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Cozy Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins Easy Recipe with Maple Glaze and Pepitas

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These cozy pumpkin cream cheese muffins feature a soft, tender crumb with a tangy cream cheese swirl, topped with a delicate maple glaze and crunchy pepitas. Perfect for fall mornings and gatherings, they offer a comforting and flavorful treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ¾ cups (220g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (240ml) canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
  • ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (110g) packed light brown sugar
  • ⅓ cup (80ml) vegetable oil (avocado oil preferred)
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 8 ounces (225g) cream cheese, softened
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup (60g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 1–2 tablespoons milk or dairy-free alternative (e.g., almond milk)
  • ⅓ cup (40g) raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds), lightly toasted

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease well. Toast pepitas in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and lightly browned. Set aside to cool.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
  3. In another bowl, whisk pumpkin puree, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
  4. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and gently fold with a rubber spatula until just combined. Do not overmix; some lumps are fine.
  5. In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
  6. Spoon about two tablespoons of pumpkin batter into each muffin cup. Add a teaspoon of cream cheese mixture on top, then add another two tablespoons of pumpkin batter over the cream cheese. Use a butter knife or skewer to gently swirl the cream cheese into the batter to create a marbled effect.
  7. Sprinkle toasted pepitas generously over each muffin.
  8. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center (avoiding the cream cheese swirl) comes out clean.
  9. Let muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  10. Whisk powdered sugar, maple syrup, and 1-2 tablespoons milk until smooth. Drizzle glaze over cooled muffins and let set for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Do not overmix the batter to avoid tough muffins. Use softened but not melted cream cheese for the swirl. Toast pepitas carefully to avoid burning. Add milk slowly to the glaze to achieve the right consistency. If cream cheese swirl is too runny, chill for 15 minutes before swirling.

Nutrition

Keywords: pumpkin muffins, cream cheese swirl, maple glaze, pepitas, fall recipe, easy muffins, cozy breakfast

Find it online: https://recipebelle.com/cozy-pumpkin-cream-cheese-muffins-easy-recipe-with-maple-glaze-and-pepitas/