This recipe for Pumpkin Muffins is soft, moist, sweet and believe it or not, secretly healthy! Add on a few pepitas before baking to make these look like you bought them fresh out of a bakery.
I love pumpkin muffins! This is my go-to fall recipe and so simple to throw together! Of course, blueberry muffins or banana bread muffins are classic options all year round, but it’s these pumpkin ones that get made on repeat come October!
Pumpkin Muffin Recipe
After testing and retesting several recipes, I found the best ingredients for creating a moist, light, sweet crumb for these pumpkin muffins were: honey + brown sugar for sweetness, canned pumpkin puree and light tasting oil (like a vegetable, canola or light olive oil).
There are other common ingredients needed as well like whole wheat flour, leavenings, eggs, and spices, but it really just comes down to the oil, pumpkin, and sweeteners that make all the difference in baking.
Because the recipe does call for whole wheat flour, honey, pepitas, olive oil, and pumpkin puree, these could be considered a healthy muffin, though it depends on your definition of ‘healthy’. Ha!
If you love these muffins be sure to check out: Pumpkin Bran Muffins Recipe, Skinny Mini Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins, and Glazed Pumpkin Bran Muffins.
How to make Pumpkin Muffins
Believe it or not, it only takes about 30 minutes, one bowl and a handful of pantry ingredients to make these easy muffins from scratch.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin tin with paper liners and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk all the dry ingredients together until combined. Create a well in the center.
- Measure and pour remaining wet ingredients into the well.
- Slowly incorporate the wet ingredients in with the dry. Stir until just combined.
- Scoop into muffin tins and sprinkle with pepitas.
- Bake 20 minutes or until thoroughly baked.
Scroll down to the bottom of this post to get the printable recipe card with the full directions and proper increments.
What are pepitas? Do I have to use them?
Pepitas are pumpkin seeds that don’t have a white shell that derive only from certain varieties of pumpkins. See those green looking seeds on top of my muffins? Those are pepitas. And if you don’t like them or can’t find them, you do not have to use them!
Keep your pumpkin muffins plain or better yet, try substituting a few chocolate chips!
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
You can easily adapt this recipe into a pumpkin chocolate chip muffin by folding in 1/2 cup chocolate chips into the batter and then topping each muffin with a few extra chocolate chips before baking. Easy and delicious!
More Pumpkin Recipes!
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread
- Pumpkin Bars (easy!)
- Soft Pumpkin Sugar Cookies
- Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Spread
For a full list of all my pumpkin recipes available on my site, click here.
Below is the printable recipe card. Be sure to print/save/bookmark/pin this one because it’s a great one you’re not going to want to lose this one! Have a great day, friends!
Bakery-Style Pumpkin Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup canned pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil or canola or light olive oil
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 cup pepitas
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tins with paper liners and set aside.
- In a large bowl, stir all dry ingredients until well mixed. Create a well in the center and add in the eggs, pumpkin, oil, honey, and vanilla. Stir until dry ingredients are just absorbed. Scoop into muffin tins 2/3 way full and top with a sprinkling of pepitas.
- Bake 20 minutes or until completely cooked. Remove and cool 5 minutes before removing and serving.
Karen @ On the Banks of Salt Creek says
I loved when my kids were potty trained. What I didn’t love was no more one-piece zip up PJ’s. We moved them to twin beds as soon as they were potty trained so they could get up and go if necessary. It was good….but I still miss those onesy PJ’s with the feet. Memories.
sue|theviewfromgreatisland says
You know, I’ve never met a pumpkin muffin I didn’t love, but this one looks especially tempting, love those pepitas — pinning!
Happy Valley Chow says
Om nom nom nom, those look like some delicious muffins! Great recipe, pinned 🙂
Cookbook Queen says
Jon David was a breeze to potty train. Lucy, however…not so much. She has her own ideas about when she will decide to use it, and now is not the time :/
These muffins are absolutely gorgeous! I love how simple they are to make. Always a bonus!
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
These pumpkin muffins were perfect….having one with my coffee right now!
Liz says
These muffins sound delicious. Thank you. Your son will get there soon. Don’t give up and relax.
Tosja G. says
These look and sound so deliciously!! Can’t wait to try!
Senika @ Foodie Blog Stalker says
LOVE that these only use one bowl! And those pepitas on top totally complete the pumpkin perfection!
Amy D. says
I made these tonight, and the texture and consistency is spot on! So moist, light, and you can hardly tell they’re made with whole wheat. My husband and I loved them. I added chocolate chips instead of pepitas, because honestly, I don’t even know what those are. 🙂 Another winner!!!
Theresa McInerney says
I saved this recipe from October and I’m glad I did! Just made them and they are perfect. They’re moist, flavorful, and the pumpkin seeds give just right amount of crunch on top. They heat up nice the next morning too. I gave some to a friend and her response -these muffins are the bomb – I want that recipe. Won’t she be glad that it’s one bowl too! Pepitas! I just love saying that word 🙂 Thanks, Lauren
Debra says
I don’t have paper liners but I do have silicone liners, are those okay to use or can I just spray the muffin pan with some canola oil?
Lauren says
I’ve never used the silicone liners and am not confident in saying those would work well. A little nonstick cooking spray in the muffin tins should work just fine though!
Arielle says
I seriously love all your recipes, but this… THIS pumpkin muffin recipe is speaking to my soul! ☺️ Cannot get enough pumpkin recipes made this time of year! Can’t wait to try these! They look delish!! 🙌🏻