Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a muffin tin with liners or grease it lightly.
In a mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, sugar, oil, and eggs. Whisk until the mixture is smooth and fully combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and pumpkin pie spice. Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Do not overmix!
In another bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. If you’re adding any sweetener, mix it in now.
Fill each muffin cup halfway with the pumpkin batter, add a dollop of cream cheese filling in the center, and top off with more of the pumpkin batter until each cup is about 3/4 full.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
Enjoy these muffins warm or let them cool completely. They can be stored in an airtight container for up to one week or freeze them for later!