Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins

Ingredients

For the Pumpkin Muffins:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp ground cloves

1/4 tsp ground ginger

2 large eggs

1 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Cream Cheese Swirl:

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg yolk

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat the Oven:

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease with nonstick spray.

Mix Dry Ingredients:

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger.

Combine Wet Ingredients:

In another bowl, whisk together eggs, pumpkin puree, vegetable oil, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and well blended.

Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures:

Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix to keep the muffins tender.

Prepare the Cream Cheese Swirl:

In a small bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.

Fill Muffin Cups:

Fill each muffin cup about two-thirds full with the pumpkin batter.

Add a small spoonful of the cream cheese mixture on top of each muffin.

Use a toothpick or skewer to gently swirl the cream cheese into the pumpkin batter.

Bake:

Bake the muffins for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Cool:

Allow the muffins to cool in the tin for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips:

Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Bring to room temperature or warm slightly before serving.

Freezing: Freeze cooled muffins for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and enjoy!

Customizations: Add a handful of chopped pecans or walnuts to the batter for extra texture.

Enjoy the cozy taste of fall with these irresistible Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins!