Cream Cheese Strawberry Muffins: A Deliciously Moist Recipe You’ll Love Recipe
If you’re searching for a treat that’s bursting with fresh flavor and wonderfully moist texture, these Cream Cheese Strawberry Muffins: A Deliciously Moist Recipe You’ll Love Recipe is exactly what your kitchen needs. Imagine tender muffins loaded with juicy strawberries and a luscious cream cheese center that melts in your mouth, all in the comfort of home baking. This recipe combines simple ingredients to create an irresistibly soft muffin with a sweet, tangy twist that you’ll be reaching for again and again. Whether for breakfast, brunch, or snack time, these muffins strike the perfect balance between fruity freshness and creamy richness every single time.

Ingredients You’ll Need
Gathering these straightforward, everyday ingredients is the first step toward creating your next favorite baked delight. Each one plays an important role: the flour sets the structure, sugars add just the right sweetness and caramel notes, strawberries lend freshness and vibrant color, and cream cheese adds that signature moist, tangy surprise inside.
- All-purpose flour: The foundation that gives your muffins a tender crumb and sturdy shape.
- Baking powder and baking soda: These leavening agents work together to ensure your muffins rise perfectly fluffy and light.
- Salt: Enhances all the flavors and balances the sweetness.
- Granulated sugar: Adds pure sweetness and helps with a tender texture.
- Brown sugar: Brings a deeper caramel flavor and adds moisture.
- Egg: Binds ingredients and contributes to a rich, soft texture.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the natural sweetness and adds warmth to the flavor profile.
- Unsalted butter: Melted and slightly cooled for rich flavor and moisture without heaviness.
- Buttermilk: Adds tang and reacts with leaveners to boost fluffiness; milk with vinegar works perfectly as a substitute.
- Fresh strawberries: Hulled and chopped, these bring bursts of juicy sweetness and pretty red speckles throughout.
- Cream cheese: Softened for that special creamy center that makes these muffins unforgettable.
- Powdered sugar: Mixed into the cream cheese for just the right touch of sweetness and silky texture.
How to Make Cream Cheese Strawberry Muffins: A Deliciously Moist Recipe You’ll Love Recipe
Step 1: Preparation and Preheating
First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to get it nice and hot while you prepare the batter. Line your muffin tin with paper liners or grease it well so your muffins come out clean and perfect each time. Setting the stage right means better muffins in the end!
Step 2: Mixing the Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This ensures even distribution of all leavening agents and salt, which is key for a uniform rise and balanced flavor throughout the muffins.
Step 3: Preparing the Wet Mixture
In another bowl, blend granulated sugar and brown sugar until combined. Crack in the egg and add vanilla extract, whisking until the mixture turns smooth and creamy. This combination brings both sweetness and depth of flavor to your muffins.
Step 4: Adding Butter and Buttermilk
Pour in the melted butter and buttermilk, stirring gently. This liquid stage is crucial to incorporate moisture and richness, but be careful not to overmix here as it can make muffins tough.
Step 5: Combining Wet and Dry Ingredients
Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Use gentle folding motions to keep the batter light and airy—overmixing can lead to dense muffins, and we are going for moist and fluffy every time.
Step 6: Folding in Strawberries
Fold in the hulled and chopped fresh strawberries delicately. This distributes their juicy bursts evenly, adding pops of color and sweetness throughout the muffin without crushing them.
Step 7: Making the Cream Cheese Filling
In a small bowl, blend softened cream cheese with powdered sugar until silky smooth. This sweetened cream cheese filling will create that luscious surprise center that makes this recipe truly special.
Step 8: Assembling the Muffins
Spoon about a tablespoon of batter into each muffin cup to create a base. Then, add a small scoop of the cream cheese filling right in the center. Finally, cover the filling with another tablespoon of batter so that the cream cheese is completely enclosed. This layering ensures every bite has a flavorful cream cheese heart.
Step 9: Optional Topping and Baking
If you have leftover chopped strawberries, sprinkle them atop each muffin for an extra burst of color and flavor. Bake your muffins for 18 to 22 minutes until their tops turn golden brown and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
Step 10: Cooling and Enjoying
Allow your muffins to rest in the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Cooling them completely lets the flavors settle and the texture firm up just right. Now, they’re ready to enjoy warm or at room temperature!
How to Serve Cream Cheese Strawberry Muffins: A Deliciously Moist Recipe You’ll Love Recipe

Garnishes
A simple dusting of powdered sugar or a light spread of softened butter enhances the visual appeal and taste. Fresh strawberry slices or a few mint leaves add a splash of freshness that complements the muffins beautifully.
Side Dishes
Serve these muffins alongside a cup of your favorite coffee or tea for a delightful morning treat. For a more filling brunch, pair them with scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, or a fresh fruit salad to balance the sweetness with savory and fresh elements.
Creative Ways to Present
For a special occasion, arrange the muffins in a decorative basket lined with a colorful napkin. Serve them with small bowls of cream cheese frosting or strawberry jam on the side so guests can customize their bites. You can even turn them into mini dessert parfaits by layering chopped muffins, whipped cream, and fresh strawberries in glass cups.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep leftover muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days, or refrigerate them to extend freshness for about a week. This way, they stay moist and flavorful without drying out.
Freezing
These muffins freeze wonderfully. Wrap each muffin individually in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe bag. They’ll keep well for up to three months, allowing you to enjoy the Cream Cheese Strawberry Muffins: A Deliciously Moist Recipe You’ll Love Recipe long after baking day.
Reheating
To enjoy muffins warm, simply microwave them for 15 to 20 seconds or pop them in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 5 to 7 minutes. Reheating revives the soft texture and brings out the luscious cream cheese filling beautifully.
FAQs
Can I use frozen strawberries instead of fresh?
Fresh strawberries are best because they maintain their firm texture and bright flavor, but if you use frozen, make sure to thaw and drain excess moisture to prevent the batter from becoming too wet and dense.
Is there a dairy-free alternative for the cream cheese filling?
Yes! You can substitute with a dairy-free cream cheese option or try a silken tofu mixed with a little powdered sugar for similar creaminess and sweetness.
Can I make these muffins gluten-free?
Absolutely! Use a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour blend in place of all-purpose flour. Just make sure the blend contains xanthan gum or another binder to keep the texture tender and moist.
Why is my cream cheese filling oozing out during baking?
To avoid oozing, be careful to fully cover the cream cheese with batter on top, and don’t overfill the muffin cups. Slightly chilling the cream cheese filling before assembly can also help it hold shape better in the oven.
Can I double this recipe for a larger batch?
Yes, doubling the recipe works well. Just be sure to use a larger muffin tin or bake in batches, and adjust baking times slightly as needed. Keep an eye on the muffins for that golden-brown perfection!
Final Thoughts
There’s something truly special about baking homemade treats that fill your home with inviting aromas and delight every bite. The Cream Cheese Strawberry Muffins: A Deliciously Moist Recipe You’ll Love Recipe is a perfect example of how simple ingredients create something memorable and heartwarming. I can’t wait for you to try this recipe—it’s sure to become a beloved favorite in your kitchen just like it is in mine. Happy baking and enjoy every luscious morsel!
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Cream Cheese Strawberry Muffins: A Deliciously Moist Recipe You’ll Love Recipe
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 12 muffins 1x
Description
These Cream Cheese Strawberry Muffins are moist, fluffy, and bursting with fresh strawberries and a luscious cream cheese filling. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet snack, these muffins combine the tangy cream cheese center with sweet, juicy strawberries for an irresistible treat.
Ingredients
Muffin Batter
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ÂĽ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- ½ cup buttermilk (or milk with 1 teaspoon vinegar added)
- 1 ½ cups fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped
Cream Cheese Filling
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a muffin tin with paper liners or grease it with non-stick spray.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk until well mixed.
- Combine sugars and wet ingredients: In another bowl, mix the granulated sugar and brown sugar together. Add the egg and vanilla extract, whisking until smooth and creamy.
- Add butter and buttermilk: Pour in the melted butter and buttermilk into the sugar and egg mixture. Stir gently until combined, being careful not to overmix.
- Incorporate dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, folding gently until no dry flour remains.
- Add strawberries: Gently fold in the chopped strawberries until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Prepare cream cheese filling: In a small bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar, blending until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
- Fill muffin cups – first layer: Spoon about a tablespoon of muffin batter into the bottom of each muffin cup.
- Add cream cheese center: Place a small scoop of the cream cheese filling in the center of each muffin cup on top of the batter.
- Top with remaining batter: Cover the cream cheese filling completely with another tablespoon of muffin batter.
- Add strawberry topping (optional): If desired, sprinkle leftover strawberries on top of each muffin for extra fruitiness and decoration.
- Bake the muffins: Bake for 18-22 minutes at 350°F (175°C), or until the tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the muffin (avoiding the cream cheese center) comes out clean.
- Cool muffins: Let the muffins cool in the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely, ensuring they set properly and maintain their shape.
Notes
- Use fresh strawberries for the best flavor and texture; frozen strawberries may release too much moisture.
- Do not overmix the batter to keep the muffins light and tender.
- The cream cheese filling can be flavored with a little lemon zest or vanilla for added complexity.
- If you don’t have buttermilk, mix ½ cup milk with 1 teaspoon vinegar or lemon juice and let sit for 5 minutes before using.
- Store muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- Rewarm muffins slightly before serving to enjoy the cream cheese center at its best.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American