of the batter.
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
在gredients
Praline Pumpkin Seeds
- 2teaspoonsunsalted butter
- ¼cuppumpkin seeds,or pepitas
- 1tablespoongranulated sugar
- ⅛teaspoonpumpkin pie spice,optional
Pumpkin Muffins
- 1 ⅔cupsall-purpose flour
- 1teaspoonbaking soda
- ½teaspoonbaking powder
- 3 ¼teaspoonspumpkin pie spice
- ½teaspoonkosher salt
- 2largeeggs,room temperature
- 1cupgranulated sugar
- ¼cup红糖,firmly packed
- ½cupvegetable oil
- 1cupcanned pumpkin
- ¼cupwhole milk
- ¼cupsour cream
- 1teaspoonpure vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Filling
- 4ouncescream cheese,softened
- 2tablespoonsgranulated sugar
- ½teaspooncornstarch
- 1teaspoonwhole milk
- ½teaspoonvanilla extract
在structions
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Heat Oven–Set the oven rack to the center position. Preheat to 350ºF (177ºC).
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Make Praline Topping–在a small skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Immediately add the pumpkin seeds and granulated sugar. Cook, constantly stirring, until the sugar is lightly caramelized and glossy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce the heat if browning too quickly. Turn off the heat and stir in the pumpkin pie spice (if using). Transfer to a parchment paper-lined sheet pan and spread into a single layer. Cool entirely until hardened, about 10 minutes. If desired, roughly chop for the topping.
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Prepare Muffin Tin–在a 12-cup muffin pan, add paper liners or grease with cooking spray or vegetable oil.
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Combine Dry Ingredients–在a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Whisk until combined.
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Combine Wet Ingredients–在a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth and pale yellow in color, 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the vegetable oil into the egg mixture until completely mixed, about 30 seconds. Whisk in pumpkin, whole milk, sour cream, and vanilla extract into the egg mixture until smooth, about 30 seconds.
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Make the Batter– Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture. Gently fold the flour mixture until just moistened, making sure to scrape the bottom with some lumps and flour spots remaining. Do not over-mix the batter.
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Portion the Muffins–Evenly divide the muffin batter amongst the cups, about ⅓ cup per muffin.
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Make Cream Cheese Filling– In a medium bow,l whisk together the softened cream cheese, sugar, cornstarch, milk, and vanilla extract. Transfer to a piping bag. Add 2 teaspoons of filling in the center of each muffin. Alternatively, use a spoon to add the filling. Sprinkle the praline pumpkin seeds on top of the muffin batter, leaving space along the edges.
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Bake–Bake until a toothpick inserted on the edges comes out clean or the internal temperature reaches 200 to 205°F (93 to 96ºC), about 20 to 22 minutes. Cool the pumpkin muffins in a pan for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool down.
Equipment
Notes
- Pumpkin Pie Spice Substitute: Combine 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground ginger, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves, ¼ teaspoon ground allspice for muffin batter.
- More Filling:Double the cream cheese filling recipe, adding 4 teaspoons to the center of the muffin instead of 2 teaspoons.
- Cornstarch Substitute:Use 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour.
- Pumpkin Seed Substitute:Plain chopped pumpkin seeds (or pepitas) can be added to the muffins instead of cooking them in sugar. Sunflower seeds, almond, walnuts, and pecans are delicious swaps, or candied nuts.
- Storing:Store in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Reheat in the microwave on high in 5 to 10-second intervals until warm.
- Freezing:在dividually wrap each muffin in plastic wrap. Store in a resealable bag in the freezer for up to 1 month. To warm, wrap the muffin in a paper towel and reheat it in the microwave on medium heat for about 60 to 90 seconds.
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