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Cinnamon Swirl Muffins with Streusel Topping and Cream Cheese Glaze Recipe

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4 from 10 reviews

Delight in these homemade Cinnamon Swirl Muffins featuring a soft, tender crumb filled with a sweet cinnamon sugar swirl, topped with a buttery streusel, and finished with a smooth cream cheese glaze. Perfect for breakfast or a cozy snack, these muffins combine warm spices and creamy sweetness for a comforting treat.

  • Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
  • Yield: 10-11 muffins

Ingredients

Muffin Batter

  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup buttermilk (room temperature)
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • ½ cup neutral oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs (room temperature)

Cinnamon Sugar Filling

  • ¼ cup light brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Streusel Topping

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter (melted)
  • ¾ cup all purpose flour
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Cream Cheese Glaze

  • 3 tablespoons cream cheese (room temperature)
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream (or milk)
  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar (sifted)

Instructions

  1. Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and kosher salt. Set this mixture aside to be incorporated later.
  2. Prepare wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, vanilla extract, neutral oil, and white sugar thoroughly for about 1 minute to create a smooth mixture.
  3. Combine wet and dry: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently fold them together until just combined, ensuring not to overmix to keep the batter light.
  4. Rest batter: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the batter rest at room temperature for approximately one hour to hydrate the flour and improve texture.
  5. Make cinnamon sugar filling: Whisk together light brown sugar and ground cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside for layering inside the muffins.
  6. Prepare streusel topping: Mix melted unsalted butter with flour, light brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground cardamom, and kosher salt until the mixture forms thick, clumpy crumbs. Chill in the refrigerator while the batter rests.
  7. Preheat oven and prepare muffin pan: Heat the oven to 425℉ (220℃) using a conventional (non-fan) setting. Line 6 muffin cavities with liners or grease them well, including the top of the muffin pan to prevent sticking.
  8. Assemble muffins - first layer: Remove the plastic wrap from the batter and using a medium cookie scoop or spoon, place about 1 ½ tablespoons of batter into each prepared muffin cavity.
  9. Add cinnamon sugar filling: Sprinkle approximately ½ teaspoon of the cinnamon sugar filling over the batter in each muffin cup.
  10. Assemble muffins - second layer: Add another 1 ½ tablespoons of muffin batter on top of the cinnamon sugar filling, filling each liner to the top.
  11. Top with streusel: Break up the chilled streusel topping with a fork or fingers as needed and sprinkle generously on top of each muffin. Add a little extra cinnamon sugar filling on the streusel for added flavor.
  12. Bake muffins: Bake the muffins at 425℉ for 5 minutes. Without opening the oven door, reduce the temperature to 350℉ (175℃) and continue baking for 18 to 20 minutes until the muffins are golden brown on top.
  13. Cool muffins: Remove the muffins from the oven and let them cool in the muffin pan for 5 to 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before glazing.
  14. Make cream cheese glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together cream cheese, heavy cream (or milk), and sifted confectioners' sugar until smooth. Adjust consistency by adding more cream if too thick or more powdered sugar if too thin.
  15. Glaze and serve: Drizzle the cream cheese glaze over the cooled muffins and serve to enjoy a delicious, cinnamon-infused treat.

Notes

  • Resting the batter for an hour enhances muffin texture and flavors.
  • Using room temperature ingredients ensures better mixing and batter consistency.
  • Baking in two stages (high then lower temperature) helps create a moist interior and well-browned tops.
  • Greasing the top of the muffin pan prevents sticking of the muffin tops during baking.
  • For a dairy-free glaze, substitute cream cheese and heavy cream with appropriate plant-based alternatives.
  • Adding cardamom in the streusel offers a unique aromatic twist but can be omitted if unavailable.
  • Author: Amelia
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Find it online: https://recipesvibe.com/cinnamon-swirl-muffins-with-streusel-topping-and-cream-cheese-glaze-recipe/