Whole Wheat Pumpkin Muffins (Printable)

Spiced whole wheat pumpkin muffins with chocolate faces, perfect for autumn and Halloween celebrations.

# What you'll need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
07 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

→ Wet Ingredients

09 - 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
10 - 1/2 cup vegetable oil or melted coconut oil
11 - 1/2 cup brown sugar
12 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
13 - 2 large eggs
14 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
15 - 1/4 cup milk

→ Decorations

16 - 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips or melted dark chocolate
17 - Small green candies or pumpkin seeds for stems (optional)

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or lightly grease each cup.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves until evenly mixed.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk pumpkin puree, oil, brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and milk until smooth.
04 - Pour wet mixture into the dry ingredients and gently stir just until incorporated. Avoid overmixing to maintain tenderness.
05 - Spoon batter evenly into muffin cups, filling each approximately three-quarters full.
06 - Place tin in the oven and bake for 20 to 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin emerges clean.
07 - Allow muffins to cool in the tin for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely before decorating.
08 - Use melted chocolate piped from a bag or a toothpick, or place mini chocolate chips, to create jack-o'-lantern faces atop the cooled muffins. Add green candies or pumpkin seeds as stems if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Uses whole wheat flour for a nutritious twist
  • Satisfyingly moist and warmly spiced
  • One-bowl easy with minimal mess
  • Great for Halloween or autumn celebrations
  • Customizable with your favorite add-ins
02 -
  • High in fiber from whole wheat flour and pumpkin
  • Keeps fresh for several days in an airtight container
  • Freezes and thaws beautifully for advance prep
  • The aroma while baking is pure comfort and for me the best part is decorating with my sister and her kids Each year our table fills with smiling muffin faces and laughter over chocolate mishaps It is these small traditions that make autumn my favorite season
03 -
  • Use fresh spices for the most fragrant result old ground spices lose their punch
  • Check oven temperature with an oven thermometer for even baking
  • Fill the muffin cups evenly using a large scoop or two spoons for uniform baking and prettier muffins
  • Letting muffins cool fully before decorating prevents the chocolate from melting off
  • Before mixing check that baking powder is active by dropping a little in water bubbles mean it is good to use
  • If making for a crowd double the recipe but mix batter in two batches for fluffier results
  • Replace half the oil with unsweetened applesauce to lower fat but keep them moist and tender

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