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Mini Pumpkin Muffins

Mini Pumpkin Muffins

These mini pumpkin muffins prove that a tray of impressive fall treats can come together with two bowls, a spoon, and a mini muffin pan. This easy mini pumpkin muffin recipe creates tender muffins with a buttery cinnamon sugar coating, making them perfect for school snacks and busy mornings. Whether you serve them as fall breakfast bites or pack them as bite size pumpkin muffins for fall gatherings, these muffins deserve a permanent place in your autumn baking rotation.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 24 servings
Course: Muffins
Cuisine: American

Ingredients
  

  • 1 and 3/4 cups (220g) whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour or mix of both*
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice*
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup (4 Tbsp; 56g) unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
  • 1/2 cup (100g) packed light or dark brown sugar
  • 1 large egg at room temperature
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup (170g) pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) milk (any kind)
Cinnamon-Sugar Coating
  • 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup (4 Tbsp; 56g) unsalted butter melted

Equipment

  • Mini muffin pan
  • Two mixing bowls
  • Small spoon

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Spray a 24-count mini muffin pan with nonstick spray. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and salt together. In a medium bowl, whisk the melted butter and brown sugar together. Add the egg, vanilla extract, pumpkin puree, and milk and whisk to combine. Pour wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, then whisk until just combined. Avoid over-mixing. Batter is thick.
  3. Using a small spoon, spoon the batter into the muffin tins, filling each about 2/3 full.
  4. Bake for 12-14 or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or when lightly poked, the muffin bounces back. Remove from the oven and cool in the muffin pan for 10 minutes.
  5. In a small bowl, mix the granulated sugar and cinnamon together. Use a spoon to help remove the warm muffins from the pan. Lightly dunk a muffin (they can still be a bit warm) in the melted butter. Submerge in the cinnamon-sugar to coat the surface generously. Set upright on cooling rack and repeat with remaining mini muffins.
  6. Muffins taste best eaten on the same day. Cover and store leftover muffins at room temperature for up to 1 day, or in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To help prevent the coating from turning mushy and wet, only loosely cover them, which will allow a little airflow.

Recipe Notes

Freezing:
Freeze cooled mini muffins before adding the butter and cinnamon-sugar coating. Store for up to 3 months and thaw at room temperature before coating.
Flour:
Use all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, or a combination of both.
Pumpkin Pie Spice:
Use store-bought or homemade pumpkin pie spice. You can also use 1/2 teaspoon each of allspice and ginger, plus 1/4 teaspoon each of nutmeg and cloves, in addition to the 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.
Regular Muffins:
This recipe makes 12 regular muffins. Bake at 425°F for 5 minutes, then reduce to 350°F and bake for about 16 minutes more.
Donut Pan:
Grease the pan and fill each cavity halfway with batter. Bake at 350°F for 10–11 minutes, then cool for 2 minutes before transferring to a rack.