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Pumpkin Muffins

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Sink your teeth into the ultimate fall treat: pumpkin muffins topped with a can’t-resist pecan streusel!

Pumpkin muffins on a wire rack.

Of all the baking recipes I’ve shared over the years, my grandmother’s pumpkin bread remains the most popular. First published in the 1963 edition of McCall’s Cook Book, this recipe has truly withstood the test of time. Like most sweet quick breads, it’s easily transformed into muffins. In this pumpkin muffin recipe, I use nearly the same batter—which, by the way, is so delicious that there are always negotiations over who gets to lick the bowl and beaters! I then spoon it into a muffin tin and crown each with a cinnamon-spiced pecan streusel for an irresistible crunch.

Even my kids, who claim I “ruin everything with nuts,” love the topping. In the mood for a pumpkin muffin but would prefer something a bit more savory? These pumpkin cornbread muffins will surely scratch that itch!

“These are the best muffins I have ever made! Thank you so much for this recipe. We host a family reunion every October and these will be on the breakfast menu!”

Kerri

What You’ll Need To Make Pumpkin Muffins

Muffin ingredients including eggs, canned pumpkin, and baking soda.
  • ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR: Provides structure and texture to the batter and forms the base of the streusel. Measure by spooning it into the measuring cup and leveling it off to ensure accuracy.
  • BUTTER: Used in the batter for richness and flavor. Additionally, it binds the streusel ingredients together, helping create a crumbly texture.
  • DEMERARA SUGAR: Adds sweetness and a subtle caramel flavor to the streusel topping. Also called turbinado or raw cane sugar.
  • CHOPPED PECANS: Provide crunch and nuttiness, enhancing the texture and flavor of the streusel.
  • BAKING POWDER AND BAKING SODA: Act as leavening agents helping the muffins rise.
  • CLOVES, CINNAMON AND NUTMEG: Add warm, spicy flavor notes characteristic of pumpkin treats.
  • GRANULATED SUGAR: Adds sweetness and contributes to a moist texture.
  • EGGS: Add richness and help bind the muffin ingredients together.
  • CANNED PUMPKIN PURÉE: Provides moisture and pumpkin flavor. Make sure to purchase 100% pure pumpkin — not pumpkin pie filling.
  • Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements

Step-By-Step Instructions

Begin with the streusel topping: Combine the flour, butter, demerara sugar, chopped pecans and cinnamon in a small bowl.

Small bowl of streusel topping ingredients.

The mixture will be quite wet. Set aside. (Note: If you want to plan ahead a bit, the streusel topping can be made up three days ahead of time and kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready for use.)

Spatula mixing streusel topping.

Move on to the muffins: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.

Whisk well and set aside.

Whisk in a mixing bowl of dry ingredients.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar at low speed until just blended.

Electric mixer with a bowl of beaten butter and sugar.

Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Eggs in a bowl with beaten butter and sugar.

Continue beating at medium speed until very light and fluffy, a few minutes.

Electric mixer in a bowl with a yellow mixture.

Add the pumpkin.

Pumpkin in a bowl with a yellow egg, butter, and sugar mixture.

Beat until combined, scraping down the sides of bowl as necessary.

Orange mixture in a bowl with an electric mixer.

Add the flour mixture.

Pile of dry ingredients in a bowl with an orange mixture.

Mix on low speed until just combined.

Electric mixer in a bowl with pumpkin muffin batter.

Using an ice cream scoop or two spoons, transfer the batter to the prepared muffin pan, filling each cup full.

Muffin pan full of pumpkin muffin batter.

Using your fingers, divide the topping evenly over the muffin batter.

Muffin tray of pumpkin muffin batter topped with streusel topping.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick comes out clean.

Pumpkin muffins in a muffin pan.

Let the muffins cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto rack to cool completely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use fresh pumpkin instead of canned?

Definitely! If canned pumpkin isn’t available where you live, or you’d just prefer to use fresh, that’s not a problem.  For baking, the most flavorful pumpkins are smaller than those typically associated with Jack-O-Lanterns.  They’re usually in the 4 to 8-pound range and are referred to as sugar, cooking, or pie pumpkins.  This detailed piece from King Arthur Flour provides guidance on how to convert a whole pumpkin into purée that can be used in any of my pumpkin baked goods, pumpkin butter, or pumpkin soup.

We have a nut allergy in our house. What can I use in place of the pecans?

You can just omit the pecans. The streusel will still be delicious.

Can I freeze the muffins?

For sure — the muffins can be frozen in an airtight container or sealable plastic bag for up to 3 months. Thaw for 3 to 4 hours on the countertop before serving. To reheat, wrap individual muffins in aluminum foil and place in a preheated 350°F oven until warm.

Can I omit the streusel topping?

Yup — if you’re craving a plain muffin, simply omit the topping and add an extra ¼ cup of sugar to the batter.

Video Tutorial

Wire rack of pumpkin muffins.

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Pumpkin Muffins

Sink your teeth into the ultimate fall treat: pumpkin muffins topped with a can’t-resist pecan streusel!

Servings: 12 large muffins (see note)
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 35 Minutes
Total Time: 50 Minutes

Ingredients

For the Topping

  • 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 5 tablespoons demerara sugar (also called raw cane sugar or turbinado)
  • ¾ cup chopped pecans
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon

For the Muffins

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1½ sticks (¾ cup) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1½ cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 (15-ounce) can 100% pure pumpkin (I use Libby’s)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a standard muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  2. Begin with the topping: Combine the flour, butter, demerara sugar, chopped pecans and cinnamon in a small bowl. The mixture will be quite wet. Set aside.
  3. Move on to the muffins: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg. Set aside.
  4. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar at low speed until just blended. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition; continue beating until very light and fluffy, a few minutes. Add the pumpkin and beat until combined, scraping down the sides of bowl as necessary. Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until just combined.
  5. Using an ice cream scoop or two spoons, transfer the batter to the prepared muffin pan, filling each cup completely full. Using your fingers, divide the topping evenly over the batter. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick comes out clean. Let the muffins cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto rack to cool completely.
  6. Note: This recipe makes 12 large muffins. For smaller muffins, divide the batter into 18 muffin cups and bake for 30 minutes.
  7. Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The muffins can be frozen in an airtight container or sealable plastic bag for up to 3 months. Thaw for 3 – 4 hours on the countertop before serving. To reheat, wrap individual muffins in aluminum foil and place in a preheated 350°F oven until warm.

Nutrition Information

Powered by Edamam

  • Serving size: 1 muffin
  • Calories: 416
  • Fat: 22 g
  • Saturated fat: 11 g
  • Carbohydrates: 51 g
  • Sugar: 30 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 5 g
  • Sodium: 235 mg
  • Cholesterol: 74 mg

This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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Comments

  • These were pretty tasty. I skipped the toppings as I didn’t have pecans on hand. But will definitely try making again.

    • — Asli Dahir on February 15, 2024
    • Reply
  • My grandchildren love♥️ these muffins It’s the second time we’ve made them.My 10year old grandson and I made them together last night!! Thank you Grammy Kim

    • — Kim Fauver on January 24, 2024
    • Reply
  • I had a recipe similar it called for a cream cheese filling put some batter down first then a filling then cover rest with batter so I have stuff muffins I’m assumingdiit will be fine we’ll I’ll fine out wish me luck

    • — Tina Brown on January 17, 2024
    • Reply
  • As with your blueberry muffin (with almond extract), this muffin recipe is another hit! I took these to work and everyone raved about it. Thank you for sharing your recipe.

    • — Tina on December 28, 2023
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  • I tried some in a cupcake cup and some without. The ones without were much more crumbly, so next time I will use the cups. My Sister RAVED over the hot out of the oven muffin!! Said it was the BEST muffin she’d ever eaten in her LIFE! I used a fresh pie pumpkin that I processed, but I’m sure the canned would be just as good. I also experimented with adding some raisins in a few. It was REALLY good with the raisins too!! Next time, I’ll try cranberries!

    • — Jacquelyn King on December 13, 2023
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  • I added some oats to the topping just for fun. These are so pretty and tasty! Adding in to my rotation for sure.

    • — Linda on December 9, 2023
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  • Amazing recipe! We grow kabocha squash (Japanese pumpkins) and always have more than we know what to do with. I made my own pumpkin puree with the kabocha (following the King Arthur Flour link in the recipe) and it was stunning! Living in Hawai’i, we substituted the pecans for mac nuts, which worked well enough, but I think the bitterness of pecans would add a better contrast to the sweetness of the topping than mac nuts provide. This recipe needs no amendments and works perfectly!

    • — Victoria on December 7, 2023
    • Reply
  • Has anyone made these with brown sugar in the streusel part? TIA!

    • — Sarah on November 28, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi Sarah, it’s fine to use brown sugar. Enjoy!

      • — Jenn on November 29, 2023
      • Reply
  • Hi, I just made these muffins going strictly by the recipe except I didn’t have any cloves (like I thought), but based on earlier review it was heavy on spice. They are wonderful, my husband & I will definitely keep this & make again. I made the mini muffins & only baked for 15 min & the regular size muffin only baked for 25 minutes, toothpick came out clean on both when tested. Great recipe, thank you.

    • — Candy Arth on November 27, 2023
    • Reply
  • Hi Jenn,
    This was a great recipe. I had one problem. My topping tasted like a raw flour. I don’t know what was the problem. Thanks.

    • — barbara on November 26, 2023
    • Reply
  • Best muffins ever !! Delicious!

    • — Jane on November 26, 2023
    • Reply
  • These are fantastic, and wonderful served warm with extra butter! For a twist, I made half of them without the topping and iced them with lemon icing – like a lemon pumpkin cupcake, and it’s become my new favorite dessert! Trying to ration them out…

    • — Ellie B on November 25, 2023
    • Reply
  • This is the best pumpkin muffin recipe! I did decide to make mine a little more festive for the holiday, so I added pepitas and crystallized ginger. They were perfect without any changes, though. Everybody wanted to take them home today.

    • — Rob on November 23, 2023
    • Reply
  • Made these exactly per the recipe and they were a HUGE hit. Will definitely make these again and again. Thank you!

    • — Diane on November 22, 2023
    • Reply
  • Made them today they are fantastic will make again the crispy topping really adds to them. My new favourite recipe

    • — Joanne Carpenter on November 22, 2023
    • Reply
  • Amazing recipe!! I made them the other day and my family loved them!! Best pumpkin muffins I have ever made! Delicious!!!!!!!!!!
    Thank you – DB

    • — Diana on November 21, 2023
    • Reply
  • This recipe is delicious! I wonder if I could use part whole wheat flour and what ratio? Thank you!

    • — Daniela on November 21, 2023
    • Reply
    • Glad you like the muffins! I’d suggest starting by using half whole wheat and half all-purpose to make sure you like the texture. If you do like it, the next time you make this, you can up the ratio of whole wheat to white a bit more. Also, you may want to consider white whole wheat as it’s lighter and milder tasting than regular whole wheat flour (yet just as nutritious). I’d love to hear how it turns out!

      • — Jenn on November 22, 2023
      • Reply
  • Hello. I make these muffins but often substitute oil for the butter and it works out well. I was just wondering if the batter can be made ahead and kept in the refrigerator over night or for a few days? Thanks.

    • — JANE REISER WILLIAMS on November 20, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi Jane, So glad you like these! Unfortunately, it won’t work to refrigerate the batter as the muffins won’t rise well when you go to bake them. If you’d like, you can mix the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet in another and then combine them and proceed with the recipe when you’re ready to bake it.

      • — Jenn on November 21, 2023
      • Reply
      • Just let your batter get room temperature that’s what I did and turned out fine!!!!!😁

        • — Tina Brown on January 17, 2024
        • Reply
    • I had read a tip that refrigerated batter made the muffins rise higher. My batter was refrigerated a couple of days. They rose just fine. Can’t say they were any higher but it definitely worked for me.

      • — Jacquelyn King on December 13, 2023
      • Reply
  • I made these muffins. I make a lot of muffins and these are the best I have ever made. This is an outstanding recipe.

    • — Pam on November 18, 2023
    • Reply
  • I made these for a fundraiser since I needed a muffin that had a special touch. These did the trick. They a few extra minutes because of the topping but definitely worth it. Delicious and look pretty. I will make these again.

    I have a question about raw cane sugar. I confess I had not previously used it in baking. I noticed that the cane sugar in the topping sort of seemed to melt into the muffin where the muffins in your photo seemed to sparkle from the sugar. What is the secret when using it as a topping? I was wondering if you had sprinkled it on after baking?

    • — Cindy Simerly on November 17, 2023
    • Reply
    • Glad you liked the way these came out for your fundraiser! Regarding the sugar, while some of mine melts into the topping, I still definitely have granules that remain intact and provide some texture. I don’t sprinkle it on after baking and I’m not quite sure why yours would just melt into the topping – wish I could be more helpful!

      • — Jenn on November 19, 2023
      • Reply
  • So good! I had freshly roasted pumpkin so I used that and needed to substitute cake flour because it was all we had and they came out perfect! Thank you!

    • — Michelle on November 17, 2023
    • Reply
  • Has anyone made these in a mini muffin pan?

    • — JC on November 16, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi JC, I haven’t but you can. They’ll take less time in the oven – I’d start checking them at 10 minutes (although they may take up to 15). Hope you enjoy!

      • — Jenn on November 16, 2023
      • Reply
  • Jenn never misses! I adapted slightly because I wanted pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, so skipped the topping, added about a cup (I measure chocolate with my heart) of dark chocolate chips. Didn’t add any extra sugar, and they were perfect. I used my big cookie scoop and got 18. I always come to Jenn now when I want to make something new, and I’ve yet to find a recipe that isn’t 5 stars!

    • — Maya on November 12, 2023
    • Reply
  • Ahhhmazing! The only thing I did differently was to add more of each spice (personal preference), added about 1 tsp of vanilla and used only 1 C of sugar. So incredibly moist inside and the topping creates a “creme brulee like” crunchy crust. When I share these, people tell me I could start a bakery and sell only these 🙂 LOVE, LOVE, your site Jenn, and each and every one of your recipes that I’ve tried. Your instructions and helpful insight (ex. “this will be very wet”) are so appreciated.

    • — Julia Blackstone on November 12, 2023
    • Reply
  • Perfect pumpkin muffins. light, fluffy and not too sweet. added a pinch of ginger since we are fans.

    • — charrington on November 12, 2023
    • Reply
  • I made this with half your quantity and made 8 good size muffins. The topping I reduced a little less than the half. Came out great and I am saving it. Extremely tasty with every bite. Sharing half with some guests I am visiting today.

    • — Shanthini Jayanthan on November 10, 2023
    • Reply
  • These were very good! However, I think next time I will add less nutmeg and clove. The spice was so intense it almost tasted floral to me. Other than that, delicious!

    • — Mallory on November 9, 2023
    • Reply

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