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Lemon Cream Cheese Muffins, Zesty & Creamy Centers, Bright Breakfast Treat
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Lemon Cream Cheese Muffins

These Lemon Cream Cheese Muffins are soft, fluffy, and filled with a rich, creamy lemon cheesecake center. Each bite bursts with fresh lemon flavor, balanced by the smooth tang of cream cheese for the perfect combination of sweet and zesty.
Course Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword Lemon Cream Cheese Muffins, Lemon Muffins
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 12

Ingredients

Lemon Muffins:

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp baking soda
  • 1/3 cup unsalted butter-softened
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tbsp lemon zest
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp lemon extract
  • 2/3 cup Greek yogurt
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice

Cream Cheese Filling:

  • 8 oz. cream cheese-room temperature
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Glaze: opt

  • ¾ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 ½ –2 ½ tsps lemon juice

Instructions

  • Heat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Place paper liners in a 12-count cupcake pan and set it aside.
  • For the crumb topping, mix flour, sugar, brown sugar, and salt. Add melted butter and stir with a fork until you have coarse crumbs. Set this aside.
  • To make the lemon muffins, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt) and set them aside.
  • In a big bowl, blend softened butter and sugar for about 2 minutes at high speed. Then, add eggs, lemon zest, vanilla, and lemon extract, and mix for another 2 minutes. Add Greek yogurt and lemon juice, and mix just until combined. With your mixer on low, mix in the dry ingredients.
  • To prepare the creamy filling, blend softened cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until well mixed.
  • Now, for the assemble muffins, spoon 1 heaping tbsp of the muffin batter into each cup. Put 1 tbsp of the cream cheese mix in the middle of each muffin. Cover the cream cheese with more muffin batter, filling each cup about two-thirds to three-quarters full.
  • Finally, generously sprinkle streusel crumbs on top of each muffin.
  • Place the muffins in the preheated oven and lower the temperature to 350°F. Bake for 25 minutes or until the tops turn golden brown and the center is set.
  • Let the muffins cool for 5-10 minutes in the pan, then transfer them to a rack to cool completely.
  • While the muffins are cooling, make the glaze. Mix powdered sugar with lemon juice. Begin with 1 tsp of juice and add more gradually until you achieve the desired thickness. Drizzle the glaze over the muffins and serve.