Go Back

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins – Sweet Easy Recipes for Fall

These pumpkin cream cheese swirl muffins are the kind of cozy treat that makes you want to pull on a sweater, grab a warm drink, and lean into the whole autumn thing. You know what I mean. They’re soft, full of pumpkin spice goodness, and just the right amount of sweet—not too cloying, not too plain. The creamy swirl of slightly tangy cream cheese through the spiced muffin base? It’s like if your favorite pumpkin pie and cheesecake had a muffin baby. I’ve made these for everything from Sunday brunch to last-minute bake sales. And no, you don’t need to be a pro baker to pull them off. They come together easily and make your kitchen smell like something magical is happening—like fall in muffin form. Whether you’re new to baking or you just want a quick win, these muffins get the job done without any drama. They also happen to tick several of my ‘perfect recipe’ boxes: They’re freezer-friendly, great for breakfast or dessert, and feel a little fancier than they are. If you’re into sweet easy recipes, or you’re scrolling for quick and easy recipes that still taste like they came from a bakery, this is your stop. Let’s bake.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time18 minutes
Total Time33 minutes
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: American
Keywords: air fryer desserts easy recipes, air fryer easy recipes, bread easy recipes, easy recipes for dinner, quick and easy recipes, sweet easy recipes, vegan easy recipes
Servings: 12 muffins
Author: Elena

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for swirl)
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (for swirl)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F and line a muffin tin with paper liners.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar, pumpkin puree, oil, and vanilla until smooth.
  4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until just combined—don’t overmix.
  5. In a small bowl, beat together the cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla for the swirl mixture.
  6. Spoon the pumpkin batter evenly into the muffin cups, about 3/4 full.
  7. Drop a spoonful of cream cheese mixture on top of each and use a toothpick to swirl gently.
  8. Bake for 18–20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean from the muffin part.
  9. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely.