Description
Delicious and creamy cream cheese muffins with a soft, tender crumb and a buttery crumb topping. These muffins feature a swirled cream cheese filling that adds a rich, tangy flavor, making them a perfect treat for breakfast or an afternoon snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Cream Cheese Swirl
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, room temperature
- ½ cup (62.5 g) confectioners’ sugar
- ½ package (4 ounces) cream cheese, room temperature
Muffins
- ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks / 170 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 ½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups (192 g) cake flour
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons (30 g) buttermilk, room temperature
Crumb Topping
- ½ cup (1 stick / 113 g) unsalted butter, cold
- ¾ cup (93.75 g) all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup (42 g) confectioners’ sugar
Instructions
- Prepare Cream Cheese Swirl: In a small bowl, mix together the 8 ounces cream cheese and ½ cup confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Set aside while preparing the muffin batter.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Muffin Tin: Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Line a muffin tin with muffin liners.
- Combine Cream Cheese and Butter for Batter: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine ½ package (4 ounces) cream cheese and ¾ cup unsalted butter until smooth.
- Add Sugar: Gradually add 1 ½ cups granulated sugar to the cream cheese and butter mixture. Beat until the mixture becomes lighter and fluffier, approximately 3 minutes.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Add the 3 large eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition to fully incorporate. Then add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and mix well.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Add 1 ½ cups cake flour and ½ teaspoon kosher salt to the batter. Mix until just combined, ensuring not to overmix.
- Incorporate Buttermilk: With the mixer on low speed, add 2 tablespoons buttermilk and mix until just incorporated.
- Scrape Bowl: Remove the mixer bowl and scrape the sides with a rubber spatula to ensure all ingredients are well combined.
- Prepare Crumb Topping: Using a food processor or fork, combine ½ cup cold unsalted butter, ¾ cup all-purpose flour, and ⅓ cup confectioners’ sugar. Process or mix until the butter is broken down to pea-sized pieces and the mixture forms a crumbly texture.
- Assemble Muffins – First Layer: Fill each lined muffin cup halfway with the muffin batter.
- Add Cream Cheese Swirl: Spoon 2-3 teaspoons of the prepared cream cheese swirl onto the batter in each muffin cup.
- Top with Remaining Batter: Add the remaining muffin batter over the cream cheese swirl to fill each muffin cup.
- Swirl Batter and Cream Cheese: Using a toothpick, gently swirl the batter and cream cheese swirl together in each muffin cup to create a marbled effect.
- Add Crumb Topping: Evenly sprinkle the crumb topping over each muffin, covering the tops thoroughly.
- Bake Muffins: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the muffin center comes out clean.
- Cool Muffins: Remove muffins from the oven and allow them to cool in the tin for about 10 minutes. Then transfer the muffins to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Ensure all dairy ingredients like cream cheese, butter, eggs, and buttermilk are at room temperature for better mixing and texture.
- Do not overmix the batter after adding the flour to avoid dense muffins.
- The crumb topping should have pea-sized butter pieces for the perfect crumbly texture.
- Use muffin liners to prevent sticking and make for easier cleanup.
- The swirl can be adjusted in quantity to increase or reduce the cream cheese flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cream cheese muffins, cream cheese swirl, crumb topping muffins, soft muffins, breakfast muffins, creamy muffins
