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
edmund paradero says
Thanks po sa recipe. i was kinda hesitant to try it, but now i therefore conclude that your recipe is awesome... delicious... i just kinda improvised on the batter part since i used a blender to mix the wet ingredients... my kids like the cupcake... thanks again ma'am...
Joan says
Thanks so much for all the recipes you've share with us ma'am...by the way I'm one of those who subscribe on you vlogs in your YouTube. being beginner in baking through your recipes or through the help of u I'm starting to learn in baking. Maraming maraming salamat ma'am.. God bless po๐
Luz M. Adion says
Hi Ms. Lalaine! Thank you very much for sharing this recipe. It truly is a great recipe. My kids and I love it very much. It tastes similar to my favorite cheese cupcake back in College. Thank you and God bless!
Michelle says
Hi po. Iโm just wondering what kind of flour did you use? Thank you and keep safe.
Mary says
Hi! Can I refrigerate or freeze left-over batter? Thanks!
Agnes Solis says
Another great recipe from you Miss Lalaine, thank you sharing to us. Nagustuhan po ng family ko as we are cheese lover, thanks again.
God bless ๐
Mary says
This recipe is amazing! Comes out perfect everytime. I just wanted to ask, can I prepare the batter on Sunday but bake it on Tuesday? How can I preserve it without ruining quality? Thank you!
Francia says
will definitely give this a go ๐
Lalaine Manalo says
Let us know how it goes ๐
Kim says
Thanks for the recipe. It was really good. By the way can i ask how much is the estimated price for this recipe? thanks so much if you can reply.
Perlita Acosta says
Hi,
Thanks for the recipe but do i need to preheat the oven or no need.
Thanks.
Lalaine Manalo says
Yes, preheat please.
Ivy Marcos says
Hi Ms. Lalaine, thank you for this recipe. I've been trying this for weeks now. But may I ask, do you think adding more flour could make it more compact? Like, say, make the flour 2cups instead of 1 & 3/4?๐
Oyaji says
Very good! Just ate it with my daughter, we both liked it. I thought it was going to be super sweet, but it wasn't. It was just okay for us. I used mild cheddar for the topping and I couldn't taste the cheese. Maybe next time I will use a sharp cheddar instead or experiment with some other cheese.
Very good recipe. I was craving for cheese Ensemada, but this will do for now.
Gemma says
Hi Lalaine,
This recipe is really delicious, my family loves it. Will bake more next time. Thank you.
One question though, why my cupcakes has dimple in the middle? It did not came up like the one in your picture were it shows plain.
Jennifer Kiswanto says
Delicious! Thanks for the recipe ๐
Kim Albao says
I tried this recipe and it's really so good. First time to bake cheese cupcakes and I'm happy with the result. Thank you Ms. Lalaine!
Julianne Avellanosa says
This was really good!! Although I did cut back on the condensed milk since I thought it was too much. Only used 2/3 of the can but came out with just the right sweetness!! Soft & moist too hehe my family loved it! Thank you so much โบ๏ธ
Lalaine Manalo says
Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad you were able to adjust the recipe to your liking ๐
Jem Sikat says
Hello, ok lang po ba to remove the condensed milk?
Samantha says
Tried this. Delicious. Thanks dor the recipe!
Lalaine Manalo says
You're welcome. Glad you liked it.