How to Make the Perfect 3 Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins
American · Easy · 27 min · 12 servings
These warmly spiced 3 ingredient pumpkin muffins come together with just canned pumpkin, spice cake mix, and eggs for a moist, fluffy, perfectly spiced treat ready in under 30 minutes. They are the ultimate fall dessert or breakfast with zero complicated steps.
Why this recipe works
This 3 Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins recipe has been crafted to deliver restaurant-quality results in your home kitchen. At just 27 minutes from start to finish, it fits perfectly into a busy schedule without sacrificing flavor. Each serving comes in at 175 calories with 3g of protein, making it a balanced choice for any meal.
What you will need
This recipe uses 4 simple ingredients that you can find at any grocery store:
- 1 can pure pumpkin puree 15 oz
- 1 box spice cake mix
- 2 large eggs
- 0 cooking spray
Step by step instructions
Step 1: Mix the Batter
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or spray generously with cooking spray. In a large mixing bowl, combine the entire box of spice cake mix, the canned pumpkin puree, and the two eggs. Stir together with a spatula or whisk until a smooth, thick batter forms with no dry cake mix streaks.
Step 2: Fill the Muffin Tin
Divide the thick pumpkin batter evenly among all 12 muffin cups, filling each about three-quarters full. The batter will be thicker than traditional muffin batter, which is completely normal and results in a dense, moist texture. Smooth the tops lightly with the back of a spoon if desired.
Step 3: Bake and Cool
Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 22 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean and the tops spring back when lightly touched. Allow the muffins to cool in the tin for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling, which prevents them from becoming soggy on the bottom.
Easy substitutions
Missing an ingredient? Here are some swaps that work perfectly:
- spice cake mix → yellow cake mix plus 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice for a milder spice flavor
- eggs → 2 flax eggs made with 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed and 6 tablespoons water for a vegan version
Common mistakes to avoid
Watch out for these pitfalls that can affect your results:
- Adding water or oil from the cake mix box instructions, which makes the batter too thin and the muffins flat and dense
- Overbaking past 22 minutes which dries out the muffins and removes the moist pumpkin texture they are known for
Nutrition facts
Per serving: 175 calories, 3g protein, 34g carbs, 3g fat, 2g fiber.
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