These Healthy Pumpkin Muffins are low sugar, low fat and yet sweet and moist fall breakfast, afternoon snack or dessert. They are delicious and so easy to make!
This time of year, pumpkin banana muffins, healthy apple muffins and pumpkin chocolate chip muffins are among our favorite recipes to make.
Table of contents
Healthy pumpkin muffins recipe is a delicious way to cheer you up while mourning the end of summer days yet at the same time welcoming busy days of fall. They fill any kitchen with warm delicious smells of autumn.
These fluffy muffins are a copycat of Starbucks pumpkin cream cheese muffins but with 2 times less sugar and fat, 1.5 times less calories and carbs, and 3 times more fiber!
And such an easy muffin recipe, they will quickly become your new favorite!
I love to transform favorite restaurant recipes into their healthier, budget-friendly versions like egg bites in Instant Pot. And there are many reasons to love to do so!
Why We Love This Pumpkin Recipe
- Low sugar and low fat: Starbucks pumpkin cream cheese muffin contains 14 grams of fat and 34 grams of sugar. These delicious muffins have only 7 grams of fat and 19 grams of sugar. Might seem high but that’s twice less, and muffin still has to taste good!
- Wholesome ingredients: Including whole grains and pure pumpkin puree which are an amazing source of vitamins, nutrients and fiber.
- Easy to make: Basic ingredients and no separate bowls – less mess, less stress!
- Freezer friendly: Make a batch now and freeze a few later to enjoy while viewing fall colors or after visiting the pumpkin patch!
- Craving satisfied: Move over PSL, these are the best healthy pumpkin muffins with warm spices that hit the spot!
Ingredients and Notes
For the best pumpkin muffins results, you will need following ingredients:
- Canned pumpkin puree: You can use homemade pumpkin puree as well, although it is often a bit more watery. It should be OK. Here is a quick tutorial how to roast pumpkin and make pumpkin puree.
- Eggs: No need for room temperature, we are keeping pumpkin spice muffins easy. I have not tried making these muffins vegan, but you can try to substitute eggs with flax eggs.
- Any oil: A neutral oil such as avocado oil, light olive oil or melted coconut oil.
- Maple syrup or honey: I like the pumpkin season touch that natural sweeteners like pure maple syrup and honey add. Please do not use any sugar like white sugar, brown sugar, coconut sugar etc. as batter consistency will be offset.
- Pure vanilla extract: Used to enhance the flavors, use pure not imitation.
- Whole wheat flour: See FAQs and recipe notes about possible substitutions.
- Cream cheese and pepitas: Optional for filling, but if you are craving Starbucks pumpkin cream cheese muffin, this will satisfy.
- Spices: Make your own pumpkin pie spice substitute blend or purchase at your grocer in the spice aisle.
Recipe Tip
All out of pumpkin spice blend? Simplify by using 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon each of ginger, nutmeg, cloves and allspice. Alternately, if your spice drawer is bare, use 2-3 teaspoon of cinnamon (depending on your love of cinnamon!) and call it good.
Is Pumpkin Puree the Same as Canned Pumpkin?
Yes. Pumpkin purée is the same as canned pumpkin. DIY pumpkin puree works as as well in baked goods and pretty much all pumpkin recipes.
Make sure not to buy pumpkin pie filling that has added refined sugar and spices. Read the label.
How to Make Healthy Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
This healthy pumpkin muffin recipe is easy like any of my healthy muffins. One bowl because life, am I right?!
First whisk the eggs in large bowl. This step eliminates old fashioned way of mixing wet ingredients and dry ingredients separately.
Then add a can of pumpkin puree, maple syrup, oil, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk well until you no longer see white lumps.
Honey Tip
If using honey, it takes a bit more effort to combine with other ingredients. Make sure honey is liquid or warm up solid honey on the stove or in a microwave. Add flour and gently stir with spatula. I let flour sit and absorb liquids for a few seconds before stirring again.
Add flour: Gently stir in the flour. Don’t over mix! Then scoop batter into a prepared muffin tin. I like to use large cookie scoop.
Whether to line the muffin cups with parchment paper liners depends how non-stick is your pan.
Now you are ready to bake your muffins or add optional but or so good cream cheese filling.
Add cream cheese. Amount is completely up to you, I used about 1-2 teaspoons. Make a cavity with a back of a spoon, add 1 tsp or more of cream cheese and swirl it with a toothpick.
Cream Cheese Tip
Cream cheese products differ. One is softer and you can swirl it, other one is harder and you just bake it as is.
Bake for 20 minutes at 375 degrees F. Even if you insert toothpick into the center of the muffins and it comes out a bit wet, remove muffins from the oven.
You don’t want to over bake this pumpkin muffin recipe. Cool these little guys in a muffin pan for 5 minutes, then a few more minutes on a wire rack.
How to Store These Muffins
To store and prevent muffins from drying, place in a resealable bag or airtight container and store on a counter for 3 days.
These healthy pumpkin muffins do not contain much oil and rely on pumpkin’s water content. The best muffins are sealed in an airtight container muffins!
Freeze baked and cooled muffins in a freezer-safe container same day to ensure freshness. Freeze any muffins for up to 3 months. If you would like them to last longer, wrap each muffin into plastic wrap before placing into a container.
To thaw, just remove muffins from the freezer and let defrost in a bag for a few hours or overnight. Or defrost one in a microwave for a healthy snack.
Storage Tip
For more best muffin storage practices, be sure to check out my posts how to store muffins and how to freeze muffins.
FAQs
You can use the same ratio of whole wheat pastry flour or white whole wheat flour. I have not tested recipe with oat flour but you could try. I think muffins will be more dense. All-purpose flour or all purpose gluten free might work but you might need less of it.
For the gluten free version, try my pumpkin muffins with almond flour.
Add up to 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips, chopped dates, chopped walnuts or any dried fruit like dried cranberries or raisins. A teaspoon of vanilla extract also would be nice!
I suppose you could, it will need to bake longer and you could just swirl the cream cheese at the top. Or you could just make healthy pumpkin bread recipe.
Enjoy these copycat ‘Starbucks’ pumpkin muffins made healthy at home without the guilt with a cup of coffee. Not only are these low fat pumpkin muffins, they are also low calorie and low sugar compared to any other recipe out there!
And of course, no coffee shop can beat homemade pumpkin muffins.
More Healthy Pumpkin Recipes
- Pumpkin chocolate chip bread
- Almond flour pumpkin bread
- Healthy pumpkin brownies
- Healthy pumpkin bars
- Healthy pumpkin cookies
- Banana pumpkin bread
Other Healthy Muffin Recipes
- Healthy zucchini muffins
- Healthy blueberry muffins
- Healthy morning glory muffins
- Healthy banana muffins
- Apple cinnamon muffins
- Healthy carrot muffins
Healthy Pumpkin Muffins
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/4 cups pumpkin puree not pumpkin pie filling
- 3/4 cup maple syrup or honey
- 3 tbsp any mild oil I used avocado oil
- 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 cups whole wheat flour or spelt flour
- 12 tsp cream cheese or more
- Pumpkin seeds for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and spray muffin tin with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add eggs, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, oil, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt; whisk well to combine. Add flour and gently mix until combined.
- Using an ice cream scoop, distribute batter evenly between 12 openings of a muffin tin. Make a cavity with a back of a spoon, add 1 tsp or more of cream cheese, swirl with a toothpick (or leave it) and sprinkle with pumpkin seeds.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Then remove from the oven, let muffins cool for 5 minutes and transfer to a cooling rack to cool off for another 10 minutes. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Store: To prevent muffins from drying, place in a resealable bag or airtight container and store on a counter for 3 days.
- Freeze: In an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- Substitute pumpkin spice blend: Use 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon each of ginger, nutmeg, cloves and allspice. Alternately, use 2-3 teaspoon of cinnamon if you are out of all other spices.
- Other flours: You can use the same ratio of whole wheat pastry flour or white whole wheat flour. I have not tested recipe with oat flour but you could try. I think muffins will be more dense. All-purpose flour or all purpose gluten free might work but you might need less of it. For the gluten free version, try my almond flour pumpkin muffins.
These were wonderful, the only thing is you might want to soften the cream cheese before you try to mix it in otherwise it makes a mess.
Glad it all worked out and you enjoyed it!
I am making this recipe today and want to clarify if the Pure Vanilla Extract you show and mention above the recipe is actually in it, as it is not listed in the actual recipe. If so, how much do you add? Thanks so much! I appreciate recipes that use healthier ingredients vs. processed sugars.
Oh, yes…You can add it or not but overall 1 tsp of vanilla will do wonders to the pumpkin muffins. But without will taste delicious too! Hope this helps.
I made these today, forgot to get cream cheese! I put some pumpkin pie spice and some sugar in a baggie then put muffins in shook bag and coated muffins they came out delicious !
Going to try cream cheese next batch ! This recipe is a keeper!❤️🇺🇲👍
Oh, such a great idea. Like donuts almost. Glad you enjoyed these pumpkin muffins and made your own, Donna. I am sure you will love them with cream cheese too!
Hi, I posted earlier to ask how much vanilla you need? I added a tsp. they turned out great!
So glad to hear it went great!
These are absolutely delicious! I think i may mix the cream cheese with some maple syrup and cinnamon next time! Do you think these would stay fresh longer in the fridge?
So glad you enjoyed them and yum on the cinnamon cream cheese! Yes you could store in the fridge longer if needed, may need to reheat very slightly to warm up again to room temp.