Easy Pumpkin Muffins

I turn to easy pumpkin muffins again and again on busy fall days. They make super simple breakfasts, pack easily into lunch boxes, and are exactly what I want with my afternoon tea. 

This one-bowl pumpkin muffin recipe uses a whole can of pumpkin and is ready in under an hour. The muffins are oh-so-tender and bursting with the pumpkin flavor we all crave on cool fall days. 

Not only is this pumpkin muffin recipe easy, it’s also very adaptable. Some of my favorite add-ins are chocolate chips, chopped toasted pecans, raisins, and dried cranberries. You can also make simple adaptations, such as replacing the oil with melted butter or using all brown sugar instead of a mix of sugars.

What Ingredients Are in Pumpkin Muffins?

The ingredients in this easy pumpkin muffin recipe are quite simple. You probably have them all in your pantry right now! Canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice are the stars of the recipe. 

When buying canned pumpkin, look for cans labeled pumpkin puree or 100% pure pumpkin. Avoid canned pumpkin pie mix or canned pumpkin pie filling, as these contain sugar and spices. Fun fact: though cans are labeled pumpkin puree, most are made with a mixture of pumpkin and golden-fleshed winter squash for the best texture. 

Pumpkin pie spice can differ from brand to brand but typically include cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and then possibly cloves or allspice, as well. The muffins are minimally flavored with just enough spice to round out the robust pumpkin.

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How To Make Pumpkin Muffins

Making these muffins is so easy! Everything is mixed in one bowl, starting with the liquid ingredients. The sugar and spices are added in, followed by the flour, and finally milk to loosen the batter and help with browning. Be sure to stir until the batter is uniform in color.

Once the muffins are out of the oven, let them cool for a couple minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack. This keeps the bottoms of the muffins from steaming in a hot pan. Though it’s hard to resist a warm muffin, the texture of the muffins is best once they’ve cooled completely. 

Serving Pumpkin Muffins

I prefer my muffins split in half with a generous pat of salted butter, but I’m lucky if I get more than one before they’re gone. Usually, these muffins are eaten by my teens for breakfast while running out the door or as an after school snack for them and their friends.

Is Canned Pumpkin the Same as Pumpkin Puree?

Yes, if you are buying it in the store, then you’ll find canned pumpkin sometimes labeled pumpkin puree. Pumpkin puree can also be made at home using fresh sugar pumpkins. Avoid cans that say “pumpkin pie filling” because they often have sugar and spices already added. If in doubt, check the label. Pumpkin should be the only ingredient.