Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Muffin Recipe
It’s that pumpkin time of year where everything and anything is scented with pumpkin spice! For many people, I know they get very excited when Starbucks breaks out their cream cheese pumpkin muffins for the season. If you’ve ever wanted to recreate the famous coffeehouse treat at home, I am sharing the best copycat recipe for Starbucks pumpkin cream cheese muffins. This is an easy, no mixer base recipe that I have used over the years in these Mini Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins, Mini Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Muffins, and Vegan Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins. I simply added cream cheese and topped them with pumpkin seeds, and some have coarse sugar.
The base recipe has been a favorite of mine over the years because the results always taste amazing! These pumpkin muffins are packed with bold pumpkin flavor and plenty of warming spices. I like boldly spiced pumpkin goodies and these fit the bill. They’re soft, tender, light, and springy. The tangy-sweet cream cheese filling adds another layer of soft and creamy texture and really keeps the mouthfeel of these muffins so incredibly moist as well as a bit decadent. I particularly enjoy that the cream cheese stays nice and creamy in the center instead of setting up solid like a cheesecake.
Comparing Homemade vs Starbucks Pumpkin Muffins
How do these homemade pumpkin cheesecake muffins compare to the Starbucks version? In a word, they’re better. Yes, that’s right. I will happily proclaim that my recipe is better than Starbucks for many reasons:
Not greasy in the least. Sometimes I find that Starbucks baked goods can have a greasy taste. Ever set something on one of their paper napkins and look at it after? Yeah. Not dry. Although sometimes their items are greasy, I find that they can also be dry and greasy, at the same time. Sounds impossible but I’ve eaten plenty of treats from them that are plagued by this problem. Robustly flavored. I am a big fan of big and bold fall-inspired flavors when it comes to my pumpkin desserts, muffins, breads, and pumpkin treats in general and these muffins deliver. No preservatives. And because you’re not trying to have these taste “fresh” after sitting in delivery truck and then a glass case, they actually taste fresh because they are homemade from scratch with common ingredients and nothing artificial! Healthier. I am surprised as just how light the nutritional stats came in using computer-generated info. Just over 200 calories per muffin! Bakery and coffee shop muffins never tend to be particularly waistline friendly. Cheaper. Provided that you have a decently stocked baking cupboard and have most of the spices on hand (or just use more pumpkin pie spice), muffin-for-muffin, homemade is far less expensive than at Starbucks or a bakery. Can easily be made vegan with one minimal change. Pretty amazing and see below!
What’s in Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins?
To make these easy pumpkin muffins with cream cheese, you’ll need: Cream Cheese Filling
Cream cheese Granulated sugar All-purpose flour Milk Vanilla extract
Muffins
All-purpose flour Baking powder Spices (cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, allspice, cloves) Salt Granulated sugar Brown sugar Pumpkin puree Oil Milk Molasses Vanilla extract Pumpkin seeds, optional Coarse sugar (such as decorator’s sugar or Sugar In The Raw), optional
How to Make Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
Pumpkin muffins filled with cream cheese are actually so simple to prepare! Here’s an overview of the recipe:
How to Store Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
Because of the cream cheese filling in the pumpkin muffins, it’s probably recommended that you store them in the refrigerator. They’ll keep airtight for up to 1 week in the fridge. I suggest slightly warming them briefly in the microwave before serving because they’re better warmed or if you prefer them simply at room temp, take them out of the fridge about a half hour before serving. However, I personally do not store items like pumpkin bread with cream cheese in the fridge and I am fine storing them for a few days at room temp. Refrigeration dries out baked goods, plain and simple, and since I despite dry desserts and sweets, I do whatever is necessary to prevent that, including room temperature storage in a large ziptop bag. Experts seems to have varying opinions about this so do what you’re comfortable with in terms of storing at room temp or refrigerating. For example, “For items with a large amount of cream cheese, like cheesecake, it’s best to refrigerate after baking to prevent bacterial overgrowth and food poisoning. Other items, like brownies and cookies, that only have a small amount of cream cheese don’t need to be refrigerated, since the flour and sugar absorb excess moisture.” (source) Do your own research and do what works best for you, of course.
Can I Freeze Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins?
Yes! The copycat Starbucks pumpkin muffins can be sealed inside a freezer bag and frozen for up to three months. When you’re ready to eat them, thaw them overnight in the fridge or on your countertop.
Do I Have to Use Pumpkin Seeds?
If you’re looking for a true copycat Starbucks pumpkin muffin, then yes, use pumpkin seeds. However, you’ll notice that in the photos I made some muffins without pumpkin seeds because frankly, I can take it or leave it when it comes to seeds in baked goods so I left them off in some. Also, if there’s an allergy consideration, or you don’t want to purchase pumpkin seeds just for this recipe, go ahead and omit them. No problem! As a replacement, you can optionally try a coarse sugar like decorator’s sugar like I used or even Sugar In The Raw. Both the pumpkin seeds or the sugar on top are optional, bottom line.
What Type of Molasses Should I Use?
You want to use a mild or medium molasses like the Grandma’s brand. Do NOT use blackstrap molasses as it’s too strong in flavor and will overpower the muffins.
Can I Use Lite Cream Cheese?
No, you need to use brick-style, full-fat cream cheese to make the filling for these copycat Starbucks pumpkin muffins. Otherwise the filling will be runny and your muffins won’t turn out right.
Can This Recipe Be Made Vegan?
It’s amazing that these pumpkin cream cheese-filled muffins are essentially accidentally vegan — there’s no butter and instead oil is used. There are no eggs. Pumpkin, similar to banana but even more so, is an amazing “fluffing” type of ingredient and you don’t need eggs to help these muffins puff and fluff up so beautifully. I have made these muffins with all types of milk including whole cow’s milk, almond milk, and cashew milk. They all work perfectly so don’t be afraid to use a dairy-free vegan milk if you’re so inclined. The only wild card element is the cream cheese. However, there are so many vegan cream cheeses on the market today such as Violife or Tofutti that you can feel confident using one in these pumpkin cream cheese muffins.
Can I Make Mini Pumpkin Muffins Instead?
In theory, you can. However, in reality it sounds like a headache! Mini muffin pans have wells that are so shallow and trying to navigate the batter, then adding just a teeny tiny amount of cream cheese, then seeds or sugar, sounds like a real pain. If you want a great mini pumpkin muffin, try either these Mini Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins or these Mini Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Muffins. Much easier, faster, and not at all overly fussy.
Can I Make Jumbo Muffins Instead?
I’ve never made these as jumbo muffins, but I’m sure you could if you have a jumbo muffin pan, making sure to lengthen the baking time as needed.
Tips for the Best Cream Cheese-Filled Pumpkin Muffins
Make sure you’re using pumpkin puree and NOT pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin pie filling is pre-sweetened and spiced and will negatively alter the taste of these easy copycat pumpkin muffins. Don’t overbake the muffins. They will set up as they cool and while the cream cheese may look a bit unset as you pull them from the oven, it will firm up. Check to make sure a toothpick inserted adjacent to the ring of cream cheese comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs, and with that said, they should be done.
Always bake until the pumpkin muffins are done in your oven, in your climate, with the muffin and ingredients you used, and use my guideline of 15 to 17 minutes a just that — a guideline. If you made bigger or smaller muffins, the baking time will obviously change. Plus all ovens run differently. Make sure not to overfill the cavities in your muffin pan because you don’t want these to overflow. I filled the batter up a bit over 2/3 of the way full, then added the cream cheese mixture to each center, making the total volume about 3/4 of the way full.
More Pumpkin Breakfast Recipes:
ALL OF MY PUMPKIN RECIPES! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes!
Mini Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins — Easy, no mixer recipe for the SOFTEST, moistest, most ADORABLE little muffins ever!! Rich PUMPKIN flavor and CHOCOLATE in every bite!!
Cinnamon Sugar Mini Pumpkin Muffins — These mini pumpkin muffins are coated in cinnamon sugar and are bursting with fall flavor! Even better, they’re accidentally vegan!
Chocolate Chip Vegan Pumpkin Muffins — These vegan pumpkin muffins are studded with mini semi-sweet chocolate chips. Plus, they’re packed with five different warming spices, which makes then extra flavorful!
Glazed Pumpkin Coffee Cake — A FAST and EASY no-mixer pumpkin coffee cake with rich pumpkin flavor and topped with big buttery crumbles!! So soft, moist, and tender! You’re going to LOVE this cake for breakfast, brunch, or entertaining!!
Pumpkin Streusel Coffee Cake — A FAST and EASY no-mixer pumpkin coffee cake with rich pumpkin flavor!! Super soft, tender, and topped with the BEST crumble topping that you’ll fall in love with! Great for brunches and holiday entertaining!!
Pumpkin Spice Cruffins – What you get when you marry a croissant with pumpkin spice and bake it in a muffin pan!! The EASIEST recipe that uses just a handful of convenience ingredients, ready in 20 minutes, and perfect for pumpkin season!!
Oatmeal To-Go Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins – Like having a bowl of warm pumpkin oatmeal in portable muffin form! Fast and easy!
Pumpkin Blueberry Dutch Baby Pancake – One big oven-baked pancake so there’s nothing to stand around waiting to flip!! The batter is made in the blender making this the EASIEST pancake ever!
Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Bake — Every bite tastes like the super SOFT, gooey CENTER of a cinnamon roll!! Spiked with pumpkin and flooded with icing, this EASY recipe is an automatic WINNER!!
