×
  • Home
  • Daily
    • Buyers Guides
    • Composting
    • Container Gardening
    • Easy Healthy Recipes
    • Food Preservation
    • Garden Design
    • Garden Tools
    • Gardening LIfe
      • Animals in the Garden
      • Funny Business
      • Gardening History
      • Gardening Humor
      • Gardening Mishaps
      • Gardening Poems
      • Gardening Romance
      • Gardening Science
      • Gardening with Kids
      • Healing Gardens
      • Joy of Gardening
      • Mystical Gardens
      • Ornamental Gardening
    • Growing Fruits & Berries
    • Indoor Gardening
    • Pests & Diseases
    • Seeds & Seedlings
    • Soil & Fertilizer
    • Spice & Herb Gardening
    • Vegetable Gardening
    • Watering & Irrigation
  • Freebies
  • Videos
  • Magazines
    • Food Gardening Magazine
    • GreenPrints Magazine
    • RecipeLion Magazine
  • Books
    • GuideBooks
    • Cookbooks
      • Beverages
      • Bakery
      • Breakfast
      • Appetizers
      • Salads & Dressings
      • Soups
      • Entrées
      • Side Dishes & Sauces
      • Desserts
    • Story Collections
    • StoryBooks
    • Recipe Collections
  • Kits
    • Garden Calendars
    • Garden Plans
    • Recipe Cards
    • Greeting Cards
    • ArtPrints
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Affiliate Program
  • Sponsor Program
  • Give a Gift
  • Privacy Policy & Terms of Use
  • Authors
  • GreenPrints Writer’s Guidelines
  • Keyword Index
  • Join
Celebrating 5 Years of Food Gardening

Food Gardening Network

Growing food, fun & more

Give a GiftJoin
Mequoda Publishing Network
  • Daily
    • Buyers Guides
    • Composting
    • Container Gardening
    • Easy Healthy Recipes
    • Food Preservation
    • Garden Design
    • Garden Tools
    • Gardening Life
      • Animals in the Garden
      • Funny Business
      • Gardening History
      • Gardening Humor
      • Gardening Mishaps
      • Gardening Poems
      • Gardening Romance
      • Gardening Science
      • Gardening with Kids
      • Healing Gardens
      • Joy of Gardening
      • Mystical Gardens
      • Ornamental Gardening
    • Growing Fruits & Berries
    • Indoor Gardening
    • Pests & Diseases
    • Seeds & Seedlings
    • Soil & Fertilizer
    • Spice & Herb Gardening
    • Vegetable Gardening
    • Watering & Irrigation
  • Freebies
  • Videos
  • Magazines
    • Food Gardening Magazine
    • GreenPrints Magazine
    • RecipeLion Magazine
  • Books
    • GuideBooks
    • Cookbooks
      • Beverages
      • Bakery
      • Breakfast
      • Appetizers
      • Salads & Dressings
      • Soups
      • Entrées
      • Side Dishes & Sauces
      • Desserts
    • Story Collections
    • StoryBooks
    • Recipe Collections
  • Kits
    • Garden Calendars
    • Garden Plans
    • Recipe Cards
    • Greeting Cards
    • ArtPrints
  • Sign In
  • Search

Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese Surprise

Cookbook: Bakery

arrow-left Previous
Next arrow-right

Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese Surprise

Pumpkin muffins with cream cheese frosting are an annual favorite. But these have a sweet surprise—cream cheese frosting inside!

By Bill Dugan, Executive Editor

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
Pumpkin muffins with cream cheese surprise.

Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese Surprise

If you’re planning to host a big fall or winter family gathering and want to add a special twist to a classic recipe, these Pumpkin Muffins with cream cheese filling are sure to give your guests a scrumptious surprise!

Often, pumpkin cupcakes are the ones served with cream cheese frosting on top, which makes a creamy filling more sensible for muffins. Unbeknownst to many, there are some distinct differences between muffins and cupcakes even if they seem to be quite similar in many ways. One of those differences is their texture. Cupcakes are softer and lighter, making them easy to bite into. Because of their soft texture, they don’t usually have fillings and are instead topped with frosting.

Muffins, on the other hand, are denser and have a fuller texture than cupcakes. Since they’re denser than cupcakes, muffins can work well with fillings. They also tend to have lower sugar content than cupcakes, which makes it easy to explore a range of recipes and flavors with muffins.

When making your batch of pumpkin muffins with cream cheese, it’s important to remember not to over-blend the flour mixture and the pumpkin mixture. This is what helps keep the muffins’ dense texture when baking.

What makes this recipe an easy all-time favorite is that it can appeal to those who only want some subtle sweetness in their muffin. Moist pumpkin combined with a kick of spices is complimented nicely by the delicate sweetness of the cream cheese. It’s definitely going to be a surprise in every bite, just make sure there’s plenty of Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese Surprise to go around!

Print
Pumpkin muffins with cream cheese surprise.

Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese Surprise

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

Pumpkin muffins topped with cream cheese frosting are an annual favorite. But these muffins bring a sweet surprise—the cream cheese frosting is on the inside! The only specialized tool you need is a piping bag—or at least a plain piping tip to attach to a plastic food storage bag. Imagine the surprise of finding that delicious, creamy filling inside a homemade muffin!

  • Author: Bill Dugan
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 12 1x
  • Category: Bakery

Ingredients

Scale
  • Muffin Batter
    • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
    • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
    • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
    • 3/4 teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup milk
    • 3/4 cup pumpkin purée
    • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
    • 4 tablespoons melted butter
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • Cream Cheese Filling
    • 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
    • 2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
    • 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Grease 12 standard muffin pan cups, or line the muffin pan with cupcake liners.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.
  4. In a medium bowl, use a whisk to mix the milk, pumpkin, brown sugar, melted butter, vanilla, and eggs.
  5. Stir the flour mixture into the pumpkin mixture and stir just until the ingredients are blended. Don’t over-blend.
  6. Spoon the batter into your muffin pan cups. An ice cream scoop with a thumb release is especially helpful here.
  7. Sprinkle the top of your muffins with the chopped pecans.
  8. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the muffin comes out clean.
  9. Remove baked muffins from the pan and let them cool completely on a wire rack.
  10. While your muffins are cooling, prepare your cream cheese filling.
  11. Use an electric mixer to combine the cream cheese and butter.
  12. Gradually beat in the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla extract until your filling is light and fluffy.
  13. Fit your piping bag or a heavyweight food storage bag with a plain piping tip.
  14. When the muffins are cool, use a paring knife to make a small slit in the bottom of the muffin. Insert the pastry tip about a half inch into the muffin and squeeze in about a tablespoon of filling. Don’t worry—it won’t come out!

From spooky jack-o’-lanterns to festive fall displays to scrumptious pies to scale-tipping giants, there’s a pumpkin to satisfy almost any gardener’s desire. Whether your goal is to decorate, cook, can and bake, or cultivate a blue-ribbon giant, we’ve got you covered with the Pumpkinpalooza: How to Start Your Own Pumpkin Patch Gardening Guide.

Have you tried this recipe? It’s so easy, delicious, and decadent. Please tell us how it turned out for you.

arrow-left Previous
Next arrow-right
Comments

Click here to cancel reply.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Dad’s Cinnamon Peach Pie Recipe
  • Zucchini Bread
  • Garden Herb Focaccia
  • Crusty French Bread
  • Rustic Sourdough Bread
  • Classic Sandwich Bread
  • French Strawberry Tart
  • Ooey Gooey Monkey Bread
  • Confetti-Dipped Cookies
  • Cheesy Bacon Crescent Bites
  • Mushroom and Goat Cheese Tart
  • Spicy Gingerbread Cake
  • German Chocolate Cake with Coconut & Pecan Icing
  • Hearty Country Bread
  • English Plum Tart
  • Southern Pie Crust
  • Strawberry Rhubarb Pie with Southern Pie Crust
  • Hungarian Cream Cake
  • Fireball Apple Crumble
  • Pilgrim Pumpkin Pie Recipe
  • Irish Cream Cheesecake
  • Sticky Toffee Pudding with a Minty Twist
  • Irish Soda Bread
  • Mexican Hot Chocolate Brownies
  • The Chunky Peanut Butter Cookie
  • My Dad’s Raspberry Butter Cookies
  • The Dark Chocolate Mixed Nut Healthy Brownie
  • The Keylime Cookie Recipe Story
  • Rolled Oat Cranberry Walnut Cookie Recipe
  • Raspberry Custard Crumble
  • Perfect Peach Crumble
  • Rhubarb Comfort Crumble
  • Spinach and Feta Egg Muffins
  • Apple and Onion Tarte Tatin
  • Upside-Down Maple Apple Cake
  • Apple and Cheddar Galette
  • Maple Pecan Sweet Potato Pie
  • Chocolate Zucchini Bread
  • Classic Apple Pie
  • Sunflower Bread
  • Maple Sage Baked Pear
  • Lavender Shortbread Cookies
  • Coconut Lemon Cake Mix Bars
  • Caramel Chocolate Poke Cake
  • Cake Mix Fruit Cobbler
  • DIY Sourdough Pretzels
  • Springtime Poppy Seed Lemon Cake
  • Lemon Cake Mix Cookies
  • Old-Fashioned Hummingbird Cake
  • Caramel Carrot Cake Poke Cake
  • 5-Ingredient Coconut Macaroons
  • Make-Your-Own Fortune Cookies
  • Layered S’mores Casserole
  • Homemade S’mores Cookies
  • Champagne Cake Mix Balls
  • Heavenly Chocolate–Strawberry Mousse Cake
  • Strawberry Cream Cheese Cookies
  • Lightened-Up Strawberry Breakfast Bars
  • Strawberry–Cream Cheese Salad
  • Caramel Praline Bread Pudding
  • Red Velvet Cake Thumbprints
  • Secret Ingredient Chocolate Cake
  • Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars
  • Soda Berry Bake
  • Fruity Peach Cake
  • Cream Cheese Magic Bars
  • Double Chocolate Shortcut Cookies
  • Maple Apple Cookies
  • Apple Fritter Bake
  • Make-Ahead Flax Cookies
  • Chewy Lemon Coconut Cookies
  • Heavenly Lime Bundt Cake
  • New Favorite Carrot Cake Roll
  • Squeeze The Day Lemon Squares
  • Going Bananas! Banana Pudding Poke Cake
  • Perfect Bisquick Cinnamon Rolls
  • Sourdough Soft Pretzels
  • Satisfying Snickerdoodles
  • Orange & Pecan Crunch Cake
  • Sinful Cinnamon Roll Cake
  • Southern Citrus Pound Cake
  • Easy Zucchini Bread
  • Cast Iron Skillet Biscuits From Scratch
  • Cheesy Pull Apart Bread
  • 4-Ingredient Artisan Bread
  • Banana Bread with Cream Cheese Filling
  • Peppermint Cookie Balls
  • Italian Christmas Cookies
  • First Snow Cookies
  • Christmas Magic Bars
  • Homemade Gingerbread People
  • Apple Nut Pie
  • Cranberry Pecan Lattice Pie
  • Fall Day Pumpkin Pie
  • Slow Cooker Dinner Rolls
  • Homemade Popovers with Chives
  • Mini Strawberry Shortcakes
  • Italian Love Cake
  • 10-Minute Miracle Cookies
  • 1970s Harvey Wallbanger Cake
  • 2-Ingredient Lemon Bars
  • 20 Minute 3-Ingredient Pumpkin Cake Cookies
  • 3 Ingredient Lemon Bars
  • 3-Ingredient Old-Fashioned Shortbread Buttons
  • 3-Layer Nanaimo Bars
  • 6-Ingredient Cinnamon Rolls
  • Addie’s Confetti Cake
  • Alex’s Cowboy Cookies
  • Almond Honey Cake
  • Amazing Amish Applesauce Cake
  • Angel Food Cake
  • Annie’s Apple Crisp
  • Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake
  • Autumn Spice and Everything Nice Cake
  • Baby Shower Cake
  • Baked Stuffed Apples
  • Banana Bread Bites
  • Banana Cheesecakes
  • Beet Brownies
  • Best Baked Alaska
  • Best Banana Pudding Poke Cake
  • Best-Ever German Chocolate Cake
  • Best-Ever Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies
  • Best-in-Show Blackberry Cobbler
  • Birthday Funfetti Layer Cake
  • Bite-Size Cinnamon Roll Cookies
  • Bite-Size Pecan Pies
  • Black Forest Cake
  • Blackberry Chocolate-Chip Pie
  • Blackberry Pastry Bread
  • Blueberry Angel Food Sheet Cake
  • Blueberry Muffin Cookies
  • Boston Cream Pie
  • Bouquet of Roses Cake
  • Brownie Butter Cake
  • Buttermilk Spice Layer Cake
  • Buttermilk Strawberry Shortcake
  • Buttery Thumbprints
  • Candied Lemonade Cake Bread Recipe
  • Cannoli Poke Cake
  • Carrot Cake Poke Cake
  • Cheddar-Thyme Biscuits
  • Cherry 7UP Pound Cake
  • Cherry Pie
  • Cherry Pie
  • Chewy Brownie Cookies
  • Chewy Classic Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
  • Chewy Maple Sugar Cookies
  • Chewy Molasses Cookies
  • Chocolate Chip Bars
  • Chocolate Chip Cookies ‘n’ Cream
  • Chocolate Kiss Surprise Powder Puff Cookies
  • Chocolate Lover’s Zucchini Cake
  • Chocolate Oreo Cake
  • Chocolate Pear Cake
  • Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars
  • Chocolate Pound Cake
  • Chocolate Shortbread
  • Chocolate Turtle Poke Cake
  • Christmas Magic Squares
  • Christmas Vanilla Cake Roll
  • Church Cake
  • Cinnamon Pecan Coffee Cake
  • Cinnamon Whiskey Cake
  • Classic Blueberry Pie
  • Classic Buttery Pound Cake
  • Classic Carrot Cake
  • Classic Chocolate Cake
  • Classic French Madeleines
  • Classic Peanut Butter Cookies
  • Classic Seven Layer Magic Bars
  • Classic Texas Sheet Cake
  • Clean-Eating Carrot Cake
  • Confetti Cool Whip Cookies
  • Corn Bread with Scallions
  • Corny Cornbread
  • Cranberry Pear Cobbler
  • Cranberry White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies
  • Crazy Good Cranberry Orange Cookies
  • Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Cream Cheese Strawberry Cookies
  • Cream Cheese-Filled Monkey Bread
  • Creamy Lemon Angel Cake
  • Crescent Roll Pecan Pie Bars
  • Crowd Pleaser Pumpkin Pie
  • Crunchy Whole Wheat Apple Crisp
  • Crushed Pineapple Cake Casserole
  • Dandy Diner Dream Cake
  • Danish Spice Cookies (Speculoos)
  • Dark Hot Chocolate Cake
  • Deep-Dish Chocolate Chip Pie
  • Delicious Pumpkin Purée
  • Delightful Donut Casserole
  • Dill Seed Braided Bread
  • Dreamboat Caramel Bars
  • Dreamsicle Cake
  • Dreamy Orange Bars
  • Easy Apple Pie Dump Cake
  • Easy as Apple Pie Bars
  • Easy Butter Pecan Cake Mix Squares
  • Easy Buttermilk Cornbread Muffins
  • Easy Chocolate Cherry Blossom Cookies
  • Easy Gingerbread Cookies
  • Easy Oatmeal Coffee Cake
  • Easy Oatmeal Cookies
  • Easy Peach Pie
  • Easy Pumpkin Spice Roll
  • Easy Strawberry Shortcake
  • Easy Whole Wheat Bread
  • Easy Whole Wheat Cheese Biscuits
  • Espresso Sugar Cookies
  • Five-Layer Chocolate Cherry Bars
  • Flourless Pumpkin Muffins
  • Fluffy Layered Coconut Cake
  • Fluffy Lemon Chiffon Cake
  • Four-Ingredient Molten Nutella Lava Cake
  • Fresh Cherry Cobbler
  • Funfetti Cake Batter Cookies
  • Funfetti Dump Cake
  • Georgia Peach Pound Cake
  • Ginger Snaps
  • Glazed Coconut Pound Cake
  • Glazed Rum Cake
  • Gluten-Free Chocolate Brownies
  • Gooey Magic Cake Bars
  • Gooey Turtle Bars
  • Gooiest Butter Cake
  • Gooseberry Pie
  • Grandma’s Famous Jimmy Cake
  • Grandma’s Magic Cake
  • Grandma’s Spice Cookies
  • Grandmother’s Lazy Daisy Cake
  • Grape and Pear Pie
  • Greek Yogurt Cake
  • Half-Moon Cookies
  • Harvey Wallbanger Cake
  • Heaven and Hell Cake
  • Holiday Fruit Cake
  • Holiday Sweet Potato Casserole
  • Homemade Cracker Candy
  • Homemade Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Hot Milk Cake
  • Hubby’s Favorite Dump Cake
  • Inside-Out Cream Puff Cake
  • Italian Lemon Mini Pound Cakes
  • Just Peachy Pound Cake
  • Kentucky Butter Cake
  • Key Lime Angel Food Cake
  • Layered Gingerbread Cake
  • Lemon Chiffon Layer Cake
  • Lemon Crazy Cake
  • Lemon Crinkle Cookies
  • Lemon Donuts
  • Lemon Meringue Bars
  • Lemon Thyme Tea Bread
  • Loaded Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
  • M&M’s Drop Cookies
  • Magic Christmas Cookies
  • Magic Tomato Soup Cupcakes
  • Malted Milk Ball–Marshmallow Brownies
  • Maple Banana Whole Wheat Muffins
  • Maple Glazed Sour Cream Coffee Cake
  • Mardi Gras King Cake
  • Millionaire Marshmallow Fluff Cake
  • Mint Chocolate Cookies
  • Mint Patty Cake
  • Mocha Dot Cookies
  • Monster Cookies
  • Nana’s Best Coconut Macaroons
  • North Pole Lemon Cookies
  • Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Raisin Bars
  • Oh Sweet! Potato Pie
  • Old-Fashioned Fruitcake
  • Onion-Topped Focaccia Bread
  • Oreo Pudding Poke Cake
  • Parmesan Chive Drop Biscuits
  • Patriotic Firecracker Cake
  • Peach Cobbler
  • Peanut Butter Bacon Bars
  • Peanut Butter Banana Cookies
  • Peanut Butter Cup Cake
  • Peanut Butter Mocha Brownie Cookies
  • Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites
  • Peanut Butter Swirl Bars
  • Pear Crisp
  • Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars
  • Pecan Sandies
  • Peppermint Crunch Cookies
  • Pillow-Soft Ginger Cookies
  • Piña Colada Dump Cake
  • Pineapple Coconut Cake
  • Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
  • Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
  • Pink Lemonade Bundt Cake
  • Pumpkin Angel Food Cake with Cinnamon Whipped Cream
  • Pumpkin Crème Brûlée
  • Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese Surprise
  • Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Bars
  • Pumpkin Spice Dump Cake
  • Raspberry Jelly Cake Roll
  • Raspberry Oatmeal Cookie Bars
  • Raspberry Ricotta Cake
  • Raspberry Streusel Bars
  • Red Velvet Cream Cheese Bundt Cake
  • Refrigerator Fudge Cake
  • Retro Bundt Cake Noodle Ring
  • Ricotta Cookies
  • Rugelach
  • Salted Caramel Maple Cookies
  • Samoa Bundt Cake
  • Sinful Cinnamon Cake Roll
  • Snickerdoodle Cake
  • Snickerdoodles
  • Snickers Poke Cake
  • Soda Pop Cookies
  • Soft Peanut Butter Cookies
  • Sour Cream & Scallion Biscuits
  • Southern Caramel Cake
  • Southern Pecan Pound Cake
  • Sparkling White Chocolate Cranberry Cake
  • Spring Carrot Cake
  • Star Anise and Coriander Spice Cake
  • Stir and Bake Bars
  • Strawberry Bars
  • Strawberry Jell-O Poke Cake
  • Summer Squash Bread
  • Super Chewy Chocolate Brownies
  • Sweet Potato Biscuits
  • Texas Gold Bars
  • Texas Tornado Cake
  • The Best Angel Food Cake
  • The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever
  • The Buttery Sugar Cookie
  • The Ultimate Berry Crumble
  • Toffee Butter Icebox Cookies
  • Traditional Spice Bars
  • Triple Berry Pie
  • Triple Peanut Butter Bars
  • Tropical Paradise Cookies
  • Ultimate Cookie Layer Cake
  • Victoria Sponge Cake
  • Watermelon Fruit Rollups
  • Whipped Cookie Delight
  • Winter Squash Bread
  • Zebra Bars
  • Zucchini Cake with Browned Butter Frosting

Enter Your Log In Credentials

This setting should only be used on your home or work computer.

  • Lost your password? Create New Password
  • No account? Sign up

Need Assistance?

Call Food Gardening Network Customer Service at
(800) 777-2658

Food Gardening Network is an active member of the following industry associations:

  • American Horticultural Society
  • GardenComm Logo
  • GardenComm Laurel Media Award
  • MCMA logo
  • Join Now
  • Learn More
  • About Food Gardening Network
  • Contact Us
  • Affiliate Program
  • Sponsor Program
  • Give a Gift
  • Privacy Policy & Terms of Use

Food Gardening Network
99 Derby Street, Suite 200
Hingham, MA 02043
support@foodgardening.mequoda.com

To learn more about our Email Marketing and Broadcasting Services, Exchange Program, or to become a marketing partner with any of our publications, click here to contact us at Mequoda Publishing Network.

FREE E-Newsletter for You!

Discover how to grow, harvest, and eat good food from your own garden—with our FREE e-newsletter, delivered directly to your email inbox.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Powered by
Mequoda Publishing Network
copyright © 2025 Mequoda Systems, LLC

Food Gardening Network®, Food Gardening Magazine® and GreenPrints® are registered trademarks of Mequoda Systems, LLC.