These really are the BEST Gluten-Free Pumpkin Spice Muffins. Fluffy, soft, perfectly caramelized on top, with crunchy pumpkin seeds. Serve these as is or with some coconut yogurt and fresh fruit.
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Fall is officially here! Well, tomorrow. And what better way to celebrate than with these Pumpkin Spice Muffins! They're gluten-free, paleo (at least in my eyes because they're made with coconut sugar) and absolutely delicious. Fall isn't the only thing I'm celebrating this week. It was my birthday yesterday! I turned 26! I started my blog over 6 years ago, in August 2014 when I was 19 and I can still remember it like it was yesterday. Back then it was on Tumblr and it is still there. My blog was called The Healthy Ideas back then and I'm liking it so you can have a laugh LOL. My heart melts looking back at my younger self being so excited about sharing new posts on there. It's always great to look back and see how much you've changed or improved over time.
On that note, it's crazy to me how fast time flies. Especially this year. I don't know about you but I still feel like it's March. It's been a crazy year but if I'm being honest I'm actually really excited about fall. Carving pumpkins, getting lost in corn mazes, having fun in Halloween costumes, sipping steaming pumpkin lattes - I'm here for all of it and I can't wait. Fall and Winter are definitely my favorite seasons. You might think it's crazy but I'm already planning winter Christmas posts! Shhh. Like I said, my favorite seasons!
A short backstory
I've never cooked with pumpkin much. I'm from the Czech Republic and pumpkins aren't really all that common over there. I've wanted to come up with my own version of gluten-free pumpkin spice muffins ever since I went to New York in 2014 and bought the best pumpkin spice muffin at Whole Foods. I'm not kidding when I say it completely blew me away by how good it was. It's crazy that it took me 6 years to actually come up with a recipe for these. I bought my first can of pumpkin puree of the season last week and knew it was time to finally recreate my favorite muffin. A lot of time has passed so I'm not sure how similar these are to the original but I can promise you they are really good.
These muffins are great for breakfast or a quick snack. Soft, fluffy, not overly sweet, and packed with protein (5.5g)! I like to eat these with coconut yogurt and fresh berries or chopped apples.
📖 Recipe
The Best Pumpkin Spice Muffins
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 30
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
These paleo gluten-free pumpkin spice muffins are the perfect cross between healthy and indulgent. Made healthier with almond flour and coconut sugar.
Ingredients
- 2 cups almond flour
- ½ cup arrowroot starch
- ¾ cup coconut sugar (plus more for garnish if desired)
- 2 + ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 3 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup avocado oil (or melted coconut oil)
- ½ cup almond milk (or your vegan milk of choice, not canned coconut milk)
- ½ cup pumpkin purée
- ½ cup pumpkin seeds (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350F (175C) and line a 12 muffin tray with paper liners.
- In a big bowl combine all the dry ingredients - the almond flour, arrowroot starch, coconut sugar, baking powder, baking soda, sea salt, pumpkin spice, and cinnamon.
- In a separate bowl, beat the two eggs, add the avocado oil, almond milk, and pumpkin puree, and stir to combine. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix with a spoon until well combined.
- Using a spoon, transfer the batter into the prepared muffin tray, filling them almost to the top, sprinkle each muffin with the pumpkin seeds, and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of a muffin comes out clean.
- Let the muffins rest in the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days or for up to a week in the fridge.
Notes
If you don't have coconut sugar, you can use any other sugar you have on hand except liquid sweeteners.
You can try substituting the eggs for 2 tablespoon ground flax seeds mixed with 6 tablespoon water to make the muffins vegan but I personally haven't tried it.
These muffins are also delicious with a handful of chocolate chips added to the batter!
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Emily Terrell
Happy belated birthday! This looks like a great recipe for those who are getting their fall baking in gear. And so different than I'd have expected of a muffin!
Rebekkah
Happy Birthday!! I was reading through some of my old blog posts today and having a good laugh myself. ha. I hope you have a glorious 26th year!!
Eva
Happy birthday!! I also love autumn (I'm an October born so I also get to celebrate during this lovely season) and I also was not that very accustomed to pumpkins being used in sweets until I travelled to the States. I see we have a lot in common, actually! I definitely have to try these very best muffins because you sold them so well in here ;)
Marjie Mare
Happy Belated Birthday! These pumpkin look delicious and I can't believe they are gluten free.
Sandra Shaffer
I just took a batch of these out of the oven and broke into one right away. Delicious! Love the addition of pumpkin seeds. YUM
veenaazmanov
Such amazing recipes made out of Pumpkin is awesome. Love that all the combinations used are healthy too. My Tea Time Treat is ready.
Cassandra Rose
Every year, I try different variations of pumpkin spice and apple muffins. I love that you added fine sea salt and coconut sugar to your recipe! I've cut back on baking during quarantine because I've been so afraid of eating too much sugar so I love that this recipe has healthy alternatives.
Aleta
These pumpkin muffins are absolutely perfect for coming into fall. I am always looking for healthy muffin recipes to bake for my daughter's school and these are just perfect!
Chef Dennis
I made these for my next door neighbor who is gluten free and she raved about them! You have a new fan!
Neha
Love that amazing texture on these muffins and the look of pepita seeds on them! Totally trying them out! Btw Belated Happy Bday to you!
Anna
What a great and healthier alternative to traditional muffins! They have a perfect looking crumb and I just love the addition of pumpkin seeds on top! Perfect treat for this tijme of the year! Also, happy belated birthday!
Gunjan
Such a perfect time for these pumpkin muffins. Looks great and seems healthy too.
Nicoletta De Angelis Nardelli
Happy belated birthday! Tomorrow will be mine ;-) . I love Fall too! And I love these pumpkin spice muffins! They have awesome ingredients, I am a big fan of coconut sugar!
Amy
Absolutely love the photography of these muffins! We're in a bit of a baking mood lately and as we're currently still stuck at home, we are making care packages of baked goods and was looking for muffin recipes with a difference. These are definitely going in the packages!
YtheWait
Such a delicious recipe and combination of flavour!