Pumpkin Muffins

Article by: Krissy Downey

Pumpkin muffins are the perfect warm breakfast, and our recipe takes them to the next level with a pumpkin spice swirl nestled right in the middle of each muffin. These muffins are not only perfectly moist and bursting with rich pumpkin flavor, but they’re also surprisingly simple to make, using a few professional baking techniques that ensure stunning, bakery-worthy results every time. These quintessential muffins are perfect for the fall season, but canned pumpkin means you can enjoy them all year long.

Key Ingredients in Our Best Pumpkin Muffins

Pumpkin puree: Canned pumpkin puree does a few things here. First, it’s the easiest way to pack the muffins with pumpkin flavor, but the texture also helps make these pumpkin muffins moist and velvety smooth.

Sugar: We use both granulated sugar and brown sugar to add a rich depth of flavor.

Oil: Vegetable oil has a neutral flavor but helps achieve the right texture in the muffins.

Milk: Full-fat milk enhances the flavor and texture in muffins. The fat adds richness and moisture, resulting in a softer, more tender crumb.

Flour: Keep it simple with all-purpose flour.

Pumpkin pie spice: The pumpkin spice swirl sets these muffins apart from the rest. We use just storebought pumpkin spice, which is typically a mix of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and allspice.

Why Does this Recipe Lower the Oven Temperature?

Starting at a high oven temperature and lowering it after five minutes is a baking technique designed to create muffins with a tall, bakery-style dome. The initial high temperature causes a

rapid rise right when the muffins go in the oven. After that, reducing the temperature ensures that the muffins bake evenly without drying out. This technique will yield muffins that are moist on the inside and slightly crisp on the outside.

Can I Add Chocolate Chips?

Yes! Fold 1/2 cup of semisweet chocolate chips into the batter for a sweet addition. It is also fun to divide the batter and add 1/4 cup of chocolate chips to one half for some pumpkin chocolate chip muffins and some classic.

Do Pumpkin Muffins Need to be Refrigerated?

This is a very simple pumpkin muffin recipe, and there is no dairy topping or filling, so they do not need to be refrigerated. Different kinds of muffins that have fillings and toppings will likely have to go in the fridge.

Can This Recipe Be Made into Mini Muffins?

Yes, you can adjust the recipe to fit in a mini muffin tin and reduce the baking time to about 10-12 minutes. However, we love these muffins because they are super moist, have a tall dome, and contain that beautiful pumpkin spice swirl. You’ll lose the effect of those three things if you turn these into mini muffins.

How Long Will These Muffins Last?

These muffins will stay moist for days! Store them in an airtight container, and they should keep for up to four days.