Mini Healthy Pumpkin Muffins (High Protein, Low Sugar, So Yummy!) (2024)

With just a handful of nutritious ingredients, these Healthy Pumpkin Muffins are a treat that we love to make and enjoy each fall for breakfast, snack time, or as a simple side dish for dinner. And it’s easy to adjust for allergies as needed!

Healthy Pumpkin Muffins

This easy muffin recipe is loaded with nutrients and the batter simple stirs together in a bowl or blender. Plus, the muffins bake up in just 14 minutes! We make a few batches of these muffins each fall when pumpkin fever is running high—and if I’m lucky, I get to stash some into the freezer for future days.

I love this recipe even more because you simply stir the ingredients together in a bowl—no fancy tools or a pile of bowls needed. It also tastes, great, is super easy, a great way to use up leftover pumpkin, and would be a great one to make with the kids if you like to have them in the kitchen with you.

We love to eat these plain, topped with a drizzle of honey, or even topped with a smear of cream cheese to transform them into pumpkin cupcakes. And you can make one simple adjustment to make them added-sugar-free as a baby muffin.

Ingredients You Need

To make this pumpkin recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients so you know what to have on hand or to pick up from the store.

• Whole-wheat flour: Or you can trade in a gluten-free flour blend.
• Almond butter: Or you can use peanut or sunflower seed butter.
• Pumpkin puree: You can use canned or homemade pumpkin puree. (Do not use pumpkin pie filling.)
• Vanilla extract
• Neutral oil: Such as canola or avocado. You could also use melted coconut oil or butter.
• Maple syrup: Or honey for kids over age 1. You can also use the same amount of applesauce to make this muffin recipe added-sugar-free.
• Pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon: For lots of flavor.
• Baking powder and baking soda: To help the muffins rise nicely.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s a look at how to make these simple Pumpkin Muffins. Scroll down to the bottom of this post for the full information.

1. Preheat oven and grease a mini muffin tin with nonstick spray. Gather all ingredients.
2. Add all ingredients to a blender and blend well. OR add to a large bowl and whisk well to thoroughly combine the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
3. Spoon the batter into muffin tins. (Be sure to grease the tin well with nonstick cooking spray. I find that to be better than using muffin liners, which may stick to the muffins.)
4. Bake until golden brown and firm to the touch. Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack.

TIP: The muffins are done when they are set on top, have little cracks, and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out cleanly.

Protein Muffins with Pumpkin

The nut butter and eggs in these muffins lends each one almost 3 grams of protein, which is pretty good for a little muffin. Each muffin also has a range of balanced nutrition which makes them a nice snack or meal component.

They are very moist and not too dense, which makes them a nice texture for toddlers who may struggle with the texture of bread.

TIP: Cut them into small cubes for younger toddlers as needed for easier chewing.

Can I make these Pumpkin Muffins nut-free?

You can use sunflower seed butter instead of the almond butter called for in the recipe, but know that there seems to be about a 50/50 chance that the finished muffins will turn green. If you do use sunflower seed butter, I would recommend omitting the baking soda to reduce the likelihood of this happening. (They’d still be safe to eat, they’re just a funny looking color!)

How to Store

You can store these Pumpkin Muffins in an airtight container or storage bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or in the fridge. We like to let these cool fully and eat them at room temperature or chilled.

If freezing in a freezer bag, lay flat so the muffins are in one layer so they’re easy to remove from the bag one at a time—or thaw evenly if thawing the whole bag at once.

Best Tips for Success

• To make this pumpkin muffin recipe nut-free, use sunflower seed butter and omit the baking soda.
• To make egg-free, use a product like Just Eggs instead of something like flax eggs.
• Serve chilled or at room temperature.
• You can use pureed butternut squash instead of pumpkin puree.
• Use canned or homemade pumpkin puree.
• Add ¼ cup raisins, cranberries, or chocolate chips to the batter for extra flavor. Add extra pumpkin spice or even a little ground ginger if you like.
• Eat these plain, topped with a drizzle of honey, or apple butter.
• Let the almond butter sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes to ensure it’s not too hard when it’s time to stir.
• Use the same amount of applesauce in place of the maple syrup to make these added-sugar-free.

I’d love to hear what you think of the recipe if you try it, so please comment below with your thoughts!

This post was first published November 2017.