
These copycat Starbucks pumpkin cream cheese muffins deliver all the rich, delicious flavor of the Starbucks favorite right from your oven. These muffins are moist and tender and feature a rich, sweet cream cheese filling. They’re sooo good.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a standard 12-cup muffin pan with paper or foil liners. Set aside. Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt in a stand mixer or hand mixer. Set aside. Whisk the pumpkin puree, egg, melted butter, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Add the pumpkin mixture to the dry ingredients and mix on low speed until just combined. Scrape down the sides and the bottom of the bowl to ensure everything is mixed. Use a cookie scoop or large spoon to evenly divide the batter between the muffin cups. Set aside.
For the Filling
Mix the softened cream cheese, sugar, milk or half and half, and vanilla on low speed in a stand mixer or hand held mixer until combined and smooth. Add the mixture to a piping bag, or add it to a Ziploc bag and snip off a corner of the bag.
Make the Muffins
Use a straw to poke a shallow hole in the center of each muffin. Then, insert the piping bag just below the surface of the muffin batter and gently squeeze until the filling reaches the top. It takes about 1 tablespoon of filling. Repeat with the remaining muffins, going back and adding more filling if there's anymore left.
Bake the muffins for 15 to 20 minutes or until they’re golden and set and spring back slightly when the tops, (not on the filling part) are gently pressed. Cool the muffins on a wire rack and enjoy!