Can I Make These Starbucks Pumpkin Muffins Without Cream Cheese?

Yes, you can bake them as plain pumpkin spice muffins by skipping the cream cheese filling and topping with pumpkin seeds or streusel instead. Reduce the baking time slightly since there is no creamy center, but keep the same Starbucks pumpkin muffin recipe base or adapt it into a simple spiced pumpkin muffins with cream cheese filling on the side.

Why Did My Pumpkin Muffins Sink in the Middle?

Muffins often sink if the batter is over‑mixed, the oven temperature is too low, or they were underbaked when removed from the oven. To keep this Starbucks pumpkin muffin recipe from sinking, measure ingredients accurately, avoid opening the oven door early, and check doneness at the muffin edge instead of the very center.

Can I Use Pumpkin Pie Filling Instead of Pumpkin Puree?

No, pumpkin pie filling includes sugar and spices, which will throw off the moisture and sweetness in this Starbucks pumpkin muffin recipe. Always use plain pumpkin puree so you can control the spices and sugar yourself and keep the pumpkin muffin with cream cheese center balanced.

How Do I Make This Starbucks Pumpkin Muffin Recipe Gluten-Free?

Use a gluten‑free 1:1 baking blend instead of regular flour and verify that your other ingredients are certified gluten-free. With this simple swap, the Starbucks pumpkin muffin recipe stays very close in texture and flavor while becoming a gluten-friendly version of pumpkin cream cheese muffins (Starbucks copycat).

Can I Freeze Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins?

Yes, these muffins freeze very well; wrap them tightly and freeze for up to a few months, then thaw and gently reheat before serving. Freezing them individually makes it easy to grab just one or two muffins from this Starbucks pumpkin muffin recipe at a time whenever you want a quick copycat pumpkin cream cheese muffins snack.

How Do I Get That Classic Starbucks Pumpkin Seed Topping?

Use shelled pumpkin seeds (pepitas) and sprinkle a teaspoon or so on each muffin before baking; lightly sweetened or candied versions give extra crunch. For even more texture, combine seeds with a small amount of streusel on top of your Starbucks pumpkin muffin recipe batter to copy the look of pumpkin muffins with pumpkin seeds topping from the café.

Can I Double This Recipe for a Crowd?

Yes, you can double all ingredients and bake in two muffin pans, rotating them halfway through baking for even browning. A doubled Starbucks pumpkin muffin recipe is perfect for holidays, office treats, or fall brunch buffets when you want plenty of pumpkin cream cheese muffins to share.

What are the ingredients in Starbucks pumpkin muffin?

Starbucks pumpkin muffins contain enriched wheat flour, pumpkin puree, sugar, soybean oil, cream cheese, eggs, pumpkin seeds, and pumpkin spice blend. The exact proprietary recipe also includes stabilizers and preservatives not found in this homemade version.

What are the ingredients in Starbucks pumpkin muffins?

The Starbucks pumpkin cream cheese muffin ingredients include enriched flour, pumpkin, sugar, cream cheese, soybean oil, eggs, pumpkin seeds, spices, and various preservatives and stabilizers for shelf stability.

What are the ingredients in Starbucks pumpkin bread?

Starbucks pumpkin bread contains pumpkin puree, wheat flour, sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, spices, and usually a streusel topping. It is similar to their pumpkin muffins but in loaf form without the cream cheese center.

Does Starbucks use real pumpkin puree?

Yes, Starbucks uses real pumpkin puree in their seasonal pumpkin products, including the pumpkin muffins, pumpkin bread, and Pumpkin Spice Latte. They also use pumpkin spice flavorings to enhance the pumpkin flavor.

Does a Starbucks muffin contain an egg?

Yes, Starbucks muffins contain eggs as part of their standard baking ingredients. The pumpkin cream cheese muffin specifically includes eggs in the muffin batter and sometimes in the cream cheese filling as a stabilizer.

What’s the best flour for pumpkin muffins?

All-purpose flour is generally best for pumpkin muffins as it provides the right structure without making them too dense. For this copycat recipe, all-purpose flour gives the closest texture to Starbucks’ version.

What is in pumpkin spice at Starbucks?

Starbucks’ pumpkin spice is a blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove. It is used in the Pumpkin Spice Latte, pumpkin muffins, and other seasonal products to create that signature autumn flavor.

Easy Gluten-Free Starbucks Pumpkin Muffin Recipe (12)

Name: Healthy Starbucks Pumpkin Muffin Recipe (12 Muffins)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 12 muffins
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour; 3/4 cup granulated sugar; 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed; 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon fine salt; 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice; 1 cup canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling); 1/2 cup neutral oil (vegetable or canola); 2 large eggs; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 6 ounces cream cheese, softened; 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for filling); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for filling); Pinch of salt (for filling); 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas), for topping; 1/4 cup streusel topping (optional)

Description

This Starbucks pumpkin muffin recipe is a cozy copycat pumpkin cream cheese muffin you can bake at home for fall.

Ingredients

Scale

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon fine salt

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1 cup canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)

1/2 cup neutral oil (vegetable or canola)

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

6 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup granulated sugar (for filling)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for filling)

Pinch of salt (for filling)

1/3 cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas), for topping

Optional: 1/4 cup streusel topping (crumb mixture)

Instructions

Muffin liners filled with pumpkin batter, cream cheese centers, and pumpkin seeds ready for the oven.

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease the cups lightly.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice until well combined.

3. In a separate bowl or large measuring cup, whisk the pumpkin puree, neutral oil, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth.

4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently fold with a spatula just until no dry flour remains; do not overmix the batter.

5. In a small bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and a pinch of salt until smooth and creamy.

6. Transfer the cream cheese mixture to a piping bag or zip-top bag and snip off the tip or corner so you can pipe it.

7. Fill each muffin liner about two-thirds full with pumpkin batter, reserving a little batter to cover the filling if desired.

8. Insert the piping tip into the center of each muffin cup and squeeze a spoonful of cream cheese filling into the middle of the batter.

9. Top each muffin with a small spoonful of remaining batter if you want to mostly cover the cream cheese, then sprinkle pumpkin seeds and optional streusel over the tops.

10. Bake the muffins for 15–20 minutes, or until the tops are set and a toothpick inserted into the edge of a muffin (not the cream cheese center) comes out clean.

11. Cool the muffins in the pan for 5–10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling until just warm before serving.

12. Store cooled muffins in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–4 days, or freeze individually wrapped muffins for up to 2–3 months.

Notes

For a lighter version of this Starbucks pumpkin muffin recipe, swap part of the sugar for coconut sugar and replace some oil with unsweetened applesauce.

Use a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend in place of all-purpose flour to make the muffins gluten-friendly, and check all ingredients for gluten-free labeling.

Top the muffins with extra pumpkin seeds or a simple streusel for more crunch, and serve warm with hot coffee or a homemade pumpkin spice latte for a full café-style experience.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 muffin
Calories: 310
Sugar: 26g
Sodium: 220mg
Fat: 15g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Unsaturated Fat: 9g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 40g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 5g
Cholesterol: 55mg

Keywords: Starbucks pumpkin muffin recipe, Starbucks pumpkin cream cheese muffins, copycat Starbucks pumpkin muffin