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A batch of freshly baked cinnamon roll muffins with a cinnamon sugar swirl, cooling on a wire rack before being glazed.

Cinnamon Roll Muffins (Easy Recipe with Cream Cheese Glaze)

The best Cinnamon Roll Muffins! This easy recipe delivers incredibly moist and fluffy muffins with a gooey cinnamon swirl and a tangy cream cheese glaze in under 40 minutes.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 33 minutes
Servings: 12 muffins
Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 295
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Muffins
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup milk at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
  • 1 large egg at room temperature
For the Cinnamon Swirl
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
For the Cream Cheese Glaze
  • 4 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Equipment

  • 1 12-cup muffin tin
  • 3 Mixing bowls
  • 1 Whisk

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, melted butter, and egg.
  4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Do not overmix.
  5. In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, cinnamon, and 2 tablespoons of melted butter to form the swirl filling.
  6. Fill each muffin liner with 1 tablespoon of batter. Top with 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon filling. Cover with the remaining batter, filling each liner about ¾ full.
  7. Use a toothpick to gently swirl the filling through the batter once or twice.
  8. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool.
  9. To make the glaze, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Mix in the powdered sugar, then the milk and vanilla until you reach a smooth, pourable consistency.
  10. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled muffins before serving.

Notes

Do Not Overmix: To ensure your muffins are tender and fluffy, mix the batter only until the ingredients are just combined. A few lumps are okay!
Room Temperature Ingredients: Using room temperature milk and egg will help the batter come together smoothly and bake more evenly.
Storage: Store muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.