Sure! Here’s a delightful recipe for Cream Cheese-Stuffed Muffins that will give you that Christmas morning vibe, complete with warm, gooey cream cheese filling and a deliciously soft muffin base.
Cream Cheese-Stuffed Muffins Recipe: The Perfect Christmas Morning Treat
Introduction:
These Cream Cheese-Stuffed Muffins are perfect for the holidays or any day you want a cozy, indulgent treat. Imagine biting into a soft, golden muffin, and the sweet, tangy cream cheese filling melts in your mouth. The best part? It’s all baked fresh from the oven, filling your kitchen with the warmest, most comforting smells. These muffins are a delightful twist on traditional cinnamon rolls, blending the sweetness of muffins with the creamy richness of cream cheese. They’ll quickly become your go-to recipe for festive mornings, brunches, or any time you want to impress friends and family!
Ingredients:
- For the Muffins:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk (or regular milk)
- 1/4 cup sour cream (optional for extra softness)
- For the Cream Cheese Filling:
- 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- For the Streusel Topping:
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 tbsp cold butter (cubed)
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
Instructions:
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a muffin tin with paper liners or grease it lightly.
- Prepare the Muffin Batter: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and granulated sugar. In a separate bowl, beat the melted butter, egg, vanilla extract, and buttermilk until smooth. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix—lumps are fine!
- Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling: In a separate bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
- Prepare the Streusel Topping: In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour, ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Add the cold cubed butter and use your fingers or a pastry cutter to mix until it resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.
- Assemble the Muffins: Spoon a heaping tablespoon of muffin batter into each muffin cup, spreading it out gently. Next, add a dollop of the cream cheese filling on top of the batter. Finally, top with another spoonful of muffin batter, covering the cream cheese completely. Sprinkle the streusel topping generously over the muffins.
- Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the tops are golden and a toothpick inserted into the muffin (but not the cream cheese center) comes out clean.
- Cool & Serve: Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve warm and enjoy the gooey, melty cream cheese center!
Method:
- Mixing Wet and Dry Ingredients: The key to tender muffins is to mix wet and dry ingredients separately first, then combine them without overmixing. This prevents the muffins from becoming dense and tough. Overmixing activates the gluten too much, which leads to a chewier texture.
- Cream Cheese Filling: The filling is the star of this recipe. By softening the cream cheese, you ensure it mixes smoothly with the sugar and vanilla, resulting in a filling that won’t be too runny or too stiff.
- Streusel Topping: The streusel topping adds texture and sweetness to the muffins, creating a wonderful contrast to the soft interior. Cold butter is essential here to form the crumbly texture.
History:
Muffins themselves have a long history, dating back to the 18th century in England, where they were made on a griddle rather than baked in an oven. However, the combination of cream cheese with muffins is more modern and typically a result of the rising trend of “stuffed” baked goods in the last few decades. Cream cheese-filled pastries became popular in the U.S. in the 20th century, particularly in cheesecake recipes, and eventually made their way into muffin fillings, where they could shine alongside traditional flavors like cinnamon or vanilla. The addition of streusel topping has its origins in German baking traditions, adding a sweet, buttery crunch to many pastries.
Conclusion:
These Cream Cheese-Stuffed Muffins are the perfect balance of rich, creamy filling and soft, buttery muffin base. They’re the ideal treat for cozy mornings, festive gatherings, or any occasion where you want to serve something special. The combination of textures and flavors will make these muffins a family favorite that everyone looks forward to—like an edible hug in the morning.
Lovers of This Recipe:
This recipe is a hit with anyone who loves:
- Cream cheese-based desserts
- Sweet, soft muffins with a twist
- Holiday-inspired baked goods
- Comfort food that tastes like a warm, festive hug
- Quick and easy baked treats that make you look like a pro baker
Feel free to tweak the filling and topping ingredients to your liking (a little cinnamon or lemon zest in the cream cheese filling would be divine!). Once you try this recipe, you may never go back to plain muffins again.
Happy baking, and enjoy those festive mornings with the ones you love! 🎄🍽️