Description
Discover the ultimate Luscious Lemon Cream Cheese Muffins recipe, blending bright citrus with a rich, creamy filling and a delightful streusel topping. These muffins are perfect for any occasion, from breakfast to dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for cream cheese filling)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (for cream cheese filling)
- For streusel topping:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- For lemon glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
- Make streusel topping: In a bowl, mix flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and salt. Add melted butter and stir with a fork until crumbly. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add eggs one at a time, then add lemon zest, vanilla extract, and lemon extract; beat for another 2 minutes.
- Stir in Greek yogurt and lemon juice until just combined.
- Gently fold in dry ingredients until smooth batter forms for your Luscious Lemon Cream Cheese Muffins.
- For cream cheese filling: Beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
- Spoon about 1 tablespoon of muffin batter into each liner. Add 1 tablespoon of cream cheese filling in the center of each. Cover cream cheese with more muffin batter, filling each cup about 2/3 to 3/4 full.
- Top each muffin with a generous sprinkle of streusel topping.
- Immediately reduce oven temperature to 350°F and bake for 22-25 minutes until golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cool muffins in pan for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
- For glaze: Mix powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth. Drizzle over cooled muffins.
Notes
- These muffins are best served slightly warm with the lemon glaze drizzled on top.
- The cream cheese filling adds a rich, tangy surprise inside each muffin.
- For extra zest, use fresh lemon zest and juice.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snack, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 muffin
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 55mg