Description
Delight in these moist and flavorful Pumpkin Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Muffins, layered with a creamy cinnamon-spiced cream cheese center and topped with a buttery streusel. Perfectly spiced with pumpkin spice and studded with bittersweet chocolate chips, these muffins offer a delightful combination of textures and seasonal flavors, ideal for breakfast or an indulgent snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Batter
- 4 large eggs
- 1 can pumpkin puree (15 oz / 425 g), 100% pure pumpkin, not pie filling
- 1 cup plain full-fat Greek yogurt (8 oz / 227 g)
- ¼ cup avocado oil (2 fl oz / 60 ml)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)
- 2⅓ cups all-purpose flour (11.5 oz / 325 g), unbleached preferred
- 1¾ cups brown sugar (14 oz / 395 g), light brown suggested
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Pumpkin Spice Mix (blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and other warm spices) as needed
- 2 cups bittersweet chocolate baking chips (12 oz / 340 g), semi-sweet or bittersweet preferred
Cream Cheese Filling
- 16 oz (454 g) cream cheese, softened, full-fat
- ¼ cup granulated sugar (50 g)
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (8 g)
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon milk (15 ml)
Streusel Topping
- 1¼ cups all-purpose flour (about 6 oz / 180 g)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted (4 oz / 113 g)
- ½ cup brown sugar (4 oz / 113 g)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 large egg white
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Muffin Tin: Preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C), ensuring it reaches full temperature before baking. Grease a 24-cup muffin tin or line with paper liners to prevent sticking.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together 4 eggs, 15 oz pumpkin puree, 1 cup Greek yogurt, ¼ cup avocado oil, and 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste until smooth and well combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, stir together 2⅓ cups all-purpose flour, 1¾ cups brown sugar, 2 teaspoons baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, and your desired amount of pumpkin spice mix until evenly distributed.
- Fold Dry Ingredients into Wet: Slowly fold the dry mixture into the wet ingredients, gently stirring to avoid overmixing. A few lumps are acceptable to maintain lightness in the muffins.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Filling: Using a hand or stand mixer, beat 16 oz softened cream cheese, ¼ cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon flour, 1 egg, and 1 tablespoon milk until smooth and creamy with no lumps.
- Make Streusel Topping: In a bowl, mix 1¼ cups flour, ½ cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Stir in ½ cup melted butter and 1 egg white until the mixture is evenly combined. The egg white helps the streusel crisp up during baking.
- Assemble Muffins: Spoon about one-third of the pumpkin batter into each muffin cup. Add a dollop of cream cheese filling in the center of each, then cover with remaining pumpkin batter to enclose the cream cheese. Top each muffin with a generous sprinkle of streusel topping.
- Bake with Temperature Adjustment: Bake the muffins initially at 425°F (218°C) for 6-7 minutes to achieve oven spring, then reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (177°C) and continue baking for approximately 13-14 minutes more, totaling around 20 minutes baking time.
- Check for Doneness: Insert a toothpick into the center of a muffin; it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs but no wet batter. If still too moist, bake for an additional 5 minutes at 350°F (177°C).
- Cool Muffins: Allow muffins to cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This step helps set their structure and enhances the overall flavor.
Notes
- Use full-fat cream cheese and Greek yogurt for the richest texture and flavor.
- Do not overmix the batter to keep muffins tender and fluffy.
- Pumpkin spice can be adjusted to personal taste; a typical mix includes cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger.
- The initial high heat blast helps create the perfect rise, followed by a lower temperature to bake through without burning.
- Ensure cream cheese filling is well mixed and smooth to avoid lumps in the centers.
- Streusel topping adds a delicious crunchy texture and can be customized with nuts or oats if desired.
- These muffins freeze well; wrap individually and thaw before serving.
