Cheese Cupcakes with a moist crumb and crisp cheese topping will surely be a family favorite. Perfect for breakfast or as a midday snack!
On a visit to the Philippines a few years ago, I went to our local bakery to buy some coconut macaroons and cheese cupcakes, only to be disappointed. They had packs and packs of the macaroons, but none of the latter.
These cupcakes were all the craze when I was in high school and my favorite snack to bring for school recess, so I was pretty bummed out to find out they were no longer available. Lamenting this fact to my officemate when she inquired about my trip, she said her friend had a recipe and she'd give it to me.
I am glad she did because the cupcakes I made were fantastic. They were moist and buttery, and with a delicious crown of cheese, I quickly polished off two or three as soon as I took them out of the oven.
I couldn't get enough of the sweet and salty medley of flavors. Every bite sure brought back many delicious childhood memories.
If you're in a baking mood, you can also try these calamansi crumb muffins, which are loaded with citrus taste! Satisfy your sweet cravings with chocolate cupcakes with mocha buttercream frosting!
Ingredient notes
- Flour- the recipe uses all-purpose flour
- Butter- adds rich flavor and tender texture. If substituting salted butter, omit salt.
- Eggs- give structure and help with leavening. Use room-temperature eggs for best results.
- Condensed milk- adds sweetness and creaminess.
- Baking powder- acts as a leavening agent.
- Cheese- I use Eden brand in the batter, but any quick-melt variety should work. I like the intense flavor of sharp cheddar for the topping but feel free to substitute it with Monterey Jack, Edam, or Gouda. Do NOT use mozzarella, as it gets too stringy.
- Sugar- use white granulated sugar. It adds depth of color and flavor and keeps the baked goods soft and moist.
- Salt- balances the overall flavor; providing contrast to the sweetness.
- Vanilla extract- optional. Add ยฝ teaspoon of vanilla or orange extract to the batter for another layer of flavor.
Cheese Cupcakes Step-by-step process
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl until well dispersed.
- In a medium bowl, combine eggs, butter, and sugar. Beat with an electric mixer.
- Beginning and ending with flour mixture, add flour mixture in thirds and ยฝ of sweetened condensed milk in between (โ flour mixture, ยฝ condensed milk, โ flour mixture, ยฝ condensed milk, and โ flour mixture) to egg mixture. Beat at low speed with every addition.
- Add quick-melt cheese and fold in to combine.
- Line the muffin pan with cupcake liners and fill each muffin hole up to ยพ full using a scoop. Top with cheddar cheese.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 350 F or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean and the top is golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
Baking tips
- If the quick-melt cheese is too soft and hard to shred, pop in the freezer for 2 to 3 minutes to firm up a little.
- An essential step in this recipe is combining the dry ingredients and condensed milk with the egg mixture. Make sure to add the flour in thirds and the condensed milk in half, beginning and ending with the flour and beating well after each addition.
- Use an ice cream scoop for consistent sizes and even baking.
- Remove the cupcakes from the muffin pan after a minute and cool completely on a wire rack so they don't continue to bake in the pan's residual heat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are cheese cupcake calories?
Calories may vary depending on the ingredients used. The estimated calorie per serving for this recipe is 213 KCAL.
How to serve and store
- Cheese cupcakes are delicious for breakfast or as a midday snack with your morning coffee or afternoon tea. They also make a great addition to the kids' packed lunches.
- Properly stored in an airtight container, the cupcakes will keep moist at room temperature for up to a week. Cool completely before transferring them to the containers, as the condensation might create sticky cupcake tops.
- Freeze cupcakes to keep longer. Wrap individually in plastic film, store in resealable bags, and freeze for up to 3 months.
More baked goods favorites
Ingredients
- 1 ยพ cups flour, sifted
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ยผ teaspoon salt
- ยฝ cup butter, softened
- ยฝ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
- ยฝ cup quick-melt cheese, shredded
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
Equipment
- 12-hole muffin pan
- electric mixer
- muffin liners
Instructions
- Line the muffin pan with cupcake liners. Preheat oven to 350 F.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a medium bowl, beat butter, sugar, and eggs with an electric mixer until combined.
- Beginning and ending with flour mixture, add flour mixture in thirds and ยฝ of sweetened condensed milk in between (โ flour mixture, ยฝ condensed milk, โ flour mixture, ยฝ condensed milk and โ flour mixture) to egg mixture. Beat at low speed with every addition.
- Add quick-melt cheese and stir to combine.
- Using a scoop or spoon, fill each muffin hole up to ยพ full. Top with cheddar cheese.
- Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean and top is golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
Notes
- If the quick-melt cheese is too soft and hard to shred, pop in the freezer for 2 to 3 minutes to firm up a little.
- An essential step in this recipe is combining the dry ingredients and condensed milk with the egg mixture. Make sure to add the flour in thirds and the condensed milk in half, beginning and ending with the flour and beating well after each addition.
- Use an ice cream scoop for consistent sizes and even baking.
- Remove the cupcakes from the muffin pan after a minute and cool completely on a wire rack so they don't continue to bake in the pan's residual heat.
Video
Nutrition Information
โThis website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.โ
Molly says
Hi Lalainie,
Your recipe is awesome. The first time I made it, turned out really good. The 2nd time, following exactly how I did it the first, turned out a bit dry. What do you think is the issue? Thanks.
Lalaine says
I am not sure why they were a bit dry the second time. Were they overbaked maybe?
Reese says
Hi! ms lalaine.eto ang pinaka favorite ng family and friends ko na binibake ko.second is the calamansi muffins. Sobrang yummy and di nakakasawa pareho.and last christmas nag try kami magbenta neto.and sa mga nabenta namin eto ang pinakabest seller.thank you so much for your sharing your recipe. ๐
Lalaine says
Hello Reese,
Thank you for your feedback. I am glad nakakutulong ang mga recipes at nagugustuhan nang family and buyers ๐
Maria Legaspi Payne says
Thank you very much . I am glad to find your website which i enjoyed a lot and learned a lot. Your website helps me to forget the lockdown.
Lalaine Manalo says
Thank you so much! I am glad the recipes have been helpful. Keep safe!
Melissa says
Hello!
Can i omit the white sugar in this recipe?
Lalaine says
Hello Melissa,
Unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend omitting the sugar as not only adds the sweet taste, it also helps keep the cupcakes moist and tender.
Ronel Wambangco Galvez says
Hello, I tried this recipe last night and it was just perfect. It is moist, the saltiness of the cheese and the sweetness of the condensed milk just marries together perfectly. Thank you for posting this recipe.
Lalaine says
Thanks for the feedback, Ronel. I am glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Zaryl Joaquin says
hello po. last time i made this one i used eden cheese and its awesome. lately lang po bawal na ang eden cheese dito sa ca. ano po maganda substitute na cheese?thank you po
Lalaine says
You can use other processed cheese ๐
Ma. Cristine Afable says
Hi! I will try this recipe.fav ko ang cheese cupcakes eh. Can i use oven toaster for this.? How many cupcakes po sa isang timpla.? And sa middle o bottom part po ba ng oven ilalagay?
Lalaine says
I suppose an oven toaster will be ok to use if there is a way to adjust the temperature. The recipe makes about 18 cupcakes and bake on the middle rack. ๐
EILEEN says
HI, Lalaine!
Can use an electric hand mixer for this recipe?
Thanks.
Lalaine says
Hi Eileen,
Yes, you can. I use an electric hand mixer, too. ๐
MJ Lawson says
Can you use cream cheese instead of quick melt cheese?
Vee says
Can I use eden cheese instead of quickmelt?
Lalaine says
Yes, you can ๐
Winnie says
I made these cupcakes twice already and my family liked it. The only comment is that my cupcakes were not moist but kinda hard. Bakit kaya? How do I make it moist? Sinunod ko naman ang recipe.
Lalaine says
Hi Winnie,
I am guessing maybe they were overbaked? I suggest using an oven thermometer the next time as some ovens are not calibrated and temperature is not accurate.
Kathlyn says
Hi ms.lalaine! i tried cooking this but the top of my cupcake was not as brown as yours. Leaving it more in the oven might burn it na so i took them out once luto na yung gitna and medyo nagbbrown na yung sides. The cheese i used was also finely grated.
How do i make my topping similar to yours?
Lalaine says
Hello Kathlyn,
I am sorry to hear that. Did you use cheddar cheese for the topping? The one I had was deep yellow and it browned nicely.
Patricia Dela Cerna says
Hello! Ano pong weight nung cupcake nung naluto na? Thank you po.
Lalaine says
I would say about 30 gms. ๐
Grace says
Hi there,
What is the proportion if I use instant yeast instead of active yeast? I heard ur recipe is very good ๐
Do I delete the water?
Lalaine Manalo says
The recipe doesn't call for yeast, only baking powder ๐
Alexis says
Can the amount of condensed milk be reduced? I like sweet goods, but 14 ounces sounds like a lot.
Lalaine says
Hello Alexis,
Yes, 1 can of condensed milk sounds a lot but the recipe makes about 18 cupcakes so that would be less than an ounce per serving. ๐
Suzanne says
Made my second batch of these today. My family likes how soft, creamy and cheesy these are. In my first batch, I noticed that some cupcakes had sunken middle when I placed too much cheese toppings. For this batch, I made them into small ones since my young son only eats the crunchy tops of the big cupcakes. They're superb as well! Thanks, Lalaine for sharing and inspiring me to try baking. God bless you!
Lalaine says
Thank you, Suzanne, for the feedback! I am glad the family likes the cupcakes. These are a favorite in my house as well, love them with coffee in the morning ๐
Maureen says
Hi Lalaine,
I lost my passion cooking or baking before but now that I'm on my mat leave, I THANK YOU for your recipes. My family is really happy everytime I cook something from your menus ๐๐๐
Cheese cupcakes didn't last for a day.
God Bless you more.
Lalaine says
Aww, thank you so much, Maureen. I am glad you find the recipes helpful. God bless you!
Nida says
Can we replace butter with cooking oil if butter is not available?
Lalaine says
Hello Nida,
I've never tried this with cooking oil so I can't guarantee results. You might find this article helpful http://www.myrecipes.com/how-to/cooking-questions/substitute-oil-butter-margarine
jhanyz says
Hi!! I come accross ur recipe and it was my first time baking.. Happy to tell u that it was successful and indeed yummy.. Thanks for your recipe.. Pls post more easy to bake goodies..
Lalaine says
Thanks for the feedback, Jhanyz! I am glad you enjoyed the cupcakes ๐
Vhie says
Hello Ms. Lalaine, ginaya ko po recipe nyo first time ko po mag bake ng cheesecupcakes. Ang sarap po, nag crave po kasi asawa ko last night ng cheesecake, pinapagawa niya ko then i searched for the recipe tapos nakita ko po yung recipe mo.
Thanks po for sharing this. Godbless
Lalaine says
You're welcome. I am glad you and hubby enjoyed them. ๐