🎃 Pumpkin Streusel Muffins with Cream Cheese Filling 🧀

A delightful swirl of cream cheese in every bite, making your mornings or snack times exceptionally special!

🍽️ Ingredients 🍽️

For the Muffins:
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

For the Cream Cheese Filling:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Streusel Topping:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed

🧑‍🍳 Directions 🧑‍🍳

1. Begin with the Cream Cheese Filling: Mix the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract in a medium bowl until creamy. Place the mixture in a piping bag or a makeshift plastic bag with a corner snipped off. Set this aside.
2. For the Muffins: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Either line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease the cups. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. In a separate bowl, whisk the sugar, oil, eggs, pumpkin puree, and milk until thoroughly mixed. Gradually merge the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined.
3. Fill the Muffin Tins: Spoon a bit of the muffin batter into each cup, about 1/3 full. Add a dollop of the cream cheese filling to each, then cover with more batter until the cups are about 2/3 full.
4. Make the Streusel Topping: Mix flour, sugar, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Add the cold, cubed butter and blend with a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mix looks like coarse crumbs. Evenly sprinkle this streusel over the muffins.
5. Bake the Muffins: Place in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean from the muffin part (not the filling). Let them cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely.

🍎 Nutritional Information 🍎

- Calories: 280 kcal per muffin
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Protein: 4g
- Fat: 12g

💡 Tips and Tricks 💡

- For an extra special touch, drizzle a simple glaze made from powdered sugar and milk over the cooled muffins.
- Ensure your cream cheese is at room temperature to achieve a smooth, creamy filling without lumps.

⏳ Preparation time 🍰

Preparation time: 25 minutes | Cooking time: 20-25 minutes | Serving: 12 muffins

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