If you’re looking for a cozy, sweet treat that’s bursting with autumnal flavors, this Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe is an absolute must-try! Soft, moist, and loaded with warm spices and melty chocolate chips, these muffins are perfect for breakfast, a snack, or anytime you want a little something special.
Why You Should Make This Recipe
Perfect balance of flavors: The pumpkin and warm spices combine beautifully with the rich chocolate chips for a taste that’s both comforting and indulgent.
Super moist texture: Thanks to the pumpkin puree and oil, these muffins stay tender and moist without being greasy.
Easy and fuss-free: Using pantry staples and simple techniques, this recipe is straightforward for bakers of all levels.
Great for any occasion: Whether it’s a school snack, holiday brunch, or coffee break, these muffins bring joyful vibes every time.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Nothing beats a recipe that calls for simple, wholesome ingredients you likely have on hand. Each item in this Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe is essential to nail the perfect texture, flavor depth, and that gorgeous, golden color.
- Pumpkin Puree: Pure pumpkin adds moisture and a subtle natural sweetness—don’t use pumpkin pie filling, which is sweetened and spiced already!
- Sugars: A combo of white and brown sugar keeps the muffins perfectly sweet, with brown sugar bringing a lovely molasses flavor.
- Olive Oil: Using light olive oil or vegetable oil helps keep the muffins moist and tender without overpowering the flavor.
- Warm Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and cardamom create that signature pumpkin-spice magic that warms you up with every bite.
- Chocolate Chips: Semisweet chips melt throughout and on top for ooey-gooey chocolate goodness.
- Flour, Baking Soda & Powder: These leavening agents and the all-purpose flour give the muffins structure and a light crumb.
How to Make Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe
Step 1: Prep and Combine Wet Ingredients
Start by preheating your oven to 425°F and lining a muffin tin with paper liners, lightly spraying the top of the tin to catch any overflow. In a large bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree with both sugars until completely smooth. Then, add eggs, olive oil, and vanilla extract, mixing until you have a luscious, velvety batter base packed with pumpkin goodness.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, carefully spoon and level your flour. Combine it with baking powder, baking soda, kosher salt, and the delightful blend of warm spices—cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom. Give these dry ingredients a gentle stir so they’re evenly mixed and ready to bring that comforting pumpkin spice flavor.
Step 3: Fold It All Together
Switch to a rubber spatula and gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet pumpkin mixture. Don’t overmix—just stir until you see no more flour, taking care not to toughen your muffins. Then gently fold in one cup of the semisweet chocolate chips, ensuring that each bite will have pockets of melting chocolate.
Step 4: Fill Muffin Tin and Bake
Using a cookie scoop or spoon, divide the batter evenly among your muffin liners, aiming for two scoops per muffin to create tall, bakery-style peaks. Press any chocolate chips poking out of the batter gently inside to avoid burning. Bake at 425°F for precisely 7 minutes, then without opening the oven, reduce the heat to 350°F and bake for 9-13 more minutes. Your muffins are ready when a toothpick comes out clean and the tops spring back.
Step 5: Add More Chocolate and Cool
Once out of the oven, carefully remove your muffins and press the final 1/4 cup of chocolate chips on top of each warm muffin for that irresistible melty finish. Let the muffins cool completely on a wire rack to set their fluffy texture, or sneak a warm one right away—you won’t regret it!
How to Serve Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe
Garnishes
These muffins shine on their own, but you can add a dusting of powdered sugar for an elegant touch or a light spread of cinnamon butter to enhance that cozy spice vibe. For a little extra crunch, sprinkle chopped toasted pecans or walnuts on top right after baking.
Side Dishes
Pair your Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe with a creamy latte, chai tea, or even a glass of cold milk for the perfect balance. They also complement a fresh fruit salad or a bowl of smooth yogurt with honey and granola for a well-rounded breakfast or snack.
Creative Ways to Present
For a fun party platter, arrange muffins on a rustic wooden board with mini jars of honey and whipped cream for dipping. You can also serve them alongside pumpkin spice latte shots or drizzle them lightly with melted white chocolate for a pretty, festive twist.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep any leftover pumpkin chocolate chip muffins fresh by storing them in an airtight container or resealable bag on the counter for 2-3 days. After that, you can move them to the fridge, where they’ll stay good for up to a week, though they might lose a bit of their soft texture.
Freezing
This recipe freezes beautifully! Once your muffins are fully cooled, place them in a freezer-safe container or ziplock bag, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking. They’ll stay delicious for 2-3 months—great for prepping snacks ahead of time or enjoying pumpkin goodness year-round.
Reheating
To revive frozen or leftover muffins, just pop them in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds until warm and soft. Alternatively, reheat in a toaster oven at 350°F for 5-7 minutes to restore that fresh-baked crisp on top while keeping the inside tender and chewy.
FAQs
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Can I substitute pumpkin puree with fresh pumpkin?
Yes! You can use fresh pumpkin, but make sure it’s cooked, pureed, and well-drained to prevent adding too much moisture. Canned puree is more consistent and convenient but fresh can add a nice homemade touch.
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How can I make these muffins dairy-free?
This recipe is already dairy-free as it uses oil instead of butter and semisweet dairy-free chocolate chips can easily be swapped in for the chocolate chips to keep it allergy-friendly.
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Why is it important not to overmix the batter?
Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour too much, leading to tougher, denser muffins instead of soft and tender ones. Mixing until just combined keeps the crumb light and fluffy.
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Can I use different types of chocolate chips?
Absolutely! You can try dark chocolate, white chocolate, or even flavored chips like caramel or peanut butter for a fun twist on the classic Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe.
Final Thoughts
These Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe are truly a heartwarming treat that’s easy to make and impossible to resist. Whether baking for yourself, family, or friends, they’re sure to bring smiles and cozy vibes. So grab your mixing bowl and get ready to fill your kitchen with delicious pumpkin-spiced magic!
Print
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 16 minutes
- Total Time: 26 minutes
- Yield: 12 muffins 1x
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Delight in these moist and spiced Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins, perfect for fall or any time you crave a sweet treat with a hint of warmth from cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Made with pumpkin puree, warm spices, and sweet chocolate chips, these muffins bake up fluffy and bakery-style with a soft crumb and a fudgy chocolate finish on top.
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree, NOT pumpkin pie filling
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed (dark brown is fine too)
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup light olive oil or any vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 1 and 3/4 cups all purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt (use 1/2 teaspoon if using table salt)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated if possible
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
Chocolate
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips for topping
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Muffin Tin: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners and lightly spray the flat top of the tin with nonstick spray to prevent sticking from any overflow. Set aside.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the entire can of pumpkin puree, 1/2 cup white sugar, and 1/2 cup packed brown sugar. Whisk everything together until fully combined. Add the 2 eggs, 1/2 cup light olive oil, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, whisking again until smooth.
- Measure Dry Ingredients: Spoon and level 1 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour into a bowl. On top of the flour, add 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1 teaspoon baking soda. Add 1 and 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves, and 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom. Stir these dry ingredients together lightly with a spoon to evenly distribute the spices and leavening.
- Mix Dry into Wet Ingredients: Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough muffins; mix only until no dry spots remain and lumps are worked out.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips: Fold in 1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips gently, distributing them evenly throughout the batter.
- Fill Muffin Tins: Using a cookie scoop or spoon, fill each muffin liner evenly with batter, about two scoops per muffin for tall bakery-style results. Press any visible chocolate chips under the batter slightly to prevent burning during baking.
- Bake at High Temperature: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake at 425°F for 7 minutes. This initial high heat creates a nice rise and crust.
- Reduce Oven Temperature and Continue Baking: Without opening the oven door, reduce the temperature to 350°F (175°C) and bake for another 9 to 13 minutes. The muffins are done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with no wet batter, and the tops spring back when gently tapped.
- Cooling and Topping: Remove the muffins from the oven and let them cool in the tin for about 2 minutes, then carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. While still warm, press additional chocolate chips into the tops of each muffin for extra chocolate flavor and an attractive finish.
- Serve and Enjoy: Let the muffins cool completely for light, fluffy texture, or serve them warm for a fudgier, brownie-like experience. These pair wonderfully with a cold glass of milk.
Notes
- Store muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days, or refrigerate for up to 1 week.
- Freeze completely cooled muffins in airtight containers or ziplock bags for 2-3 months; thaw overnight or warm in the microwave before serving.
- Do not open the oven during the initial high-heat baking phase or muffins may not rise properly and could burn.
- Use fresh spices for best flavor, especially freshly grated nutmeg.
- Spoon and level flour to avoid a dense batter and tough muffins.
