Cinnamon Roll Muffins

Cinnamon Roll Muffins are soft and tender muffins swirled with a sweet cinnamon filling and topped with a smooth cream cheese glaze. They’re not heavy or overly sweet either. They make a great treat for breakfast or brunch, and if you’re not a fan of cream cheese, feel free to omit it. They will still be plenty delicious! If you’re looking for a light & airy pastry that’s not overly sweet, this recipe fits the bill.

When you make these fluffy muffins and pair them with a cinnamon-sugar filling & topping, you get a well-balanced pastry. The addition of the cream cheese glaze makes it even better. These muffins are cozy, comforting, and well suited to weekend mornings and holidays. Not a fan of cream cheese? Don’t worry, they’re still delicious without it!

Kitchen Equipment Needed:

• Muffin tin
• Muffin liners
• Mixing bowls
• Whisk
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Hand mixer or stand mixer
• Spatula
• Pastry brush
• Cooling rack

Ingredients:

For the Muffins:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup milk
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Cinnamon Filling:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

For the Cream Cheese Glaze:

• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1-2 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat the Oven:
   • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a muffin tin with muffin liners or lightly grease with cooking spray.
2. Prepare the Muffin Batter:
   • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt.
   • In another bowl, whisk together the melted butter, milk, egg, and vanilla extract.
   • Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
3. Prepare the Cinnamon Filling:
   • In a small bowl, mix together the softened butter, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon until smooth.
4. Assemble the Muffins:
   • Fill each muffin cup about halfway with the muffin batter.
   • Add a spoonful of the cinnamon filling on top of the batter in each cup.
   • Top with the remaining muffin batter, filling each cup almost to the top.
   • Using a toothpick or skewer, swirl the batter and filling together to create a marbled effect.
5. Bake the Muffins:
   • Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
   • Remove from the oven and let the muffins cool in the tin for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
6. Prepare the Cream Cheese Glaze:
   • In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with a hand mixer until smooth.
   • Add the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract, and mix until well combined and smooth. Add more milk if needed to reach a drizzling consistency.
7. Glaze the Muffins:
   • Once the muffins are cooled, drizzle the cream cheese glaze over the top of each muffin using a spoon or a pastry bag.
8. Serve and Enjoy:
   • Serve the cinnamon roll muffins warm or at room temperature. Enjoy the pleasing mix of soft muffin, sweet cinnamon filling, and creamy glaze!

These Cinnamon Roll Muffins make a great treat for breakfast or brunch, bringing the comforting flavors of cinnamon rolls into an easy-to-make muffin form. Enjoy!