Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Muffin Recipe to Make at Home for Less

Love pumpkin cheesecake muffins? Try this better than Starbucks pumpkin muffin recipe!

Autumn is the time to indulge in pumpkin flavored everything, right? If you’re a fan of the pumpkin cheesecake muffins that Starbucks serves up this time of year, this knock-off recipe is going to make you happy.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins

I wouldn’t go so far as to say these are healthy, but the ingredients list doesn’t include some of the questionable ingredients that the Starbucks pumpkin muffin recipe does, and it will cost a lot less to make these pumpkin cheesecake muffins at home.

Starbucks pumpkin muffin — with wholesome ingredients

While you can use canned pumpkin for these muffins, it’s easy enough to make pumpkin puree at home. And here’s a little secret: You can use a variety of pumpkins or even winter squash. Use what’s readily available to you or tucked away in the root cellar!

Conventional sugar is often made with genetically modified sugar beets. If this is something you’d like to avoid, opt for organic or pure cane sugar. (Cane sugar is not genetically modified.)

Making the pumpkin cheesecake muffins

The cheesecake mixture is made first, then set aside.

If you’re using a stand mixer, there’s no need to wash the bowl in between the two stages. Simply use a spatula to transfer the filling to another bowl, then proceed to mix the remaining ingredients. Nobody will know, and you’ll have fewer dishes to wash.

Related: Chocolate-chocolate chip muffins

Portion the batter for these copycat Starbucks pumpkin muffins into muffin tins, filling each just halfway. This allows space for the addition of the cream cheese topping. Sprinkle with hulled green pumpkin seeds for a garnish if you like, before popping them into the oven to bake.

★ Did you make this pumpkin cheesecake muffin recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

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Better Than Starbucks Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffin Recipe

Pumpkin spice in a muffin! Mix up a batch for breakfast, or dessert.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 12 servings

Calories 300 kcal

Author Claudie Evert

Ingredients

For cream cheese topping:

• 6 oz cream cheese softened
• ¼ cup granulated organic cane sugar

For muffins:

• 2 cups unbleached organic all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• ¼ tsp. baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• ¼ tsp. ground allspice
• 1 tsp. ground ginger
• ¼ tsp. ground cloves
• ½ tsp. sea salt
• 1 stick butter softened
• ¾ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• ¾ cup buttermilk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 ½ tsp. vanilla
• ¼ cup green pumpkin seeds optional; for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Thoroughly butter muffin tins for 24 muffins.

Make the topping

1. Beat cream cheese and sugar together in a bowl by hand or with your stand mixer until fully combined. (About a minute in a mixer.) Set aside.

Make the pumpkin batter.

1. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices in a mixing bowl.
2. Beat pumpkin, eggs, sugar, butter, and vanilla by hand or in the bowl of your mixer until fully combined.
3. Alternately add buttermilk and dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture just until all ingredients are combined. (Some small lumps are okay.)
4. Divide batter into muffin cups, filling each cup just over ½ way. Use a spoon to top each muffin with about one tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture. Push cream cheese into the batter slightly. Sprinkle muffins with pumpkin seeds and place in oven.
5. Bake for 18-20 minutes. A toothpick inserted in muffin (not cream cheese center) should come out clean.
6. Remove pumpkin muffins from tins and cool on a rack for 10 – 15 minutes.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

If you're using a stand mixer, there's no need to wash the bowl in between the two stages. Simply use a spatula to transfer the filling to another bowl, then proceed to mix the remaining ingredients. Nobody will know, and you'll have fewer dishes to wash.

*Note: Conventional sugar is often made with genetically modified sugar beets. Opt for organic or pure cane sugar to avoid this.