Lemon Cream Cheese Muffins (Printable)
Moist, citrusy muffins with sweet cream cheese filling
# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
05 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
06 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
07 - 1/2 cup whole milk
08 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
09 - 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
10 - 1 tablespoon lemon zest from 2 lemons
11 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Cream Cheese Filling
12 - 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
13 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
14 - 1 egg yolk
15 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
→ Topping
16 - 2 tablespoons coarse sugar
# Method:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease thoroughly with cooking spray.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly distributed.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk melted butter, milk, eggs, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract until fully blended and smooth.
04 - Pour wet ingredients into dry mixture. Gently fold together with a spatula until just combined—batter should remain slightly lumpy. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough muffins.
05 - In a small bowl, beat softened cream cheese with sugar, egg yolk, and lemon zest using a fork or electric mixer until completely smooth and creamy.
06 - Spoon approximately 2 tablespoons batter into each muffin cup. Place a heaping teaspoon of cream cheese filling in the center of each cup. Cover filling with remaining batter, filling cups to about 3/4 full.
07 - Sprinkle coarse sugar evenly over muffin tops. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes until golden brown. Test doneness by inserting toothpick into the edge (avoiding the cream cheese center)—it should come out clean.
08 - Let muffins rest in the tin for 5 minutes to set. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely before serving or storing.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The surprise cream cheese center makes every bite feel like discovering a hidden treasure
- They strike that perfect balance between tangy and sweet that keeps you reaching for just one more
02 -
- Testing the muffin at the edge instead of the center is crucial since the cream cheese will always feel soft
- Room temperature ingredients prevent the cream cheese filling from seizing up when you mix it
03 -
- Use an ice cream scoop for portioning the batter—it keeps your muffins uniform and mess-free
- Don't let the cream cheese filling touch the edges of the muffin cups or it might stick