Perfect Pumpkin Muffins

These Pumpkin Muffins are a Fall must make recipe! Soft-baked, super moist, and they bake up perfectly each and every time. This recipe for pumpkin muffins is always a hit and it uses a entire can of pure pumpkin so there are no leftovers to worry about.

For more delicious pumpkin muffin recipes be sure and make my Honey Wheat Pumpkin Muffins, and these amazing Pumpkin Cream Cheese Streusel Muffins. 

Pumpkin Muffins Recipe

With all these fancy pumpkin desserts and breads, sometimes I just crave the simplicity and deliciousness of a simple pumpkin muffin. 

I don’t want to say plain because these are anything but that. Each bite is packed with warm pumpkin flavor and they are so soft! 

I’m always tempted to put a glaze on them or something like that, but once you try a bite you’ll realize that they really don’t need anything else. They look plain, like these applesauce muffins, but what they lack in “looks” they definitely make up for with the flavor and moistness. 

How Many Cups of Pumpkin Are in a 15 ounce Can?

Believe it or not, this is one of the most asked questions when it comes to pumpkin recipes. Why? Because they make a 15-ounce can of pumpkin and a 29-ounce can of pure pumpkin and most recipes call for the 15-ounce can, and few call for an entire large can of pumpkin. Lots of times I only buy the larger cans because it’s cheaper and I know I will be making lots of pumpkin desserts so it will last me. 

If you are using a larger 29-ounce can of pumpkin, you will need to measure out 2 cups – 2 tablespoons. A 15-ounce can has almost 2 cups of pumpkin in it. It’s short by 2 tablespoons. So just measure out 2 cups and then remove 2 tablespoons and use that in place of a 15-ounce can of pumpkin. 

How to Make The Best Pumpkin Muffins

Learn how to make pumpkin muffins in your own kitchen with simple baking ingredients, and the easy steps below. Be sure and read to the bottom of this post where you will find a printable recipe card, a pin it button so you can save this recipe to Pinterest, and all the detailed ingredients and instructions for making this recipe. 

• Dry Ingredients : In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients and stir with a whisk to break up clumps. Dry ingredients include all-purpose flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ground cloves, and nutmeg. 
• Wet Ingredients : In a separate smaller bowl combine all the wet ingredients. Large eggs, can of pure pumpkin, oil, and vanilla extract. Use the same whisk and stir it together until it’s combined. 
• Pumpkin Muffin Batter : Add the wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients and stir together with a spatula or wooden spoon just until it’s mixed. 
• Muffin Pan : Line a 12-cup muffin pan with liners and fill each one almost all the way full with pumpkin muffin batter. You want the batter to be slightly lower than the top of the muffin liner. This recipe is super forgiving so don’t worry if you fill them to the top (which I did this time), they will just need a few additional minutes in the oven. But try to almost fill them to the top, but not quite.
• Bake : Cook for 20-22 minutes. Let cool in the muffin pan for a few minutes before removing them to a wire rack to cool completely. It’s also ok to just let them cool completely in the muffin pan.

Can I Freeze Pumpkin Muffins?

Yes, these pumpkin muffins freeze perfectly. Bake the muffins as directed and let them cool to room temperature. Store the muffins inside a freezer safe container, like a Tupperware type container or a gallon-sized Ziploc bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. 

When ready to thaw and eat, let the muffins sit out at room temperature for a bit or you can place them into the fridge to thaw completely. I like to warm up the muffin in the microwave for a warm treat. 

How To Store Leftover Pumpkin Muffins

Leftover pumpkin muffins will store well at room temperature, in an airtight container, for up to 5 days. As with any pumpkin recipe, the leftovers seem to get better and better as they sit at room temperature. I rarely freeze these muffins because we prefer them as leftovers. The pumpkin flavor intensifies and the muffins get softer and more moist. 

Recipe Tips

Here are some of my helpful tips so that you can have success recreating this recipe in your own kitchen. 

• Use a Large Cookie Scoop : I highly recommend using a large cookie scoop to fill the muffin cups with the batter. This ensures that each one is the same size and it makes the tops of the muffins more perfectly round. I use this large cookie scoop (affiliate link) when I make this recipe. Depending on the size of your muffin cups, you may not need to fill the scoop all the way with batter. The product linked above has 3 cookie scoops and the larger one is perfect for muffin batter, while the smaller two is what I use when making cookies. 
• Don’t Over Mix : Once you combine the dry ingredients + the wet ingredients, take care to not over mix the batter. You just want to gently mix, with a rubber spatula, until no flour pockets or streaks remain in the batter.
• Add Chocolate Chips : If wanted, try adding some chocolate chips into the pumpkin muffin batter. I prefer the classic, plain pumpkin muffins but chocolate is never a bad thing. I would recommend staring with 1 cup and then add more if needed.
• Pure Pumpkin : Make sure that you are using 100% pure pumpkin in this recipe. There is also ‘pumpkin pie filling’ that looks similar to the can of pure pumpkin. Don’t use the pumpkin pie filling because it has added  ingredients in it, which will mess up this recipe if used. 

More Pumpkin Recipes You’ll Love

• Pumpkin Pancakes : The perfect Fall breakfast. Soft, fluffy, and thick pumpkin pancakes are perfect when topped with butter and warmed maple syrup.
• Pumpkin Spice Cake : A perfectly spiced pumpkin cake that bakes up in a 9×13 pan and it’s topped with homemade cream cheese frosting. 
• Pumpkin Spice Sheet Cake : Warm pumpkin spices through out and it’s baked in a sheet pan (cookie sheet) so it’s perfect for a crowd.
• Cinnamon Streusel Pumpkin Cake : One of my personal favorites! Soft, moist pumpkin cake topped with a cinnamon streusel, and drizzled with a simple glaze. 
• Banana Pumpkin Bread : The best of both worlds with banana + pumpkin. Lots of milk chocolate chips too.