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.
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If you’re looking for more pumpkin muffin recipes, you can try my Pumpkin Zucchini Muffins, Paleo Pumpkin Muffins and my Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins.
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.
- 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 can’t be the only one who does this.
Ingredients List
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.
Find the full detailed instructions with measurements in the recipe card below, at the end of this post.
How to Make Vegan Pumpkin Muffins
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.
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.
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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!
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
Vegan Pumpkin Muffins
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup non-dairy milk + 1 tbs apple cider vinegar
- 1 TBSP flaxseed meal + 3 TBSP water
- 1 cup canned pumpkin
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar*
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups white whole wheat 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.)
- Make vegan "buttermilk" and egg: In a measuring cup add 3/4 cup of milk +1 TBS of apple cider vinegar, set aside for about 5 minutes. In a separate small bowl, make the flaxseed egg by combining water with flaxseed.
- Mix wet ingredients: 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.
- Mix in wet ingredients: Add in whole wheat white flour, and sprinkle in baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice evenly over ingredients in bowl. 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.
- Bake: Evenly distribute batter into prepared muffin pan, filling 3/4 full (I use my medium 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.
- Cool: 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 2 months.
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