Description
These Gooey Cinnamon Cream Cheese Muffins are soft, moist, and bursting with cinnamon flavor, featuring a luscious cream cheese center that adds a rich, gooey surprise in every bite. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a delightful snack, they are topped with cinnamon sugar for a sweet crunch and an optional drizzle of vanilla cream or melted white chocolate for an extra touch of indulgence.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1 cup milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
Topping & Optional Drizzle
- Cinnamon sugar (for topping)
- Vanilla cream or melted white chocolate (optional, for drizzle)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven & Prep: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners to prevent sticking and for easy clean-up.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon until fully combined to ensure an even distribution of flavors and leavening.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine the melted butter, milk, eggs, and vanilla extract, whisking them together until smooth and fully incorporated.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Pour the wet ingredient mixture into the dry ingredients and gently stir with a spoon or spatula just until combined. Be careful to avoid overmixing which can toughen the muffins.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Filling: In a small bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar together until the mixture is smooth and creamy, free of lumps.
- Assemble Muffins: Spoon muffin batter evenly into each liner, filling only halfway to make room for the cream cheese. Then, place a spoonful of the cream cheese mixture into the center of each muffin cup.
- Cover Cream Cheese: Add more muffin batter over the cream cheese filling, covering it completely and filling each cup nearly to the top.
- Add Topping & Bake: Sprinkle each muffin generously with cinnamon sugar. Place the muffin tin in the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the muffin (avoiding the cream cheese center) comes out clean.
- Cool & Serve: Remove the muffins from the oven and let them cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack. Optionally, drizzle with vanilla cream or melted white chocolate for added sweetness and decoration.
Notes
- Ensure the cream cheese is softened to room temperature for easy mixing and a smooth filling.
- Avoid overmixing the batter to keep the muffins tender and fluffy.
- To keep cinnamon sugar topping crunchy, add it right before baking.
- You can substitute milk with any plant-based milk for a dairy-free option.
- Store muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- Reheat muffins gently before serving for a warm, gooey center.
