Get cozy this Fall and bake up some fall treats like these pumpkin pecan muffins, great for breakfast or as a snack!
Pumpkin Pecan Muffins
These pumpkin nut muffins have very little oil, but lots of pumpkin flavor. The pecans add a little crunch in every bite that I just love! Enjoy them with some hot tea or a cup of pumpkin spiced latte!
This is basically a variation of my Pumpkin Bread with Pepitas, if you prefer to make these into a Pumpkin Nut Bread, the baking time will be 50 to 55 minutes. Either way, these will surely fill your house with the most incredible Autumn aromas. I love to have one of these for breakfast or as a snack. You can also freeze these and reheat them in the microwave.
And coincidentally, these are dairy-free for those with a milk intolerance. Not sure if they can be made gluten-free, but I think I’ll test it out soon with a GF flour and see. If anyone has a favorite GF mix, feel free to comment, I heard Williams Sonoma’s GF mix is really good.
More Pumpkin Recipes:
- Pumpkin Pecan Banana Bread
- Pumpkin Spiced Granola
- No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake
- Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
- Pumpkin Butterscotch Bars
Pumpkin Nut Muffins
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup white whole wheat flour, King Arthur
- 3/4 cups unbleached all purpose flour, King Arthur
- 3/4 cup raw sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 large egg whites
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- baking spray
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Line a muffin tin with paper liners and lightly spray liners with oil for easy removal.
- In a medium bowl, combine flours, sugar, baking soda, pumpkin spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt with a wire whisk.
- Set aside.
- In a large bowl mix pumpkin puree, oil, egg whites and vanilla; beat at medium speed until thick.
- Scrape down sides of the bowl.
- Add flour mixture to the wet mixture, then blend at low speed until combined; do not over mix.
- Fold in chopped nuts.
- Pour batter into prepared muffin tin and bake on the center rack for 24 - 26 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let them cool at least 15 minutes before serving.
Oh my! These are wonderful! I didn’t follow the recipe exactly since I had leftover pie filling that I didn’t want to go to waste. I had made a pumpkin pie using a sugar pumpkin and ended up with more filling than would fit in my deep dish pie pan.
So, I mixed in vanilla and added the flours, baking soda, 2/3 of the sugar, and the pecans. The filling already had spices, eggs, and oil so those ingredients weren’t needed.
Baked for 25 minutes and cooled for 15 minutes. I am so pleased with the result!
This recipe was quick and easy to make with “normal” ingredients that I already had in my pantry. The muffins were moist (sorry for using that word lol, but it’s accurate) and not too sweet. I subbed applesauce in place of the oil, since this is what I always do, and it didn’t negatively affect the turnout. These muffins will be going into regular rotation at my house! I used silicone muffin tin liners, so the muffins popped out easily.
Any tips on storing the leftover muffins? I made mine with 1 tablespoon no sugar added apple sauce and one tablespoon oil and it worked well. They are tasty but definitely stick to the paper liners. I should have listened to your tip about spraying them with nonstick spray first. Thanks for sharing!
I just made these and they are delicious. Thank you!
I see you use two kinds of flour when making muffins. I only have all purpose. Would it be ok to just use that? Gina I love your recipes. I cook almost exclusively from “ Skinnytaste. Thank you for all the wonderful recipes Gina.
Joyce C
Thank you, and yes it should be OK.
Thoughts on using coconut oil in place of Vegetable oil? I have had pumpkin muffins with coconut oil and really like the flavor. Just not sure on “conversion”. Thanks!
I can only find pumpkin purée in the fall here in my hometown. I had several cans on hand and this is my new go-to snack recipe. They are delicious! I didn’t have pecans on hand so I used walnut. They’re very moist and not heavy at all. I made these and bagels today and I’m excited about both.
Moist and delicious! Not too sweet. Placed a whole pecan half on the top prior to baking. They looked perfect! Brought to share with my peers at work.
What would points be for Green?
Great, tasty, moist muffins! I must admit that I replaced the 2 egg whites with a single whole egg – which does not affect the WW Freestyle points. I made the muffins prettier by placing a large pecan piece on the top of each muffin before baking. Will definitely make these again!
Excellent!
Excellent recipe! Muffins came out fluffy and flavorful. I used 2 whole eggs (being lazy) and the entire can of pumpkin. 🎃
Hi Gina! Did you end up trying the GF? If yes, any different ratios? Thank you!
You can use an all purpose gluten free flour, such as Bob’s Red Mill, and substitute with equally.
Can I add protein powder to these, if so how much?
Do you know what the Freestyle points would be for these?
Smart Points have been updated to reflect the Freestyle program.
I’ve made these twice now they’ve come out great both times!! I use the whole can of pumpkin since there’s such a small amount left and I use raw pumpkin seeds because that’s what I had in the cabinet! Love this recipe, thank you!
What are the SP on this with no nuts? Thanks!
I love these. I have a constant supply of these. I freeze some so I always have them for my afternoon snack. A little taste of fall all year long.
Great idea!
This is one of my favorite recipes! Thanks. I get about 30 mini muffins out of it which is a perfect snack size!
A few variations that I have tried are adding 1/4 cup pecans and 1/4 dark mini choc chips. Also I use unsweetened applesauce for the oil and all white whole wheat flour. And I use 1/4 cup brown sugar for raw sugar. I don't know how all these change the points since I don't worry about it (I count calories and what sugar intake) but they end up being about 46 calories and 3 grams of sugar per muffin.
I cannot get white whole wheat flour where I live ( in a tiny town in British Columbia) and the shipping costs from the US are very prohibitive. What can I use in place of it?
made these…they didn't come out with rounded tops. Could it be because I used liquid egg whites? The recipe didn't call for baking powder.
Hmm, not sure?
These are great! I replaced the flour with gf Cup 4 Cup and used 2/3 C maple syrup instead of sugar. I also added raisins.
Just made these. Absolutely yummy.
Do these freeze well?
Yes!
Would there be a substitute for raw sugar?
Yes! Use about 1/3C maple syrup and must that in with Tue wet ingredients.
Hi Everyone,
Can someone help me. I'm super confused. I'm not used to make things from scratch but I'm trying to eat healthier and wanted to make these muffins for my breakfast. This recipe calls for real pumpkin puree and not pumpkin filling but I have no idea if I got the right thing. I looked in my grocery store and I bought Libby's 100% pumpkin. Is doesn't say anywhere that it's filling but I'm questioning whether or not it's real pumpkin. Can anyone answer this?
Yes – you've got the right thing. Libby's also makes a pumpkin pie filling, but it's marked as such.
Gina, what do you with the egg yolks if you use egg whites? I don't want to waste them.
Save the egg yolks for scrambled eggs in the morning? Or you can make homemade mayo with egg yolks 🙂
Loved these! I subbed sweet potato puree for the pumpkin as I was trying to figure out what to do with some I had on hand! I also added orange zest and a bit of orange juice to the batter… they ended up being some of the best muffins I've ever made! Thanks for the recipe!!
adding orange zest sounds brillant 🙂
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I made this recipe just a few hours ago and it was a success with my neighbors and my 9month old lil boy. I made this recipe into muffins and added:
-whole wheat flour
-2 very ripe bananas
-1.5 cups of homemade pureed pumpkin
-organic rolled oats
-flax seed
-finely chopped organic walnuts
-topped each muffin with a few pepitas
My little neighbor is almost 2yrs old and he stuffed his face with 2 muffins, his mom and dad also ate 2 each. My 9month old son ate 1 cupcake himself. These came out with just a tiny hint of sweet from the banana, and they smelled fantastic. (i wish my house smelled like spice and pumpkin all year lol) SO, if you like sweet you may have to add icing to give you a sugar kick.
Thanks Skinny lady 🙂
Another Skinnytaste hit! My whole family loves them. These would be even better if they had a higher fiber conent…thinking about adding some bran, flax, etc. Any suggestion/ideas on that?
These look delicious! my daughter has nut allergy so can I swap them out for some other seeds or just omit the nuts?
I made these and adjusted with coconut oil and pure pumpkin from a pumpkin and used less sugar. They were the complete bomb! I ate it really sloooooow! Mmmmmmm good! Garlic Girl
So pumpkin puree wont do here??
I'm going to make this for my lactose-intolerant aunt on Thanksgiving. So excited to make it. Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Made this as a loaf tonight — cut the nuts and added chocolate chips and raisins! Sooo good!
Just made these and they're amazing! I'm enjoying a warm one now 🙂
These look great! Since you are using egg whites in a lot of your recipes, I was wondering if you had other recipes to use the yolks up, because I really don't want to throw any food away. I already made the pasta with asparagus, maybe I could substitute it with some other vegetables? Or do you have any other ideas?
I really love your recipes, I'm hoping to finally get the cup-measuring set for christmas, because calculating the quantities in the metric system is kind of annoying 🙂
I love your work and hope the cookbook you are planning will come out in Europe too!
Thanks for all the time you are putting in this blog, you are great!
Greetings from Austria
P.S.: Sorry for my bad English, I haven't been using it a lot lately 🙂
I am obsessed with these! My husband had three the night I baked them, and they've been a great mid-morning snack for me at work. I used pecan oil instead of vegetable oil, otherwise left everything the same. So delish!
I made these last night, and just ate one for breakfast – yum! I added craisins instead of walnuts, used applesauce instead of oil, and added a strusel topping (1/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, and 2 Tbsp of melted butter). Still came out to 4 PPV making 12 muffins 🙂
I just made this and they are delicious! Here is my blog post about them:
http://lexslifeasanewwife.blogspot.com/2012/10/pumpkin-nut-muffins.html
Since you have to spray the muffin liners, do they stick if you just spray a non-stick muffin pan?
Awesome muffin and I added couple tablespoons of choc chips!! Yum. My kids love them too.
Made these last week and making them again today. Changes:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup bread flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
= 109 calories each.
Today I am going to use the whole can of pumpkin (annoying to have less than half a cup left).
I loved the dense texture of these muffins. I was out of vegetable oil, so I substituted walnut oil and it worked well with the pecans. I'll definitely make these again – thanks, Gina!
A new favorite in my house! I add a mashed banana, 1/4 cup oat bran and 2 tbsp ground flaxseed. I make 24 nice-sized mini- muffins at 2 PPV each. Took a batch to my Weight Watchers class this morning and they were a huge hit. Gave you credit, of course!
These were super yummy! For breakfast I heated them up and topped them with your pumpkin cream cheese. Even my picky eater son loved these
Do you have the nutritional info IF pecans aren't included? I made mine without due to food allergies and it'd be great to know along w/ the Points+ values per muffin. BTW, me and my family loved them, super moist!
Made these last night, but added chocolate chips (about half cup normal sized since that's what I had). Had to try one fresh out of the oven (okay, I waited a few minutes for it cool). Ate it while it was still warm and OMG!!! DELISH! Thanks Gina!
Wondering if some of the sugar could be replaced with applesauce and if so, how much?
going to make these vegan tonight and just add more pumpkin in place of the egg whites. have a teacher's assistant who is vegan. making these for another TA's birthday 🙂
These are so delicious. I've already made them twice. Definitely don't forget to spray the liners (as I did with my first batch) because they do stick. Awesome for breakfast!
Making these as mini muffins this afternoon…can't wait!
I made these for my husband on Friday, it's Sunday and he's already begging for another batch! Needless to say they were a huge hit! I didn't even get a chance to eat one! His words 'better than pumpkin pie' and let me tell you, he loves pumpkin pie!
Thanks for another great recipe!!
Tonya
Yum! Just made these for a girls day/playdate brunch. I hand mixed all the ingredients and they came out so good. I also used truvia instead of raw sugar which knocked the WW plus points down to 3 points 🙂 Thanks for this recipe Gina
They are in the oven baking as we speak! Can't wait to try one (:
These were a big hit with my son (and me)! I made mini muffins, baking them for about 11 minutes. I left out the nuts so my son could take them to school without worrying about nut allergies in his class. I froze the remaining muffins for snacks later. Thanks for another winner!
wonderful!
Silly question, and don't laugh: If the recipe calls for pumpkin pie spice, why not just use canned pumpkin pie filling?
Because pumpkin pie filling isn't just spiced pumpkin puree – it also contains sugar and other ingredients that would mess up the recipe.
These were great! I do agree with some other comments that the muffins were dense, more like pumpkin bread texture. I do have to say they taste very good. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
These muffins are fantastic. I CAN NOT KEEP MY SON AWAY FROM THEM!
Love it!
I do not have nutmeg in the house.. will that change the flavor that much?
Should be ok!
So yummy! Serving them tonight with dinner…mushroom stroganoff. Delicious Gina!
Super!!! Great, healthy after school snack. I made this as pumpkin bread as you also suggested. We all loved it. Thanks for your recipes!!!!
I have a question- when I make these the batter is never "liquidy" enough to pour into the cupcake liner, and when I scoop it into the tray it just sits there, why is that? The only thing I changed was using 2 Tyson applesauce instead of oil. I used trader joes pumpkin in a can.
The batter is thick, it should bake fine.
These are delish! Made them last night. Perfect fall breakfast.
Making these today! Love me some pumpkin!
Made these with regular WW flour and they were absolutely delish!!! These will be my breakfast this week. Thanks Gina!
Irene
For GF flour, I've had really good luck with the mix from Thank God It's Gluten Free. You can purchase it from www.tgigf.com.
Gina, Can I do this in a bread machine? If so do i Just throw everything in and do the 'cake' setting? I apologize if some one already posted and it has been answered.
I just tried these last night and my kids LOVED them! I put a dollop of whipped cream on top and a sprinkle of cinnamon (I'm sure that changes your points system but it sure makes them pretty!). You are now my web home page, fyi..keep the recipes coming!
Awesome : )
In a word…yummy! Made these last night and they were a big hit with the family. Next time I'll make a double batch! Thanks for all of the great recipes.
What can I substitute for the egg to make it more Vegan?
I use 1 Tbs. ground flax meal mixed with 3 Tbs. warm water and I let that sit on the counter for 15 minutes. Then add to batter. Works really well in place of 1 egg in a recipe like this.
These look amazing, Gina! As for GF flours, I really like King Arthur Multi-Purpose GF Flour to which I add about 1/2 teaspoon of xanthan gum per cup of flour. I am not a fan of the Williams-Sonoma Cup4Cup because the first ingredient is cornstarch, which I'm sure is genetically modified, plus it's crazy expensive. Bob's Red Mill GF flour can sometimes taste a little "beany," depending on the recipe. I'll let you know if I try these muffins with a GF flour.
Thanks Pam!
How much regular sugar should I use instead of raw sugar?
I made a batch last night and they are already gone! I guess I'll have to make another batch if I want breakfast tomorrow! Thanks for the fantastic recipe!
I actually made some of these last week but I added a bit of molasses to my recipe to give it a nice "spice" taste.
Great idea!
Made these into mini muffins today! Got about 38 out of the recipe and baked for about 13 minutes. Didn't have enough pecans, so I went 1/4 c pecans, 1/4 c craisins….quite the hit! Love it! Worked out to 2 pt+ per mini muffin. Bonus, if you just do 1/2 c craisins and leave out the nuts, it drops to 1pp per mini muffin. I see many of these in my future…I"m having to fight my 3 year old for them. Nice!
This may seem like a silly question, but is a muffin pan the same thing as a cupcake pan (12 slots)?
yes!
Thank you for this reply. I was wondering the same thing. Love your recipes. Do not ever feel deprived!
For someone who is allergic to eggs is there a substitution that you could suggest?
How funny! I just bought the same papers to make pumpkin muffins!!! <3
In response to the GF option: I have been GF for almost seven years, and I find the Arrowhead Mills Gluten Free Baking Mix works very well for a one-to-one replacement, and does not require adding xanthan gum or any other leavening agents. Can't wait to try out the recipe!!
Better Batter is by far the best gluten free all purpose flour. It contains pectin to act as a binder that you miss without the gluten. It also already has some xanthan gum so between the pectin and xanthan gum there is no need to add additional. I use it for most of my gluten free baking needs. I've tried most other flours out there and always come back to Better Batter.
I made these last night as well and they are great, nice and moist. I had my doubts when I saw how thick the batter was! I love that the tastes are all subtle.
Made these last night and eating one now for breakfast. REALLY good. I don't have a mixer so everything was mixed by hand with a whisk – still turned out great. Thanks for the recipe.
I would definitely say Cup 4 Cup is my favorite gf flour. It's worth every penny. http://cup4cup.com
Hi, I made these and the flavor was great but they turned out dense and not rising much. Can some brands of canned pumpkin be thicker than others?? Batter was very thick. Seemed like it needed some liquid maybe? Suggestions?
I just made these and mine were very dense and thick as well. They didnt rise.
These…look…..AMAZING! *in an Oprah singing voice* I wish it was easier to bake while at school 🙁
But you best believe I am on my own pumpkin madness kick! Literally…….everything, is pumpkin <3
Love love! Keep your truly wonderful recipes comin! …and if they happen to be more pumpkin, I'd be okay with that 😉
Thank you : )
oh yum! these would totally hit the spot right now!
These are so amazing. I just ate the first one. I didn't spray the muffin liners and I had no trouble with them sticking. I think I over mixed the batter a bit but they still turned out delish!
Thanks for this recipe, they are terrific.
Yum! Just put them in the oven and can't wait to try them. I used milled flax seed rather than egg to have a vegan version. Love pumpkin time 🙂
Pumpkin awesomeness! Doubled the recipe to have some for a quick breakfast this week. I didn't realize I was out of all purpose flour until it was too late, so I substituted all Whole Wheat Pastry Flour (which I'm now in love with thanks to you, Gina!). I also used half Splenda and half sugar. They were so delicious and filling!
Seriously? These were soo good! Not too sweet and super moist.
Made these this morning. My daughter and I are enjoying them for an afternoon snack too. I followed all directions except omitted pecans only because I do like nuts. Thank you for a yummy fall recipe.
Just made these this morning – absolutely delicious!!
I want to make these! I bought white whole wheat flour for the first time ( instead of whole wheat) should I just use equal amount of total flour called for in this recipe?? thanks! 🙂
Going to make your Pumpkin Bread this week! The pecans in these muffins are a good addition!
Yes! I am commenting to tell you that "yes" Williams
Sonoma's C4C flour is fabulous! I am gluten free
and was excited to have found this flour. All my
baked goods taste good again. No weird after taste
like I found with other mixes. I make everything with it….pancakes,
cupcakes, Madeline's. I have even used the flour to make
apple fritters. So yummy! Only down side is that it cost
$19.99 but I am okay with that. By the way those pumpkin muffins look yummy and
I will be trying out your recipe. Thanks for sharing.
These look awesome! I only have normal all purpose flour and normal whole wheat flour (not white..well it doesn't say white but it's white and a little brown. Would those be okay? What is the reasoning for part one flour and part another? I'm not much of baker so I was just wondering! Thank you!
I am having a hard time finding canned pumpkin. All I can seem to find is the pie filling :. Will keep looking. Must make pumpkin butter and these muffins!
The Cup4Cup flour at Williams Sonoma is hands down the best and most versatile gluten free flour. Pricey, yes but mimics real flour better than any other I've tried and no funny after taste, which many gf flours have.
I LOVE pumpkin spice muffins and to add a little something special I use your pumpkin cheesecake recipe as filling!
Could you swap out oil for applesauce and the raw suar for Splenda? I want to make some jumbo muffins, how long would cooking time be?
To use an actual pumpkin, you have to cook it first, and then puree it. You also need a pie pumpkin, which are smaller. They have the flavor and texture you want. There are different ways to do this, but all require that you wash the pumpkin, remove the stem, cut it in half, remove the seeds. From here you can bake it, microwave it, steam it or even pressure cook it. Then remove the skin (which will come off easily once cooked) and puree it. Then you have pumpkin ready to use. Detailed instructions abound online.
Could I substitute Greek yogurt for the vegetable oil that is in the recipe, not the spray-on, and if so, how much?
Omg these look absolutely delicious! Mmmmmm i want one!
http://agoodiebag.blogspot.com/
So many pumpkin recipes around! This one looks especially fabulous!
these looks delish, will definitely be making soon. thanks gina!
xo julesinflats.com
Could someone explain how this would be made if I used fresh (not canned) pumpkin? Would I need more liquid? Should I cook the pumpkin before I use it in the recipe? Thanks for any help anyone can give.
Make your own pumpkin puree. http://allrecipes.com/recipe/pumpkin-puree/ Use in place of canned pumpkin.
Do I have to use the two different types of flours? I only have white whole wheat flour on hand?
I made these today but I didn't have any cooking spray on hand. I guess it was a necessity because half of them muffin stuck to the liner. 🙁 Is there a certain ingredient in these muffins that makes them super sticky?
They might have stuck because there is so little fat in them. You could try to rub butter, or light oil on a paper towel, on the inside of the muffin pan in place of cooking spray.
I rubbed coconut oil on the inside of the pan (without the liners) and it worked perfectly.
Would Splenda work instead of raw sugar?
I just made them with 1/4 c. brown sugar and 1/2 c. Splenda and they turned out great.
I just made these but switched out the nuts for craisins (not a nut person). Fantastic!
For those of you who aren't a fan of pecans, I did a little math…Figure 12 muffins x 4 points each = 48 points total for the recipe, right? 1/2 cup of pecans = 11 points, so 48-11=37 points, divided by 12 muffins = 3.08 each! Does that help?
Thanks! I kinda figured the same, but it's nice to have another opinion!!
Thank you!! 🙂 Brain wasn't really up to working that out right now! (Sad…)
Yes! So 1 point less. Thanks!
Sorry guys, I just put it all in the WW calculator without the nuts and its still 4 points
I usually mix rice flour with potato starch when I'm making GF, it's worked very well for me in the past. Usually a 2:1 ratio of rice flour to potato starch. If you don't want to bother with that, Bob's Red Mill All Purpose Gluten-Free Flour is really great stuff as well.
Also, what is the difference between raw sugar and granulated sugar? Are there any health benefits to using raw sugar vs white sugar? If I use white sugar in this recipe, will it turn out the same?
Thanks Andrea, yes it will be the same, the raw sugar is simply not bleached and as processed as white.
Gotcha, good to know, thank you!
PS I have never commented before, but I have been a huge fan of yours since I discovered your site last year, your recipes are fabulous!
Here's a link to the GF flour I use all the time:
http://52sweets.blogspot.com/p/my-favorite-gluten-free-flour-blend.html?m=1
I use it anytime traditional flour is called for and it works great. And on the plus side – it's much cheaper than Williams Sonoma's GF blend:) I'm going to try it tomorrow with this recipe – these look amazing!
Will check it out!
Also curious about what the points (old points) would be if you omitted the pecans
I have made your recipe with Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose flour, and it came out great! I just substituted the same amount of flour and added 1 tsp of Xanthan Gum.
Thank you for the tip, I will try that!
Thank you, that was going to be my next question and you answered it!
I made these this morning – nut free and GF (using Bob's red mill). They were delicious but very dense and they didn't rise S shown in the photos here. I will definitely make them again with xanthan gum. I also think they would be great if baked in a 9 x 11 pan and cut into squares with a dollop of whipped cream on top.
I am going to make these tonight with the Bobs Red Mill GF flour and the Xanthan Gum! thanks for the tip Rebecca
I don't have Xanthan Gum in the house so I substituted ground flax seed with a little warm water and had a great result.
This look fantastic! If we take out the pecans (not a huge fan of those) does is deduct a point? Or could I substitute for something equal value (like chocolate chips?)
Great Queston. My son is allergic to nuts. I wonder what the points would be with semi sweet chocolate chips in place of the nuts.
How about raisins "