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These Healthy Pumpkin Muffins are tender, moist, totally delicious and so easy to make. One bite and you’ll want to make them again and again.
Fall means so many things.It’s finally sweater weather.Cool days and cooler nights. The leaves are putting on their last show of breathtaking beauty and the holidays are coming. That also means fabulous comfort food.Like these Healthy Pumpkin Muffins.
I’ve always loved making pumpkin bread.It helped that a dear friend gave me a gorgeous pumpkin bread pan that she found at Williams-Sonoma.That pan is exceptional and so beautiful with its embossed pumpkins. It just makes you want to bake.So every Fall I get out that bread pan and whip up some pumpkin bread.
This year though I decided to change it up a bit.I opted for pumpkin muffins.And I wanted them to be healthy…of course.So instead of flour I decided to make my own oat flour out of rolled oats. Super easy with a food processor or blender.
The result was a tender muffin that is wonderfully moist from the pumpkin purée. And instead of adding nuts inside, I decided just to make a crumble for the topping.
These were an instant hit.
Ingredients for Healthy Pumpkin Muffins
- Rolled oats: Which will turn into flour in your food processor
- Sugar: True, I substituted honey, but sugar works well in this recipe
- Baking soda:It makes these muffins rise beautifully
- Pumpkin pie spice:For pumpkin muffins…what else?
- Salt:Just a bit
- Pumpkin Purée:The star of the show
- Almond milk:This is my go-to milk
- Butter:For moistness and flavor
- Eggs:Again for rising
- Vanilla:Nothing beats vanilla for flavor
- Pecans:For crunchy caramel flavor
- Pumpkin Seeds: For Perfect Fall crunchiness
How to Make Healthy Pumpkin Muffins
Add rolled oats to a food processor and blend until the oats become oat flour.This will take 3-4 minutes.
It turns into wonderfully fluffy flour.
Then add the dry ingredients, the oat flour, sugar, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice and salt, to a medium mixing bowl and blend the ingredients together.
In a separate bowl add the wet ingredients, the pumpkin purée, almond milk, butter, eggs and vanilla and mix until combined.
Then gently fold the wet mixture into the dry mixture.This is really important because the muffins won’t rise if you over mix them.
Next add muffin liners to a 12 cup cupcake pan.I found some really cute muffin liners on Amazon, but regular muffin liners work on this recipe as well. Then just divide the pumpkin batter evenly between the muffin liners.
I intentionally didn’t put nuts inside the muffins, because they have a tendency to get too soft when they’re baked inside batter.So instead I decided to make a crunchy topping of oat flour, brown sugar, pumpkin spice, salt, melted butter and some candied pumpkin seeds that I found at Trader Joe’s.
After dividing the topping evenly over the muffins, I baked the muffins in a 375 F preheated oven for about 28 minutes.
Really so easy to make. We loved them. Hope you do too.
Happy Fall, Ya’All!
Print Recipe
Healthy Pumpkin Muffins
These Healthy Pumpkin Muffins are tender, moist, totally delicious and so easy to make. One bite and you'll want to make these again and again.
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Cook Time28 minutes mins
Total Time43 minutes mins
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Healthy Pumpkin Muffins
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 233kcal
Author: Pam - Two Cups of Health
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 Cups Rolled oats Save 1 cup for the the topping
- 1/2 Cup Sugar
- 1 tsp Baking soda
- 1 Tbsp Pumpkin pie spice
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 Cup Pureed pumkin
- 1/4 Cup Almond milk
- 1/4 Cup Butter (Unsalted) melted
- 2 Eggs
- 1 tsp Vanilla
- 1/3 Cup Pecans Chopped
- 5 Tbsp Brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 tsp Pumpkin pie spice
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 4 Tbsp Butter (Unsalted) melted
- 2 Tbsp Pumpkin Seeds
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
Line a 12 cup muffin pan with 12 liners.
Add oats to a food processor and blend until it becomes oat flour, about 3 minutes. (Reserve 1 cup for the topping.)
In a medium bowl add 1 1/2 cups of oat flour, sugar, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice and salt. Stir to combine.
In a separate bowl add the wet ingredients: Pumpkin puree, milk, butter, eggs and vanilla. Mix with a mixer until combined.
Then gently fold the flour mixture into the wet mixture. This step is important because over mixing will cause the muffins not to rise.
Divide the pumpkin batter into the muffin liners.
For the topping: Combine the reserved 1 cup of oat flour with the pecans, brown sugar, sugar, pumpkin pie spice, salt and melted butter. Stir until crumbly.
Divide the topping over each muffin. Then sprinkle each muffin with about 1/2 tsp pumpkin seeds.
Bake 25-28 minutes until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Nutrition
Calories: 233kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 290mg | Potassium: 106mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 276IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1mg
For Similar Recipes:
Tex-Mex Corn Muffins
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FAQs
This Healthy Pumpkin Muffins recipe is made with whole grains, less butter and sugar, and only 160 calories each! They taste just like the bakery and are freezer friendly!
What makes a muffin healthy or unhealthy? ›
Signs of a healthy muffin recipe are whole-food ingredients like fruit, veggies, nuts, seeds, eggs, and low-fat milk and yogurt (or a dairy-free alternative). Fats from plant-based oils or moderate amounts of butter can be incorporated into a muffin recipe — remember, you are making 12 servings.
Why are my pumpkin muffins so dense? ›
Too much leavening – If there is too much baking soda or powder in the batter, muffins will rise temporarily, then collapse. This causes them to become dense. For every cup of flour, you only need 1 teaspoon of baking powder or 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda.
How much protein is in a Pumpkin Muffin? ›
How much protein is in a pumpkin muffin? Each muffin contains 11 grams of protein.
What is a good substitute for pumpkin in baking? ›
Luckily, we also make two of the best substitutes for pumpkin as well! Organic Butternut Squash Puree and Sweet Potato puree! You can sub these in a 1-to-1 ratio with no issue in just about any recipe.
How many calories is one Costco Pumpkin Muffin? ›
Costco Pumpkin Muffins (1 muffin) contains 43g total carbs, 42g net carbs, 17g fat, 4g protein, and 340 calories.
How many calories in a Starbucks Pumpkin Muffin? ›
There are 350 calories in 1 muffin (113 g) of Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin. * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.
What is the healthiest type of muffin? ›
Best: Soozy's Grain-Free Match Green Tea Muffin
They're made with whole-food ingredients, including almond flour, whole eggs, and coconut cream. We love that they're a lower-sugar option and don't contain any artificial sweeteners. Plus, the almond flour keeps these low in carbs and high in fiber.
Are muffins OK for weight loss? ›
A high-fiber, low-fat option with calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and selenium, whole wheat English muffins make a great weight loss breakfast food. But be careful what you put on it. Adding tons of butter or jelly may also pack on unnecessary calories.
Will I gain weight if I eat a muffin? ›
Muffins are a quick and easy choice for breakfast on the go, but unfortunately, many bakery and coffee shop muffins are high in calories and added sugar, and they lack protein and fiber. If your goal is to lose weight, these kinds of muffins are not the best option.
How to Make Homemade Muffins Moist: Our Top Tips
- Tips to Make Homemade Muffins Moist.
- Keep Wet and Dry Ingredients Separately.
- Add All Flavorings Last.
- Consider Paper Liners.
- Don't Overfill the Muffin Cups.
- Check the Temperature of Your Oven.
- Test if Muffins Are Fully Cooked.
- Top Your Muffins with Flavor.
Bake muffins on the center rack in a preheated oven. Muffins require a hot oven, between 375°F and 425°F. Follow recipe directions. When baking more than one pan of muffins, allow enough room around each pan and between the pans and the sides of the oven for the heat to circulate.
What is the secret to high muffins? ›
Option #2: High to Low Baking Temperatures
The idea here is to start the muffins in a very hot oven for just a short amount of time. This activates the baking powder and allows the muffins to shoot up in height quickly. We then turn the heat down and continue to cook for longer.
How many calories in a Dunkin Donuts pumpkin muffin? ›
There are 550 calories in 1 muffin of Dunkin' Donuts Pumpkin Muffin.
Does canned pumpkin have protein? ›
It's nutrient dense, meaning it has lots of vitamins and minerals and relatively few calories. One cup (245 grams) of canned pumpkin provides ( 1 ): Calories: 137. Protein: 3 grams.
What vegetable is equivalent to pumpkin? ›
Butternut Squash
If you like pumpkin but want to try something different, butternut squash is the perfect fruit for you. Similar to pumpkin but slightly sweeter, butternut squash is high in fiber and potassium and known to help reduce blood pressure.
What is the best pumpkin to bake with? ›
When shopping for pumpkins, look for the ones usually generically labeled “sugar pumpkins” or “pie pumpkins.” Some specific names are Baby Pam, Autumn Gold, Ghost Rider, New England Pie Pumpkin, Lumina (which are white), Cinderella, and Fairy Tale.
Can I use canned pumpkin instead of pumpkin puree? ›
Canned pumpkin (labeled as "100% pure pumpkin") is a purée of pumpkin that is sometimes mixed with other kinds of winter squash. It is unsweetened and does not contain any added spices. Canned pumpkin and pumpkin puree are the same thing, and you'll often see the terms used interchangeably in recipes and cookbooks.
How many calories are in the average homemade muffin? ›
The calories in a muffin can differ drastically based on its size and ingredients. A small, plain muffin might have around 200 calories, whereas a more oversized, more indulgent muffin—think chocolate chip or blueberry—can pack over 500 calories!
How many calories are in one slice of homemade pumpkin bread? ›
Anyway, it's moist, it's pumpkin-ee and a perfect fix with coffee. So here's the thing, I was looking at nutritional information for regular, full-calorie pumpkin bread and it averages about 179 calories per slice.
There are 351 calories in 1 medium Pumpkin Muffin.
How many calories in a cup of baked pumpkin? ›
There are 49 calories in a cup of cooked pumpkin. In comparison to zucchini, a similar fruit (yes, both pumpkin and zucchini are fruits, not vegetables, at least botanically), pumpkin contains slightly more than double the calories per cup.
After dividing the topping evenly over the muffins, I baked the muffins in a 375 F preheated oven for about 28 minutes. 
