The Ultimate Blueberry Cream Cheese Muffins with Sweet Streusel Topping

Prepare yourself for an extraordinary breakfast or dessert experience with these truly irresistible Blueberry Cream Cheese Muffins. Each bite offers a delightful explosion of flavors and textures: the tender, moist muffin base, the luscious, tangy cream cheese swirl, and a heavenly, buttery streusel topping that adds the perfect crunch. These muffins aren’t just good; they’re incredibly rich, deliciously sweet, and so satisfying, you’ll feel like you just stepped out of a high-end bakery. Perfect for a special brunch, a comforting morning treat, or an indulgent dessert, they are sure to become a cherished recipe in your kitchen.

If you’re a devoted fan of both muffins and cream cheese, then you’ll undoubtedly adore these. For another delightful cream cheese-infused treat, be sure to also check out our popular cream cheese banana muffins.

Freshly baked Blueberry Cream Cheese Muffins, ready to be devoured.

Why These Blueberry Cream Cheese Muffins Will Be Your New Favorite

There are countless reasons to fall in love with this particular recipe for blueberry cream cheese muffins. Beyond their undeniable deliciousness, they offer a delightful combination of simplicity, versatility, and sheer indulgence that sets them apart from your average muffin.

Bakery-Quality Taste, Homemade Ease: Forget store-bought muffins! These taste as if they came straight out of a high-end, artisan bakery. The combination of a perfectly moist muffin, a creamy, sweet cheese filling, and a crunchy streusel creates a gourmet experience, yet they are surprisingly simple to make in your own kitchen.
Incredibly Versatile for Any Season: While fresh blueberries are fantastic, this recipe is incredibly adaptable. If blueberries aren’t in season or you simply fancy a change, you can easily substitute them with other fruits. Cherries, raspberries, or even chopped strawberries work perfectly for this recipe, allowing you to enjoy these delightful muffins year-round.
Simple Ingredients, Stunning Results: You don’t need any fancy or hard-to-find ingredients to create these masterpieces. The recipe calls for common pantry staples, making it accessible for any home baker. The straightforward steps ensure a stress-free baking experience, even for beginners.
Quick Baking Time: Who wants to wait hours for delicious muffins? These beauties bake in just 20 minutes! This means you can whip up a fresh batch for an impromptu breakfast, a last-minute get-together, or simply to satisfy a sudden craving without a long wait.
Perfect for Any Occasion: Whether it’s a cozy Sunday morning breakfast, a special holiday brunch, an afternoon snack, or a delightful dessert, these muffins fit seamlessly into any occasion. Their impressive appearance and exquisite taste make them a crowd-pleaser every time.
Visually Appealing: With their golden-brown streusel, bursts of blue from the blueberries, and the peek of creamy filling, these muffins are as beautiful to look at as they are to eat. They make for a wonderful presentation on any table.

These muffins aren’t just food; they’re an experience – a little moment of joy baked into a convenient, handheld treat. Get ready to impress your family and friends, or simply treat yourself to something truly special!

Essential Ingredient Notes for Success

Using the right ingredients and preparing them correctly is key to achieving the perfect Blueberry Cream Cheese Muffins. Here are some important tips for your main components:

Cream Cheese: It is absolutely crucial that your cream cheese is at room temperature. This isn’t just a suggestion; it’s a requirement for a smooth, lump-free filling. Cold cream cheese will be difficult to mix evenly, resulting in a clumpy texture. For the best flavor and consistency, I highly recommend using full-fat Philadelphia cream cheese. Its rich, tangy profile is ideal for this recipe, though other high-quality full-fat cream cheese brands can also work.
Blueberries: For this recipe, fresh blueberries are truly preferred. They hold their shape better and offer a vibrant burst of flavor. If you must use frozen blueberries, do not thaw them beforehand. Instead, toss them directly from the freezer with the 1/2 tablespoon of flour as instructed. This light coating helps prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the muffin batter and bleeding their color excessively.
Flour: Use standard all-purpose flour for both the streusel topping and the muffin batter. Sifting it isn’t strictly necessary but can help ensure a lighter, more tender crumb for the muffins.
Sugars: Granulated sugar is used for the muffin batter and cream cheese filling, providing sweetness and contributing to the moist texture. Light brown sugar is essential for the streusel topping, as its molasses content adds a deeper flavor and a wonderfully chewy texture to the crumbs.
Butter: Melted unsalted butter is specified for the streusel. This helps bind the dry ingredients into that classic crumbly texture. Ensure it’s not boiling hot, just melted.
Sour Cream: This ingredient is a secret weapon for incredibly moist and tender muffins. The acidity of the sour cream reacts with the baking powder, promoting a better rise, and its fat content keeps the muffins from drying out. Make sure it’s full-fat for the best results.
Eggs: Like cream cheese, ensuring your eggs are at room temperature is important. Room temperature eggs emulsify better with other ingredients, creating a smoother, more uniform batter and contributing to a better rise and texture.
Baking Powder & Salt: Baking powder is your primary leavening agent, giving the muffins their airy, fluffy texture. Kosher salt balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
Vanilla Extract: A good quality vanilla extract is crucial for both the cream cheese filling and the muffin batter, adding a warm, aromatic depth that complements the blueberries beautifully.
Vegetable Oil: Using vegetable oil (or another neutral-flavored oil like canola) alongside sour cream provides consistent moisture, making the muffins incredibly tender and ensuring they stay fresh longer than butter-only muffins.
Cornstarch: A small amount of cornstarch in the cream cheese filling acts as a stabilizer, helping it set properly during baking and preventing it from becoming too runny.

The delicious components: muffin batter, creamy filling, and crumbly streusel.

Step-by-Step Guide to Baking Perfect Blueberry Cream Cheese Muffins

Prepare Your Oven and Muffin Tin: Begin by preheating your oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). While the oven heats, line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners. This ensures easy removal and quick cleanup.
Craft the Delicious Streusel Topping: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the 2/3 cups all-purpose flour and 1/3 cup light brown sugar. Whisk these dry ingredients together thoroughly. Pour in the 4 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter and mix with a whisk or your fingertips until the mixture comes together into a delightful crumbly texture, resembling coarse sand with some larger clumps. Set aside.
Whip Up the Cream Cheese Filling: In a separate small bowl, combine the 8 ounces of softened cream cheese (remember, room temperature is key!), 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon cornstarch. Beat with an electric mixer or whisk until the mixture is completely smooth, creamy, and well combined, with no lumps of cream cheese remaining. Set aside.
Prepare the Blueberries: In a very small bowl, gently toss the 1 cup of fresh blueberries with 1/2 tablespoon of all-purpose flour until they are lightly coated. This small step helps prevent the blueberries from sinking to the bottom of the muffins during baking, ensuring even distribution.
Begin the Muffin Batter: In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar and 2 room temperature eggs. Beat with an electric mixer on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes, or until the mixture becomes pale yellow, thick, and slightly fluffy. This step incorporates air, contributing to a lighter muffin texture.
Add Wet Ingredients: To the egg and sugar mixture, add 1 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Mix on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix at this stage.
Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Sift together or whisk into a separate bowl 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, and 1 teaspoon Kosher salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. The key here is to not overmix! Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, leading to tough, chewy muffins. A few streaks of flour are perfectly fine.
Gently Fold in Blueberries: With a spatula, gently fold in the flour-coated blueberries into the muffin batter. Do this quickly and carefully to avoid crushing the berries and to maintain the tender texture of the batter.
Fill the Muffin Liners: Using an ice cream scoop or a large spoon, equally divide the muffin batter among the 12 prepared muffin liners, filling each approximately 3/4 of the way full. This allows room for the cream cheese filling and streusel topping, and for the muffins to rise beautifully.
Cool and Enjoy: Once baked, remove the muffins from the oven and let them cool in the muffin tin for about 5 minutes. Then, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely for at least 20 minutes before enjoying. This allows the cream cheese filling to set properly and the flavors to meld beautifully.

A close-up of a perfectly baked muffin, ready to tempt your taste buds.

Expert Tips for Muffin Perfection

Achieving bakery-level muffins at home is easier than you think with these expert tips:

Room Temperature Cream Cheese is Non-Negotiable: This cannot be stressed enough. Cold cream cheese will inevitably lead to a lumpy filling, no matter how much you try to beat it. Pull your cream cheese out of the fridge at least an hour before you plan to bake. This ensures it softens evenly and blends smoothly into a luscious, uniform filling.
Avoid Overbaking for the Best Texture: Muffin perfection lies in not overbaking. Keep a close eye on your muffins, as oven temperatures can vary. The edges should be golden brown, and a toothpick inserted into the muffin part (away from the cream cheese filling) should come out clean. Because of the creamy filling, the center directly under the streusel might still appear a bit moist or wet, but rest assured, the actual blueberry muffin portion will be fully cooked and wonderfully tender. Overbaking will result in dry, crumbly muffins.
The Secret to a Perfect Cream Cheese Swirl: For a neat and professional-looking cream cheese swirl in the center of your muffins, consider using a piping bag (or even a Ziploc bag with a corner snipped off). This allows you to precisely pipe the filling into the center of the batter, ensuring it stays contained and creates that beautiful, defined layer of creaminess.
Do Not Overmix Your Muffin Batter: This is arguably the most crucial rule for any muffin recipe. Once you add the dry ingredients to the wet, mix only until just combined. A few lumps are perfectly acceptable – even desirable! Overmixing develops gluten, which makes muffins tough and chewy instead of light and fluffy.
Flour Your Blueberries: To prevent your delicious blueberries from sinking to the bottom of the muffin cups, lightly toss them with 1/2 tablespoon of flour before folding them into the batter. This creates a barrier that helps them suspend evenly throughout the muffin.
Fill Muffin Liners Appropriately: For nicely domed muffins, fill your liners about three-quarters full. This allows ample room for the batter to rise without overflowing.
Cool Completely Before Slicing or Storing: While it’s tempting to dive right into a warm muffin, allowing them to cool on a wire rack for at least 20 minutes (or even longer) is important. This helps the cream cheese filling set properly and ensures the muffin’s structure is firm, preventing it from crumbling when you pick it up.

The ultimate reveal: a perfect bite showing the creamy cheese, juicy blueberries, and tender muffin.

Storage and Shelf Life

Proper storage is essential to keep your delicious blueberry cream cheese muffins fresh and enjoyable:

Room Temperature: Due to the cream cheese filling, these muffins are best stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2-3 days. While cream cheese generally requires refrigeration, the baking process and sugar content help preserve it in the muffins for a short period. Keeping them in an airtight container prevents them from drying out.
Refrigeration: If you want to extend their shelf life slightly, or if your kitchen is particularly warm, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. However, refrigeration can sometimes alter the texture of muffins, making them a little denser.
Freezing for Longer Storage: These muffins freeze beautifully! Once completely cooled, wrap each muffin individually in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. When ready to enjoy, simply thaw them at room temperature or gently warm them in the microwave or oven until heated through.
Reheating: For the best experience, especially if refrigerated or frozen, briefly warm the muffins in the microwave for 15-30 seconds or in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 5-10 minutes. This will restore their soft, tender texture and bring out their lovely aroma.

We hope you thoroughly enjoy baking and savoring these incredible Blueberry Cream Cheese Muffins! If you tried this recipe, please consider leaving a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Your feedback is invaluable to us and helps other bakers discover and enjoy these delightful treats. And don’t forget to connect with us and share your baking adventures by following on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest! Happy baking!

5 from 3 votes

Blueberry Cream Cheese Muffins

By Julie Maestre

These blueberry cream cheese muffins are topped off with a streusel topping that takes these over the top! Insanely rich, delicious, and perfect for breakfast or dessert.

Prep: 20 minutes

Cook: 20 minutes

Total: 40 minutes

Servings: 12

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Ingredients

Streusel Topping

▢ 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
▢ 1/3 cup light brown sugar
▢ 4 tbsp unsalted butter , melted

Cream Cheese Filling

▢ 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
▢ 1/4 cup granulated sugar
▢ 1 tsp vanilla extract
▢ 1 tsp cornstarch

Blueberry Muffins

▢ 2 cups plus 1/2 tbsp all-purpose flour
▢ 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
▢ 1 cup sour cream
▢ 1/2 cup vegetable oil
▢ 2 eggs, room temperature
▢ 2 tsp baking powder
▢ 1 tsp Kosher salt
▢ 1 tsp vanilla extract
▢ 1 cup blueberries , fresh

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
Start by preparing the streusel topping, In a bowl, mix the brown sugar and 2/3 cups flour. Add the melted butter and mix with a whisk until it turns into a crumbly mixture.
To make the cream cheese filling, simply mix the softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and cornstarch until well combined.
In a small bowl, mix the blueberries and 1/2 tbsp of flour until well combined.
To make the muffins, mix 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar and eggs for 2-3 minutes or until it turns a pale yellow color. Add the sour cream, vanilla extract, and vegetable oil. Mix well.
Add 2 cups flour, baking powder, and salt and mix until well combined. Don’t over-mix! Fold in the blueberries gently.
Using an ice cream scoop, scoop the muffin batter into each muffin liner, filling each 3/4’s of the way.
Top each muffin with 1 tbsp of the cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle the muffins evenly with the streusel topping. Bake for 20 minutes.
Allow the muffins to cool for at least 20 minutes before enjoying to allow the cream cheese filling to set.

Notes

Make sure you use room-temperature cream cheese so it’s easy to mix and doesn’t turn out lumpy.
Don’t overbake the muffins. The muffins will be a bit wet because of the cream cheese topping although the actual blueberry muffin will be completely cooked.
You can stuff the muffins with the cream cheese filling using a piping bag for a neater appearance.

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author: Julie Maestre

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Course: breakast

Cuisine: American

Servings: 12

Calories: 377

Keyword: blueberry cream cheese muffins, Blueberry Muffins, homemade blueberry cream cheese muffins

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