These blueberry muffins are soft and fluffy, with a lovely cream cheese swirl that makes every bite special. They’re perfect for breakfast or a tasty snack!
Whenever I make these, my kitchen smells amazing, and I can’t resist grabbing one warm out of the oven. Trust me, they disappear fast around here! 😋
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
All-purpose flour: This is the base for your muffins, giving them structure. If gluten-free is needed, use a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend.
Buttermilk: It adds moisture and flavor. If you don’t have it, mix 1 cup of milk with 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice and let it sit for 5 minutes as a quick substitute.
Blueberries: Fresh blueberries are great, but frozen will work too. Just don’t thaw them before mixing in for the best texture.
Cream cheese: This is the yummy filling! You can replace it with ricotta or mascarpone for a different flavor twist, but the taste will change a bit.
Butter: Unsalted butter is best to control the salt level. You can substitute with coconut oil or margarine if needed, but it may alter the flavor slightly.
How Do You Make Sure Your Muffins Are Moist and Tender?
The key to moist muffins is not to overmix the batter. When combining wet and dry ingredients, mix just until you can’t see any more flour. A few lumps are fine! This keeps the texture from becoming tough.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). This ensures they bake evenly.
- When filling the muffin cups, leave some room because they’ll rise while baking.
- For even more moisture, consider adding a pinch of sour cream or yogurt to the batter.
Lastly, check for doneness with a toothpick. It should come out clean from the edges, but a bit of gooeyness is okay near the cream cheese!
Deliciously Moist Muffins with Blueberry and Cream Cheese Delight
Ingredients You’ll Need:
For the Muffins:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1 cup buttermilk (or whole milk with 1 tbsp vinegar, let sit 5 min)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries (if frozen, do not thaw)
For the Cream Cheese Filling:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Streusel Topping (optional but adds great texture):
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Additional garnish:
- Fresh blueberries for topping
How Much Time Will You Need?
This recipe takes about 15 minutes to prepare and 20-25 minutes to bake. Plus, you’ll want to let them cool before enjoying—so plan about 45 minutes total from start to finish. Perfect for an afternoon treat or breakfast!
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Preheat and Prepare:
Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). This ensures your muffins bake evenly. Line a muffin tin with paper liners or grease it well to prevent sticking.
2. Cream Cheese Filling:
In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract together until smooth and creamy. Set this aside—it’s going to be a delightful surprise inside the muffins!
3. Mix Dry Ingredients:
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This combination will give your muffins a nice rise!
4. Combine Wet Ingredients:
In another bowl, whisk together the melted butter, buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla extract until it’s all mixed nicely.
5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
Now, gently fold the wet mixture into the dry mixture. Mix until you see no more flour—don’t worry about lumps! Overmixing can make your muffins tough.
6. Add Blueberries:
Carefully fold in the blueberries, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the batter. You want to see those lovely berry pockets in each muffin!
7. Make the Streusel Topping:
In a small bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon for the streusel topping. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or your fingers until it forms coarse crumbs. This will add a delicious crunch to your muffins!
8. Fill the Muffin Cups:
Fill each muffin cup about halfway with the batter. Then, add about 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons of the cream cheese filling in the center of each muffin. Don’t worry if it flows a bit—it’ll bake well!
9. Top it Off:
Cover the cream cheese filling with the remaining muffin batter, so it’s all packed in, and then sprinkle a generous amount of streusel topping on each muffin.
10. Bake:
Place the muffin tin in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. To check doneness, insert a toothpick near the edge of a muffin (but not into the cream cheese) — if it comes out clean, you’re good to go!
11. Cool Down:
Take the muffins out of the oven and let them cool in the pan for about 5 minutes. Then, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. The smell is going to be irresistible!
12. Serve and Enjoy:
Just before enjoying, you can top each muffin with a little more cream cheese if desired, and garnish with fresh blueberries. Enjoy these moist, flavorful muffins with bursts of juicy blueberry and creamy delight in every bite!
Can I Use Different Berries in This Recipe?
Absolutely! You can substitute blueberries with raspberries, chopped strawberries, or blackberries. Just keep in mind that different berries may have different levels of sweetness, so you might want to adjust the sugar accordingly.
How Do I Store Leftover Muffins?
Store any leftover muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, you can freeze them in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Just thaw at room temperature when you’re ready to enjoy them!
Can I Make These Muffins Gluten-Free?
Yes! You can use a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend to replace the all-purpose flour. Make sure it contains xanthan gum for a better texture. The muffins should still turn out moist and delicious!
What’s the Best Way to Reheat Muffins?
Reheat muffins in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds, or warm them in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 5-10 minutes. This will help restore their moistness and make them taste freshly baked!