Easy Gooey Cinnamon Cream Cheese Muffins Recipe That Dazzles

Crisp mornings call for warm, gooey cinnamon cream cheese muffins that melt in your mouth and spark joy.

Sarah stumbled upon this recipe during a cozy weekend baking session.

Soft cream cheese swirls through tender batter, creating pockets of delightful sweetness.

Unexpected hints of warmth from ground cinnamon dance across each delectable bite.

Kitchen counters become magical spaces when these treats emerge from the oven.

Fragrant aromas will drift through your home, tempting everyone nearby.

You cannot resist the promise of these irresistible morning delights.

Prepare to savor every single crumbly, creamy morsel with pure excitement.

What You’ll Need for These Gooey Muffins

Main Ingredients:

Flour Mixture:- All-Purpose Flour, Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Salt: Foundation for soft and fluffy muffin texture, providing structure and rise. Choose unbleached flour for better flavor.

• Ground Cinnamon: Warm, aromatic spice that adds depth and classic bakery flavor to the muffins.

Wet Ingredients:- Buttermilk, Eggs, Vanilla Extract: Creates moisture, richness, and tender crumb. Fresh eggs work best for optimal binding.

• Unsalted Butter, Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and rich, smooth base for the muffin batter. Room temperature butter blends more easily.

Filling and Topping:- Cream Cheese: Adds creamy, tangy center with smooth texture. Full-fat cream cheese recommended for best results.

• Brown Sugar: Brings deep caramel-like sweetness to the crumble topping. Light or dark brown sugar works well.
• Cold Butter: Helps create crumbly, crisp topping texture when mixed with flour and sugar.

How to Bake Cinnamon Muffins with Cream Cheese Centers

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Fire up your oven to 375F (190C). Grab a muffin tin and line it with cute paper wrappers or give it a quick spray of cooking oil.

Step 2: Create Creamy Filling

• Cream cheese
• Sugar
• Vanilla extract

Stir until silky smooth and set aside.

Step 3: Mix Magical Batter

• Flour
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Cinnamon

Whisk these together in a medium bowl.

In a separate large bowl, whisk melted butter and sugar until they’re best friends. Crack eggs one at a time, stirring in vanilla.

Slowly fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, splashing in buttermilk between additions. Stop mixing the second everything looks combined- no angry stirring!

Step 4: Craft Crunchy Topping

• Flour
• Brown sugar
• Cinnamon

Toss in cold butter cubes. Squeeze and crumble with fingers until mixture looks like sandy pebbles.

Step 5: Build Muffin Masterpieces

Pour batter halfway into each muffin cup. Drop a dollop of cream cheese filling right in the center. Cover with more batter until cups are nearly full. Shower each muffin with the crumbly topping.

Step 6: Bake to Perfection

Slide muffin tin into the oven. Bake 18-22 minutes until a toothpick poked near the edge comes out clean. Avoid checking the gooey center!

Step 7: Cool and Celebrate

Let muffins rest in the pan for 5 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack. Devour warm or at room temperature with your favorite beverage!

Tips to Keep the Middle Soft and the Top Golden

• Prevent Cream Cheese Sinking: Dust cream cheese filling with a light coating of flour before adding to muffin batter to help it suspend evenly throughout the muffin.
• Maintain Moisture Perfectly: Use room temperature ingredients to ensure a smooth, well-incorporated batter that results in incredibly tender muffins with a soft crumb.
• Control Overmixing Carefully: Stir the batter just until ingredients are combined- overmixing can create tough, dense muffins instead of light, fluffy ones.
• Maximize Flavor Depth: Add a pinch of ground nutmeg to the crumble topping for an extra warm, aromatic dimension that complements the cinnamon beautifully.
• Store Smart and Fresh: Keep muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days, or refrigerate for up to 5 days to preserve their delicious texture and taste.

Why Gooey Cinnamon Cream Cheese Muffins Are Satisfying

• These muffins transform ordinary mornings into special moments with minimal effort and maximum flavor.
• Swap ingredients like adding nuts or using different extracts allows personalization without complicated technique modifications.
• Kids and adults alike will adore the gooey cream cheese center and sweet cinnamon crumble, making these muffins perfect for family gatherings or weekend brunches.
• Requiring basic kitchen tools and simple mixing steps, these muffins are beginner-friendly and deliver professional-quality results with straightforward preparation.

Store and Reheat Muffins Without Losing Texture

• Store leftover muffins in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days to maintain freshness and prevent spoilage.
• Wrap individual muffins tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months for long-term storage.
• Warm refrigerated or thawed muffins in the microwave for 15-20 seconds or in a preheated 350F oven for 5-7 minutes until heated through.
• Let frozen muffins thaw at room temperature for 1-2 hours before serving for the best texture and taste.

Best Sips and Sides to Serve with Muffins

• Rich, dark roast coffee with nutty undertones complements the sweet cinnamon and creamy texture of these muffins, creating a harmonious morning treat.
• Chai latte or spiced apple cider echoes the cinnamon notes, enhancing the muffins' warmth and providing a cozy drinking experience.
• Late harvest Riesling or moscato offers a delightful sweetness that matches the muffins' rich cream cheese filling, creating a luxurious dessert pairing.
• Chamomile or vanilla rooibos tea provides a gentle, soothing contrast to the muffins' intense flavors, balancing the overall taste profile.

Flavor Upgrades for Your Cinnamon Muffins

Gluten-Free Muffin Magic: Replace wheat flour with a blend of almond and rice flour for a celiac-friendly version that maintains the same rich, creamy texture.

Vegan Cinnamon Dream: Substitute cream cheese with cashew-based cream cheese, use flax eggs instead of regular eggs, and swap buttermilk with almond milk mixed with apple cider vinegar for a plant-based alternative.

Low-Sugar Wellness Option: Use monk fruit sweetener instead of sugar, reduce the amount of sweetener by half, and incorporate whole wheat flour for added fiber and nutrition.

Keto-Friendly Adaptation: Replace traditional flour with coconut or almond flour, use a sugar-free sweetener like erythritol, and add extra cream cheese for higher fat content that fits ketogenic macronutrient requirements.

Got Muffin Questions? Let’s Get Into It

• Can I use low-fat cream cheese for the filling?

Yes, you can substitute regular cream cheese with low-fat cream cheese without significantly altering the recipe’s texture or taste.

• How do I prevent the cream cheese filling from sinking?

Coat the cream cheese filling in a little flour before adding it to the muffin batter. This helps the filling stay suspended in the middle of the muffin during baking.

• What if I don't have buttermilk?

Create a quick buttermilk substitute by mixing regular milk with a tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice. Let it sit for 5 minutes before using in the recipe.

• Can I freeze these muffins?

Yes, these muffins freeze wonderfully. Wrap each muffin individually in plastic wrap, then store in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before enjoying.

Gooey Cinnamon Cream Cheese Muffins Recipe

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4.7 from 18 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Homemade “gooey cinnamon cream cheese muffins” promise pure morning magic with their irresistible swirls of sweet spice and creamy filling. Warm speckled muffins invite breakfast lovers to savor each delightful, tender crumb that melts perfectly on your palate.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (240 milliliters/8 fluid ounces) buttermilk
• 8 ounces (225 grams) cream cheese
• ½ cup (115 grams/4 ounces) unsalted butter

Baking and Spice Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
• ¼ cup (50 grams) brown sugar

Binding and Flavoring Ingredients:

• 2 large eggs
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar (for cream cheese filling)
• ½ cup (65 grams) all-purpose flour (for crumble topping)

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Instructions

1. Prepare the oven environment by heating to 375F (190C) and readying a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or generous grease coating.
2. Create a silky cream cheese mixture by blending cream cheese with sugar and vanilla extract until uniformly smooth, then set aside for later incorporation.
3. Construct the foundational dry mixture by whisking flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a medium mixing vessel.
4. Develop the wet ingredients by thoroughly combining melted butter and sugar until integrated, then gently incorporate eggs one at a time, followed by vanilla extract.
5. Merge the dry and wet ingredients systematically, alternating with buttermilk, ensuring gentle folding to maintain batter integrity without overmixing.
6. Craft the crumble topping by combining flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon, then integrate cold butter using fingertips or pastry cutter until achieving a coarse, textured consistency.
7. Layer the muffin cups by depositing initial batter to half-fill each cavity, then centralize a dollop of cream cheese filling.
8. Complete the muffin assembly by covering cream cheese with additional batter until cups reach approximately three-quarters full.
9. Generously distribute the crumble topping across each muffin’s surface for enhanced textural complexity.
10. Bake in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes, verifying doneness by inserting a toothpick near the muffin’s edge and ensuring it emerges clean.
11. Allow muffins to rest in the pan for five minutes before transferring to a cooling rack, enabling gradual temperature equalization.
12. Serve these decadent muffins warm or at ambient temperature, ideal for accompanying morning beverages or enjoying as a delightful standalone treat.

Notes

• Ensure cream cheese is softened at room temperature for smooth, lump-free filling that blends easily.
• Avoid overmixing batter to keep muffins tender and prevent tough, dense texture; mix just until ingredients are combined.
• Use room temperature eggs for better batter consistency and even mixing with other ingredients.
• For gluten-free option, substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to maintain similar texture and rise.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 305
• Sugar: 20 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 11 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 36 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg