Healthy Vegan Pumpkin Muffins! Everyone needs a good pumpkin muffin recipe and this one happens to be vegan friendly and loaded with chocolate chips! Made with whole grain flour, oil free and lower in sugar.
I make these vegan pumpkin muffins all. the. time! And it’s officially pumpkin season, so there’s that.
These healthy vegan pumpkin muffins are adapted from my Raspberry Pumpkin Muffins – but made with no eggs and we’re adding chocolate chips.
Because who doesn’t want chocolate chips with their pumpkin baked goods, right?
Why You Should Make Them
- This vegan pumpkin muffin recipe is made with whole grains, dairy-free, no oil needed (thanks to pumpkin purée!), and lower in sugar compared to traditional muffins.
- These are vegan pumpkin muffins, thanks to a flax egg. But feel free to sub an egg if you’d like.
- Healthy muffins make the best snack!
- Loaded with chocolate chips so maybe even the non-pumpkin fans will love these.
Just like most muffin recipes, this one is pretty simple and takes about 30 minutes. Perfect to whip up for weekend mornings, stress baking, or procasti-baking.
Pro・cras・ti・bake (verb)
when you bake because you’re procrastinating other items on your “To-Do” list.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who does this, no?
Simple Ingredients
Mostly pantry ingredients are needed for these vegan pumpkin muffins but I’ll share a few tips on other ingredients you could use if needed.
- canned pumpkin – Make sure you’re getting canned pumpkin, and not pumpkin pie mix. You may notice Libby’s canned pumpkin is a deeper orange color compared to off-brands or even organic brands. Just in case you’re looking for that deep orange color, I’ve found the most consistency with Libby’s.
- maple syrup – Honey would also work here if not strictly vegan. I do not recommend getting rid of the liquid sweetener as it affects the rest of the wet to dry ratios.
- granulated sugar – Use brown sugar, cane sugar, or coconut sugar here. It just needs to be a dry sweetener. You could also sub something like Swerve or a dry stevia blend, but I am not as familiar with subbing those types of sweeteners.
- vanilla – always use vanilla when baking muffins.
- flaxseed meal – this is what you’ll use to create your vegan “egg.” It’s just 1 TBSP flaxseed meal mixed with 3 TBSP water; let sit for 3-5 minutes until it gels up.
- non-dairy milk + apple cider vinegar – Use oat, soy or hemp if nut-free. Or feel free to use coconut, almond or cashew. Mixing milk with apple cider vinegar will create a homemade “buttermilk” which is used to react with the leavening agents.
- whole grain flour – I recommend whole wheat pastry flour for the best, softest texture. You can also sub half whole wheat, half all-purpose. Or all whole wheat white flour. More notes on that in recipe card.
- baking powder & baking soda – both used to get the right amount of rise from the muffin.
- salt – flavor enhancer and sweetness balancer.
- pumpkin spice – you can use store bought or make it using this simple recipe that uses just 4 ingredients!
- mini dairy-free chocolate chips – I like mini chocolate chips here so the big chips don’t sink to the bottom of the muffin tin.
How to Make
You may notice this pumpkin muffin recipe calls for no oil. We’re using an entire cup of pumpkin, which helps keeps these muffins soft and moist.
Here are some of the steps for you to browse through. The full recipe card is at the end of the post with amounts and more directions.
Prepare vegan “egg”
First prepare the vegan egg by mixing the flaxseed meal with water – let this sit for about 5 minutes while you start the oven, prepare the muffin pan and get out the rest of your ingredients.
Prepare vegan “buttermilk”
Next add the non-dairy milk and apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice) to measuring cup and let rest while you move on to the next steps.
Mix dry ingredients
Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin pie spice and set aside.
Mix wet ingredients
Start to whisk together the wet ingredients starting with the pumpkin, maple syrup and sugar. Then add vanilla and the flaxseed-water mixture (which should look like gel at this point) and stir until combined.
Combine
Now begin to add about 1/2 cup of the dry ingredients, and slowly adding some of the milk – gently stirring and alternating between the flour and the milk until the batter is *just* about combined. Dry flour spots are okay here, because now you’ll fold in the mini chocolate chips and stir until the batter is fully mixed.
TIP: I like to use a cookie scoop for distributing the batter into the muffin pan – fill each muffin cavity about 3/4 full.
And Bake!
Bake the muffins at 425ºF for 5 minutes, then drop temperature down to 350ºF and continue baking for about 11-14 minutes.
BAKING HACK: The initial high heat creates those perfect little muffin tops!
Personally, I love these muffins paired with a little bit of almond or cashew butter.
Better yet? Use my Pumpkin Spice Cashew Peanut Butter!
More Pumpkin Muffin Recipes
Let me know if you make these vegan pumpkin muffins by leaving a comment and rating below! It helps others learn more about the recipe too! Xx Ashley
PrintVegan Pumpkin Muffins
Healthy Vegan Pumpkin Muffins made with whole grain flour, sweetened with maple syrup and coconut sugar, studded with chocolate chips. Vegan friendly using flaxseed meal – recipe can be adapted to incorporate eggs too!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 muffins 1x
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 cup canned pumpkin
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar*
- 1 TBSP flaxseed meal + 3 TBSP water
- 3/4 cup non-dairy milk (oat, cashew, etc.) + 1 TBS apple cider vinegar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups whole wheat white flour***
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice**** (or 2 tsp ground cinnamon if you want less “spicy”)
- 1/2 cup mini dairy-free chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425ºF. Line a 12 cup muffin pan with silicone liners. (Or you may grease pan.)
- In a measuring cup add 3/4 cup of milk +1 TBS of apple cider vinegar, set aside for about 5 minutes.
- In a large bowl add canned pumpkin, maple syrup, and coconut sugar. Whisk until evenly combined then add flaxseed “egg” and vanilla. Whisk until evenly combined. Pour in milk and gently stir to combine.
- Add in whole wheat white flour, and sprinkle in baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice evenly over ingredients in bowl (you can also combine all dry ingredients in separate bowl, then add to wet). Using large spatula, gently combine until all dry ingredients are almost incorporated (some dry flour spots okay), then fold in mini chocolate chips. Batter will be somewhat thick. Avoid over-mixing the batter or you’ll end up with tough muffins.
- Evenly distribute batter into prepared muffin pan, filling 3/4 full (I use my cookie scoop, and it’s about 1.5 scoops). Bake muffins at 425ºF for 5 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 350ºF and continue baking for an additional 12-15 minutes, or until inserted toothpick in center of muffin comes out clean. Allow muffins to cool in pan for 10-15 minutes before gently removing.
- TIP: if greasing pan, I use a butter knife to remove from pan. Transfer to wire rack and allow muffins to cool completely before storing. Muffins are best enjoyed within 3 days, but can be wrapped and frozen for 1-2 months.
Notes
**If not vegan or egg-free, just substitute flaxseed meal for 1 large egg.
***All whole wheat pastry flour, OR half whole wheat/half all-purpose may be subbed
You can make Homemade Pumpkin Spice using this simple recipe that uses just 4 ingredients!
TO MAKE MINI MUFFINS: Grease or line mini muffin pan and fill cavities almost full. Bake at 350ºF for 10-15 minutes; tops may rise over slightly. Insert toothpick in middle, toothpick should come out clean when done
Approx. nutrition info based on regular-sized (12) muffins
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 muffin
- Calories: 127
- Sugar: 11
- Sodium: 192
- Fat: 1
- Saturated Fat: 0
- Unsaturated Fat: 0
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 27
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 3
- Cholesterol: 0
Keywords: healthy pumpkin muffins, vegan pumpkin muffin recipe, pumpkin chocolate chip muffins
Ana Leamon says
If I want to use eggs how many do I need?
Ashley says
1 egg – will update in notes of recipe card. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
Gina Breckenridge says
Hey there! I’m planning to make this tonight. But, just wanted to let you know that there’s a note about raspberries in your directions:
“Using large spatula, gently combine until all dry ingredients are almost incorporated, then fold in raspberries gently. ”
🙂
Ashley says
Thank you! Editing ?
Sharon says
Can this be made with your 1:1 baking flour? I need these to be gluten free.
Ashley says
A 1:1 Gluten Free Baking Flour (I always use Bobs‘!) *should* work but I haven’t tested myself. The texture may come out slightly different. But let me know if you try!
Dawn Marie says
Please let me know how to make this GF as well. I would love to try this. Coconut flour or GF 1 to 1 mix.
Ashley says
Hi Dawn, I haven’t tested it with a gluten-free flour yet, but I typically have success with Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Baking flour. coconut flour will not work here since it’s so absorbent. I also just shared Almond Flour Pumpkin Muffins (though they do have eggs).
Jillian says
I make these using King Arthur’s 1:1 gluten free flour and they turn out perfectly! This is the second time I’ve made them now. In case anyone else needs them to be gf!
Ashley says
Yay! So glad they worked with the gluten-free 1:1 flour. I really appreciate you sharing your feedback!
Katy Hospital says
These are super delicious and really easy to make. Mine came out perfectly spicy and moist. Awesome to have with coffee!
★★★★★
Ashley says
Thanks so much for your comment and review, Katy!
D'Lanna Mason says
These were delicious! I’ll be making these all winter as a staple for my breakfast.
★★★★★
Rachel Chase says
Hi! These muffins were delicious but came out a little gooey. I’m wondering if I used enough flour? I used all purpose flour and per the recipe notes, used a little under 1 cup. Was that correct? Thanks!
Ashley says
Hi there. The recipe calls for 1 and 3/4 cups whole grain flour. If using just all purpose, you should have used close to 2 cups. Sorry for any confusion! Let me know if that helps.
Katrina Lewandowski says
I loved this recipe! Very delicious and just enough “Spice” for me. Perfect for Fall.
★★★★★
Elyse says
Made these today and they’re delicious!!!
Miranda Moncada says
I was able to make 2 batches with 2 kids! So yummy and perfect fall morning activity.
★★★★★