Caramel Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins (Printer-Friendly)

Moist banana muffins swirled with sweet caramel cream cheese filling

# What You Need:

→ Banana Muffin Batter

01 - 1½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
03 - ½ teaspoon baking powder
04 - ¼ teaspoon salt
05 - ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - ½ cup granulated sugar
07 - ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
08 - ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
09 - 2 large eggs, at room temperature
10 - 3 ripe bananas, mashed (approximately 1 cup)
11 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Caramel Cream Cheese Swirl

12 - 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
13 - ¼ cup granulated sugar
14 - 1 large egg yolk
15 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
16 - ¼ cup caramel sauce, plus additional for drizzling

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or apply cooking spray.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon until evenly distributed.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk granulated sugar, brown sugar, melted butter, eggs, mashed bananas, and vanilla extract until thoroughly combined.
04 - Fold dry ingredients into wet mixture until just combined, being careful not to overmix the batter.
05 - In a separate bowl, beat softened cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Gently fold in caramel sauce until blended.
06 - Distribute banana batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each approximately two-thirds full. Top each with a heaping tablespoon of caramel cream cheese mixture. Using a toothpick or knife, gently swirl through the filling to create a marbled effect.
07 - Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean.
08 - Allow muffins to cool in the tin for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Drizzle with additional caramel sauce if desired. Serve warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The cream cheese swirl stays impossibly creamy while the banana base stays tender and moist, giving you two textures in every bite.
  • You can make a double batch and freeze them for desperate weekday mornings when you need something homemade but don't have time to bake.
  • They feel fancy enough to bring to a potluck but simple enough that even a nervous baker can nail them on the first try.
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients blend together smoothly and create a tender crumb, so don't rush straight from the fridge to the bowl.
  • The muffins will look slightly underdone when they come out because the cream cheese filling needs that gentle set, but they won't be gummy once they've cooled.
03 -
  • Let your cream cheese sit on the counter for a full 30 minutes before beating—cold cream cheese takes forever to smooth out and creates lumps.
  • If your caramel is too thick to fold gently, warm it for 15 seconds in the microwave until it's pourable but not hot.
Go Back