Healthy Pumpkin Muffins
These healthy pumpkin muffins are lightened up with less oil and naturally sweetened with maple syrup but still moist and fluffy. The perfect grab-and-go snack to have on hand this fall.
Fall is synonymous with baking in my mind. As soon as it is no longer too hot to have the oven on, I start daydreaming about baking muffins, quick breads and more. These healthy pumpkin spice muffins are one of the first things I bake when the leaves start to change.
These delicious muffins are packed with the flavors of fall and sweetened with just maple syrup instead of sugar. Feel free to make them your own by adding mix-ins like raisins, chocolate chips, or nuts. They also freeze well so make a double batch and save the rest for later!
Ingredients for Pumpkin Spice Muffins
Use these simple and fresh ingredients packed with nutritional value to make these delicious healthy pumpkin muffins.
Eggs: the eggs in this recipe add moisture and give the muffins structure.
Canned Pumpkin Puree: make sure to buy the pure pumpkin puree and not the pumpkin pie filling which is sweetened. You can use homemade pumpkin puree as well.
Pure Maple Syrup: to add natural sweetness to these muffins, we’re using pure maple syrup instead of refined sugar like granulated sugar or brown sugar. It means these muffins have less added sugar and the maple flavor pairs well with the pumpkin and warm spices.
Oil: any neutral tasting oil works well for this recipe – like avocado oil or melted coconut oil.
Milk: use either dairy milk or your favorite plant milk of choice (soy milk, almond milk, or oat milk). If using a non-dairy milk, make sure to use one that is unsweetened and unflavored.
All Purpose Flour: creates a fluffy muffin. If you want to make these whole grain – we recommend doing half whole wheat flour and half all purpose flour.
Pumpkin Pie Spice: adds delicious flavor from a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and cloves.
Baking Powder & Baking Soda: add lift for a fluffy muffin.
Variations
Add Mix-Ins: feel free to experiment with different mix-ins for these easy pumpkin muffins. We suggest: chocolate chips, dried cranberries, raisins, chopped walnuts, pecans, or pumpkin seeds.
Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins: add ⅓ cup of old fashioned rolled oats to the batter before baking these muffins for an oatmeal version.
Pumpkin Banana Muffins: use 1 banana (mashed well) in place of ½ cup pumpkin puree in the recipe.
Pumpkin Muffins with Applesauce: if you want to omit the oil for a lower fat pumpkin muffin, you can replace the oil in this recipe with unsweetened applesauce.
Make them Vegan (ie. Dairy free, Egg free): omit the eggs and use 2 flax eggs instead (mix 2 tablespoons ground flaxseeds with 5 tablespoons water). Use a plant-based milk as well.
Make them Gluten Free: use a gluten free 1-to-1 baking flour instead of the all purpose flour for these muffins.
How to Make Healthy Pumpkin Muffins
This healthy pumpkin muffin recipe is simple to put together in a few steps.
Prep the Muffin Tin: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line muffin tin with paper muffin liners or grease well with oil.
Mix the Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs, canned pumpkin, maple syrup, oil, and milk to a large bowl and stir well with a whisk.
Add the Dry Ingredients: Add the flour, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt to the bowl and stir with a wooden spoon just until mixed.
Add to Muffin Tin & Bake: Divide dough evenly between 12 muffin cups. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the muffin comes out clean. Allow to cool 5-10 minutes before removing from the muffin tin and placing on a rack to cool completely.
Store: cooled muffins can be stored in an airtight container on the counter for up to 3 days. You can also add the muffins to a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
Tools You’ll Need
Muffin pan
Mixing bowls
Measuring cups
Tips for Success
Use room temperature eggs as these mix better into the batter.
Don’t overmix your batter or else you may have flatter, dense muffins.
Don’t have pumpkin pie spice? Use this recipe to make your own.
Fill the muffin cups just ¾ of the way to leave room for the muffins to rise in the oven.
Top the muffins with a sprinkle of coconut sugar or turbinado sugar for a delicious crunchy topping (that’s pretty too!).
You can make mini muffins as well! Just divide the batter between 24 mini muffin cups and bake for 1/2 the total time (just 9-11 minutes).
Can You Freeze Pumpkin Muffins?
Yes, these healthy pumpkin muffins freeze well so make a double batch! Allow them to cool to room temperature before transferring them to a freezer bag or airtight container. These yummy muffins can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Allow to thaw in the refrigerator or reheat in the microwave.