Healthy Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

These muffins are moist and flavorful, with the perfect balance of pumpkin and a creamy cheese filling. They make a great breakfast or snack!

Ingredients

For the muffins:

• 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup
• 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the cream cheese filling:

• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (adjust based on your sweetness preference)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a muffin tin with paper liners or grease it lightly.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.
3. In another bowl, combine pumpkin puree, honey or maple syrup, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix well until smooth.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture until just combined; do not overmix.
5. For the cream cheese filling, beat together softened cream cheese, honey (or maple syrup), and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
6. Fill each muffin cup about halfway with the pumpkin batter. Add a spoonful of cream cheese filling on top, then cover with more pumpkin batter until the cup is about ¾ full.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Let them cool for a few minutes in the tin before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Flavor Profile Explanation

These muffins feature a warm, cozy flavor from the pumpkin and spices, balanced by a rich, creamy filling of cream cheese that adds a delightful tang. Whole wheat flour provides a hearty, nutritious base that complements the sweetness of the pumpkin beautifully.

Enjoy baking these healthy pumpkin cream cheese muffins, dear! They’re sure to be a hit! 🍂🧁