These Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins are perfectly spiced, moist, and have a sweet cream cheese filling inside. Topped with a pumpkin praline topping this easy Starbucks copycat recipe is a fall favorite!
We love all the Starbucks baked goods so much that we recreate them at home like our Lemon Pound Cake, Raspberry Swirl Pound Cake, and Lemon Poppy Seed Bread.
These muffins taste just like the Pumpkin Muffins you can buy at Starbucks! They make a great snack or quick breakfast with a big steaming cup of Pumpkin Spice Latte – Fall here we come!
These fluffy and moist muffins have just the right amount of pumpkin pie spice and are filled with a sweet cream cheese filling that peaks out of the muffin and adds velvety flavor to every bite. They even have pumpkin praline on top just like the original!
Ingredient Notes
- Cream cheese – For the best taste use full fat cream cheese. Using block cream cheese makes the filling smoother and velvety. Don’t use whipped cream cheese!
- Pumpkin pie spice – Instead of using premade pumpkin pie spice, you can also make your own by combining 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, and 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice.
- Pumpkin seeds – The praline is made with chopped pumpkin seeds but you could also use chopped pecans or walnuts.
- Butter – I recommend using unsalted butter especially if you are sensitive to salt. The butter should have room temperature so taking it out of the fridge an hour before you need it is recommended.
- Pumpkin puree – You need 1 can of pumpkin puree for this recipe. Don’t use pumpkin filling! If you want to use homemade puree use 1 3/4 cups.
How to make this recipe
- Roast seeds: Roast the pumpkin seeds in some melted butter in a skillet, then add brown sugar and caramelize the seeds.
- Make topping: Combine the caramelized pumpkin seeds with brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice.
- Make the filling: To make the filling, soften the cream cheese, add the sugar and vanilla extract and whisk until smooth.
- Prep muffin batter: Make the pumpkin muffins by combining the dry ingredients in a bowl and the wet ingredients in another bowl. Then add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Fill and Bake (image below): Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin pan, sprinkle with the topping, and then fill with cream cheese.
Expert Tips
- Use muffin liners for this recipe!
- A 15 oz can of pumpkin puree equals nearly 2 cups. It’s 2 1/2 tablespoons short of 2 cups.
- Don’t over-mix the batter after adding the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients!
- If you don’t have piping bags, a small cookie scoop works too for adding the cream cheese filling to the batter.
- Fill the muffin cups all the way to the top with batter, then add the filling. This way you get bakery-style muffins!
- The pumpkin praline topping is optional, but it adds crunch and flavor.
- Make sure to press the filling into the batter by dipping the tip of the piping bag about 2/3 into the batter and then slowly releasing the filling while pulling out.
- Don’t let the muffins cool in the pan! Carefully twist them out of the pan after 10 minutes and transfer them to a cooling rack.
Recipe FAQ
The fastest way to soften a block of cream cheese is in the microwave on low power. Depending on your microwave this takes about 30 seconds.
A 15-ounce can of canned pumpkin holds a little bit less than 2 cups of pumpkin puree. It is 2 1/2 tablespoons short of 2 cups.
These muffins should be stored in the refrigerator because of the cream cheese filling.
Serving and Storing Leftovers
Serve – Serve these muffins at room temperature. If stored in the fridge take them out at least 10 minutes before serving for the best taste.
Store – These muffins should be stored in the refrigerator because of the cream cheese filling. They keep for 3-4 days.
Freeze – I don’t recommend freezing these muffins because the texture of the cream cheese filling can change during thawing.
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Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
Ingredients
Cream Cheese Filling:
- 8 oz block cream cheese
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Pumpkin Praline Topping:
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar, divided
- ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds, chopped
Pumpkin Muffins:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 15 oz. can pumpkin puree
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 420F (215C) and line a 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners.
- To make the filling: Microwave cream cheese in a microwave-safe bowl on low power for 30 seconds. Add the sugar and vanilla extract and whisk until smooth. Transfer to a piping bag (without a tip) and set aside.
- To make the pumpkin praline topping: In a small bowl combine 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice and 1 Tbsp brown sugar. Set aside. Melt butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add pumpkin seeds and cook for 2-3 minutes, then add remaining brown sugar and cook for 1-2 minutes stirring constantly until caramelized. Transfer caramelized pumpkin seeds to brown sugar mixture and stir to combine. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl combine flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and pumpkin spice. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment combine softened butter and sugar, beat at medium speed for 1 minute. Add eggs and beat for 2 minutes at high speed. Reduce speed to low, add pumpkin puree and mix until combined.
- Add the flour mixture to the bowl and beat until just combined.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin pan, filling the cups all the way to the top. Sprinkle with Pumpkin Praline Topping. Cut off the tip of the piping bag and press about 2-3 Tbsp of cream cheese filling into the batter (see image above).
- Bake for 5 minutes at 420F (215C), then keeping the muffins in the oven, lower the oven temperature to 350F (180C) and bake for about 20 more minutes, or until the muffins are golden on top.
- Transfer the pan to a cooling rack and let the muffins cool for 5-10 minutes. Remove the muffins from the pan and let cool to room temperature on the rack.
Notes
- Use muffin liners for this recipe!
- A 15 oz can of pumpkin puree equals nearly 2 cups. It’s 2 1/2 tablespoons short of 2 cups.
- Don’t over-mix the batter after adding the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients!
- If you don’t have piping bags, a small cookie scoop works too for adding the cream cheese filling to the batter.
- Fill the muffin cups all the way to the top with batter, then add the filling. This way you get bakery-style muffins!
- The pumpkin praline topping is optional, but it adds crunch and flavor.
- Make sure to press the filling into the batter by dipping the tip of the piping bag about 2/3 into the batter and then slowly releasing the filling while pulling out.
- Don’t let the muffins cool in the pan! Carefully twist them out of the pan after 10 minutes and transfer them to a cooling rack.
Jessica says
I made these and they are so good! Even better than Starbucks! This one’s going in my recipe collection for sure! Thank you for sharing.
Alicia says
These taste so good but my cream cheese is sinking in on some but not others and I did use the block cream cheese!
Eszter says
I followed the recipe exactly and the pumpkin cream cheese muffins turned out heavenly! Like others have also pointed out, these taste even better than the Starbucks version. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Maggie says
100% the best copycat recipe I’ve found for the Starbucks muffins!!! (And I’ve tried many copycats) They are delicious!
E Brown says
So yummy! New family favorite! This recipe will be replacing my usual pumpkin muffin recipe. Muffin is very light and moist with perfect balance of pumpkin and spice. Everyone loved it!
Maria Mifsud says
I followed recipe rxactly but when baked and cooled, cream cheese mixture sunk down leaving a hole at the top. Any ideas on what might have happened pls? Still delicious though
Julia Foerster says
I’m glad that they are still delicious, Maria. Did you use cream cheese that comes in a block or did you use a softer, spreadable cream cheese that comes in a tub? If you use spreadable cream cheese the filling will deflate a lot after baking because it has a higher moisture content. This recipe works best with block-style cream cheese.
Maria Mifsud says
Yes, thank you! That is what I did, unfortunately block cheese is not available in my area and I used the spreadable kind from tub. Unfortunately I have bought about six tubs to triple batch recipe for a church cake sale soon. I will try doubling the amount of cream cheese mixture and hoping I will have better results.
Julia Foerster says
What you can also do is let the cream cheese sit in a colander lined with cheesecloth for a few hours. This way the excess moisture can drip off. When I was living in Germany I had the same problem, I found that the no-name cream cheeses from stores like Norma or Lidl often had less moisture than Philadelphia cream cheese. Hope this helps!
Maria Mifsud says
Thank you so much!! We do have lidl so will check it out!!! Many many thanks!!
MJ says
I was in a swoon over the Starbucks Pumpkin muffin, and it was all I could talk about. One of my friends searched the recipe and gave me this. It’s spot on! I made mini muffins. After baking at 420 for 5 minutes, I turned the oven down to 350 as the recipe calls for, but then baked at 350 for only 10 minutes. Tested with a toothpick. These are going to a party tonight! Mini muffins spread the love! Thank you!
Amy P. says
Made these last night and they were delicious! They’re not dense at all- they’re very light. Honestly, I believe they’re better than Starbucks’ version. Will definitely have to make them again. Thank you for sharing this recipe with everyone!
nataly says
super easy recipe to follow and they came out great!
Lindsey says
WOW these muffins are so good!! I actually think they taste better than the Starbucks version! I used a jumbo muffin tin. They just needed to be cooked a little longer. I also added oats to the topping. I cut the sugar down to 1 cup because I like things less sweet. Omg these aren’t going to last in my house! They are pretty too, would be a great muffin to make for someone. Thanks for a great recipe!
Sam says
Can this be pan in a pan? Like a small sheet cake to be cut into squares perhaps. Not looking for a dense pumpkin bread texture but a fluffy cake/muffin texture and these would be perfect. Please suggest time and size of dish.
Julia Foerster says
Sorry, Sam, I haven’t tested this recipe in any other pan than a muffin pan so I’m not sure if it works as a sheet cake.
Munique says
Wowzers ! Starbucks got nothing on these :) simply perfection in a muffin … I’m left without words after eating this muffin, a must have for fall ! Thanks for the recipe!!!
Kate says
I tried this recipe and swapped for gluten free flour – absolutely DELICIOUS! 10/10
Rebekah says
Do you think that pecans could replace the pumpkin seeds in this recipe and work just as well? Thank you.
Julia Foerster says
Yes, that should work!