Print

Moist, flavorful pumpkin muffins with a creamy cheesecake-like center and a sweet pecan brown sugar streusel topping.

Ingredients

Scale
  • Cream Cheese Filling: 12 ounces full-fat block cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Streusel Crumb Topping: 2/3 cup raw pecan halves
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 6 tablespoons cold butter, cubed (salted or unsalted)
  • Wet Ingredients: 3 eggs
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 15 oz. can Libby’s pure pumpkin puree (about 1 ¾ heaping cups)
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • Dry Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups (324 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1½ teaspoons baking soda
  • 1½ teaspoons baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • Garnish (Optional): Coarse raw turbinado cane sugar
  • Ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth; freeze until slightly firm (about 20–30 minutes).
  2. Pulse pecans in a food processor about 3 times to chop; add flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon and pulse to combine; add cold cubed butter and pulse until mixture forms small clumps; freeze streusel to chill.
  3. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two muffin tins with 22 liners total and lightly spray liners with nonstick spray.
  4. In a large bowl, whisk eggs gently, then stir in granulated sugar, pumpkin puree, and vegetable oil until combined.
  5. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger.
  6. Fold dry ingredients into pumpkin mixture gently just until combined; avoid overmixing.
  7. Spoon about 1½ tablespoons of pumpkin batter into each muffin liner and spread to cover the bottom evenly.
  8. Add a heaping tablespoon of the chilled cream cheese filling on top of each muffin.
  9. Cover cream cheese filling with remaining batter divided evenly among the cups.
  10. Sprinkle about a heaping tablespoon of chilled streusel topping atop each muffin and press down gently to adhere.
  11. Bake at 350°F for 20 to 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the pumpkin batter away from the cream cheese center comes out clean; adjust baking time if filling is softer.
  12. Cool muffins in the pan for about 5 to 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  13. Optional: Dust muffins with ground cinnamon and turbinado sugar before serving.

Notes

For the cream cheese filling, ensure cream cheese is at room temperature then freeze briefly to achieve a firm but scoopable texture for best results., For measuring flour without a scale, fluff flour, spoon lightly into the measuring cup, and level it off to prevent dense muffins., If using pumpkin puree brands other than Libby’s, blot excess moisture with paper towels to avoid soggy batter., Chill streusel topping before baking to help it hold together and create the perfect crunch., Use room temperature eggs by warming them in warm water before mixing to achieve better batter texture., Avoid overmixing batter to keep muffins tender and light., Check muffin doneness by inserting a toothpick into the batter away from the cream cheese center to prevent false negatives., Store muffins in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–5 days; warm in microwave before serving., Freeze fully cooled muffins wrapped individually or in containers up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the fridge for best texture.

Nutrition