Step 1

Preheat oven to 375°F. Place 18 paper liners in 2 (12-cup) muffin trays, or or coat 2 (12-cup) muffin trays with baking spray.

Step 2

Whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg and ginger in a large bowl. Whisk together pumpkin, eggs, butter, 1 ½ cups of the sugar, and 1 teaspoon of the vanilla in a medium bowl. Add pumpkin mixture to flour mixture, and whisk until just blended. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups (about ¼ per muffin cup).

Step 3

Stir together cream cheese, egg yolk, and remaining ¼ cup sugar and ½ teaspoon vanilla in a small bowl, until smooth. Dollop about 1 tablespoon cream cheese mixture onto pumpkin batter in each muffin cup; swirl gently with a wooden skewer.

Step 4

Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 18 to 22 minutes. Cool muffins in muffin tray, 10 minutes; remove and serve warm, or transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.