Irresistibly Easy 2-Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins: Your Ultimate Fall Baking Hack
When the leaves are turning to gold, and that crisp autumn is in the air – I can’t think of anything more amazing than the smell of fresh pumpkiny treats baking up. If you are experienced in the kitchen or just starting out, finding an easy and yummy pumpkin muffin recipe will make your fall celebration even better. Cue the 2-ingredient pumpkin muffins – easy puppy chow (doo doo doo dooooo). The perfect opportunity to step up your baking game — and wow the family! With that said, here is how to make this delicious recipe that is sure to be a fall staple!
Why Choose Pumpkin Muffins?
Beyond pumpkin being a fun, festive front porch decoration — it’s also an incredibly versatile ingredient full of flavor and nutrients. Using pumpkin in your baking brings depth of flavor as well as providing a moist texture and adding color to your treats that screams fall. These pumpkin muffins can be enjoyed for breakfast, as an afternoon snack, or even dessert. More importantly, these two-ingredient pumpkin muffins are an easy recipe you can throw together quickly without having to measure out bagfuls of ingredients.
Benefits of Simple Baking
Recipe Overview
Before we dive into the details, let’s take a quick look at the essential information for this recipe.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Total Time: 25-30 minutes
- Servings: Makes 12 delicious muffins
Ingredients You’ll Need
Creating these mouthwatering pumpkin muffins is as easy as 1-2-3. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 15 oz canned pumpkin: Choose pure pumpkin puree for the best flavor.
- 18 oz spice cake mix: Opt for a high-quality spice cake mix to ensure moistness and rich flavor.
Optional Add-Ins for Customization:
- Chocolate chips
- Raisins
- Nuts (such as pecans or walnuts)
- Cream cheese frosting
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Preheat Your Oven
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Ensuring the oven is at the right temperature is crucial for evenly baked muffins.
2. Prepare Your Muffin Tin
Line a standard muffin tin with 12 cupcake liners. This not only prevents sticking but also makes for easy cleanup. If you prefer, you can also grease the muffin cups lightly with butter or non-stick spray.
3. Mix the Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, combine the 15 oz canned pumpkin with the 18 oz spice cake mix. Using a spatula or a hand mixer on low speed, stir until the ingredients are well combined. The batter should be smooth and free of lumps.
4. Add Your Favorite Mix-Ins (Optional)
If you want to elevate your muffins, now is the time to fold in any additional ingredients like chocolate chips, raisins, or nuts. This step is entirely optional but highly recommended for an extra burst of flavor and texture.
5. Fill the Muffin Liners
Using an ice cream scoop or a tablespoon, fill each cupcake liner 3/4 full with the batter. This ensures that your muffins have a nice rise without overflowing.
6. Smooth the Tops
For a professional finish, gently smooth the tops of the batter with the back of a spoon or a spatula. This helps achieve evenly shaped muffins.
7. Bake to Perfection
Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. To check for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of a muffin; it should come out clean or with just a few crumbs attached.
8. Cool and Serve
Allow the muffins to cool in the tin for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve warm or at room temperature, and enjoy the delightful flavors of fall!
Muffin Upgrades to Blow Your Guests Away
The Easy 2-Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins really can be eaten as-is and they are delicious, but anything you can do to give them a little extra flare may push them over the edge! The Possibilities Are Endless, guys—your muffins can Muffins extremely customizable!
1. Add Chocolate Chips
Add chocolate chips to the base for a naughty little treat. The rich chocolate pairs wonderfully with the warm spices of the pumpkin, so you get a cohesive taste that the whole family can enjoy.
2. Add Raisins or Dried Cranberries
You can also add raisins or dried cranberries to your muffin batter, for a chewy texture and some tang. They add some flavor and some nutrition to your muffins in its dried up state.
3. Incorporate Nuts
Add a nice crunch to the salad with some nuts, such as chopped pecans, walnuts or almonds. Nuts not only provide healthy fats and protein, but also up the satiety factor of your muffins.
4. Try a Chocolate Cake Mix
Give this a fun and surprising twist by swapping out the spice cake mix for chocolate cake mix. If you (or whoever you’re making the muffins for) are chocolate lover who craves a different taste to the more traditional pumpkin flavor, then this variation is right up your alley!
5. Finish with Cream Cheese Frosting
Turn muffins into something special with a dollop of cream cheese icing on top. It is moist and dense, with a simple pumpkin base topped with creamy, tangy frosting that will take this over-the-top indulgence.
6. Swirl in Cinnamon or Caramel
You can also mix in some cinnamon or caramel sauce right into the batter, for an extra kick of flavor dimension. The muffins look gorgeous when they come out of the oven marbled throughout with these delicious swirls.
7. You can use a whole wheat or gluten free cake mix
For the health minded baker, you could choose a whole wheat or gluten free spice cake mix to increase fiber and make them friendly for those with special dietary needs.
8. Incorporate Fresh Spices
Pair it with some fresh spices, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger or cloves to bring out its lovely pumpkin flavor. Use a spoonful of these spices to transform your muffins into a scrumptious property, which is fired up during the fall.
Helpful Hints For These Pumpkin PURE MUFFINS
I promise that it is simple to make muffins just the way you like them. We have a few tips for you on how to do that so your 2-Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins come out tasting as delicious and are perfectly baked everytime.
1. Measure Your ingredients precisely.
The recipe is easy, but using proper measurements is important. Make sure to measure the pumpkin and cake mix with standard measuring cups, this helps you decide how much of everything else to add later.
2. Don’t Overmix the Batter
You also need to mix the batter until the ingredients are just combined or your muffins will become tough. Muffins can become very dense and chewy if over-mixed.
3. Fill Muffin Liners Correctly
When you fill the muffin liners 3/4 full, there’s room for the muffins to rise without spillage. It also guaranties that everything cooks evenly and muffin size is consistent.
4. Preheat the Oven
Preheat oven before baking. With every recipe you make! They will all bake at the same time, which is important for each muffin to be baked evenly and then achieve that beautiful brown color on top.
5. Check for Doneness Early
MUFFINS MAY OVERBAKE –DO NOT GO OVER 20 MINUTES CHECK YOUR MUFFINS AT 20 MINUTES Test using a toothpick inserted into the center; if it comes out clean or with a crumb or two, your muffins are done.
6. Use a Cooling Rack
Transferring the muffins to a wire cooling rack will keep the bottoms from getting soggy. This will prevent the bottoms from getting soggy and keep their texture in perfect conditions.
7. Store Properly
Store in an airtight container on the counter for 3 days. For even longer storage, double-wrap and freeze for up to 3 months.
8. Experiment with Oven Racks
Middle OVEN RACK For an even bake. They do a great job of even heating the muffins, keeping the heat stable all around each muffin.
Baking with Pumpkin Health Benefits
Aside from being delicious and versatile, pumpkin is a health powerhouse that has so much to offer. Adding in some pumpkin to your baking can make your treats a little healthier.
1. Rich in Vitamins and Minerals
Pumpkin is filled with essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin A, C, potassium and fiber. They help boost general health, enhance immune competence, and improve digestion.
2. Low in Calories
Pumpkin, for example, is low in calories so it can be used to great effect making satiating desserts and snacks that won’t break the calorie bank.
3. High in Antioxidants
Pumpkin being rich in antioxidants fights against the harmful effects of free radicals on the body preventing inflammation and reducing risk of chronic diseases.
4. Supports Heart Health
Due to its potassium and fiber content, pumpkin can also help you keep your blood pressure levels in check which aids in cardiovascular health.
5. Promotes Digestive Health
The dietary fiber in pumpkin also helps you digest properly and reduces the chances of constipation keeping your digestive system healthy.
6. Boosts Immunity
Being rich on vitamins – particularly vitamin A and C, pumpkin boosts your immunity to help you reduce risk of infections.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Pumpkin — can I use fresh instead of canned?
Of course, you can also substitute with fresh pumpkin puree. How to Make Homemade Pumpkin Puree To prepare fresh pumpkin puree, bake or steam the pumpkin until soft, then mix it with other ingredients. Follow the recipe (use 15 oz of chilli).
2. What if I need a spice cake mix instead?
If you can’t find a spice cake mix, you can use a regular yellow cake mix and add 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice to the batter for that essence of warm fall flavors.
3. Are these muffins after a gluten-free version?
Your base recipe is made with regular gluten filled spice cake mix. For Gluten-Free Muffins: Use Spice Cake Made with a Gluten-Free Cake Mix.
4. Will these muffins be dairy free?
WHEN MAKING DAIRY FREE MUFFINSMake sure that the cake mix you use is dairy free or a swab one, so simply replace the recipe for any milk you use.
5. Storage & Freezing Can I freeze the muffins?
Muffins can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature 3 days For long term storage, package them tightly and freeze for 3 months.
6. Is it possible to make banana muffins vegan?
If making vegan muffins, use a vegan spice cake mix and check that any other ingredients you add in (chocolate chips, frosting, etc.) are also vegan.
7. Substitute For Cupcake Liners
If you are not using cupcake liners, grease the inside of each muffin tin cup with butter or non-stick spray so the muffins do not stick.
8. Why Aren’t My Muffins Moist Enough?
You may need to add a spoonful of vegetable oil or melted butter, to give it that extra moisture. However, adding more pumpkin puree can increase the moisture instead.
Conclusion: Bake Your Way to Fall Happiness
It’s time to get in the fall spirit with these Easy 2-Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins. These babies are SIMPLE & DELICIOUS. Let’s keep it real, these are the muffins that you bake on a fall brunch hosting day; on any cozy breakfast making day; or when you need something sweet to go with your coffee in the evening. This simple ingredient list doesn’t sacrifice any flavor, making them a perfect choice for the time-crunched among us or apron-clad newbies.
Or do you somehow just stop at the simple recipe? Add to that a million ways of personalizing these muffins with all kinds of ingredients sweet or savory, and be able to eat them according to your favorite diet (gluten free, paleo, whole 30 etc) The opportunities are endless, from adding in decadent chocolate chips to stirring through a handful of crunchy nuts. And not to mention, the healthful benefits of pumpkin into your most pleasing indulgence!
So, what are you waiting for? It would be easier to put all the ingredients,, preheat your oven and start baking, right? You are really meant to fill your kitchen with the irresistible scent of pumpkin spices, and enjoy its warm flavors on those cold days. Whether you share them with loves ones, enjoy them with a cup of coffee, or gift them to friends — these pumpkin muffins are just the thing to bring some joy and warmth to your fall season.
