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Paleo Pumpkin Muffins are light & fluffy, without using any flour or oil. They are not too sweet, with the perfect amount of Fall flavor.
Inspired by my Almond Butter Blondies, these paleo muffins make an easy after-school snack or breakfast on the go. They taste like a traditional muffin, and come together quickly in one bowl!
If you want more of a chocolate brownie-like experience, be sure to try my Double Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins for another variation.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Instead of using flour, these muffins get their structure from a combination of almond butter and eggs. Just like magic, they become light & fluffy when they bake!
As a result, this recipe is gluten-free, grain-free, and dairy-free, without relying on almond flour or coconut flour. If you don’t have almond butter on hand, you can use cashew butter with similar results.
If you can’t find canned pumpkin puree, I’ve also got you covered with a tutorial on how to make pumpkin puree from fresh pumpkins. Store-bought pumpkin pie spice is convenient, but you can make your own pumpkin pie spice at home using ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves.
How to Make Paleo Pumpkin Muffins
Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a standard muffin tin with 12 paper liners.
In a large bowl, combine the almond butter, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, eggs, baking powder, pumpkin spice, and sea salt. Stir well until the batter is smooth.
Use a 1/4 cup measure to divide the batter among the muffin liners, and sprinkle the tops with chopped pecans, walnuts, or chocolate chips. (You can also stir the mix-ins into the center of the muffin if you like.)
Bake at 350ºF until the muffins rise and look firm in the center, about 25 to 30 minutes.
Let the muffins cool in the muffin pan for at least 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling. They have an amazingly fluffy texture, without using any flour!
This paleo muffin recipe should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days for the best shelf life. Or you can store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
I don’t recommend using a flax egg or other egg substitute in this recipe. The results will be very gooey in the middle like they are under-baked, and the muffins won’t rise. The eggs provide structure to these flourless muffins, so if you need a vegan alternative, I’d recommend trying my Vegan Pumpkin Donuts (which you can bake in a muffin tin) or Vegan Pumpkin Bars, instead.
For a paleo pumpkin bread, you can attempt to bake this as a loaf for 50 to 60 minutes at 350ºF. It will most likely work better if you bake it in a 9-inch square pan, however, like my healthy pumpkin bars. In that case, you can bake the square cake for 25 to 30 minutes at 350ºF.
You can swap the baking powder for a 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda + 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar in this recipe. When using baking powder in Paleo recipes, be sure to look for a brand that is made with arrowroot starch instead of corn starch. (Corn isn’t technically Paleo, if you are following a strict plan.)
Flourless baked goods tend to stick to the pan more than muffins made with a traditional flour. If you are baking these for guests, I recommend using a parchment muffin cup (affiliate link) to ensure these muffins will easily release from the pan, and from the paper liner. If you prefer to use silicone muffin cups, be extra gentle when trying to get these muffins out, since they are more fragile than a grain-based muffin.
You can definitely use honey instead of maple syrup in this case. Or you can use a 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup coconut sugar, for a slightly different texture.
Looking for more paleo muffin recipes? Try my Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins, Chocolate Zucchini Muffins, Almond Flour Muffins, or Spiced Applesauce Paleo Muffins for more ideas.
Ingredients
- 1 cup almond butter (263 grams)
- ½ cup pumpkin puree (127 grams)
- ⅓ cup maple syrup (104 grams)
- 2 large eggs (97 grams)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder (5 grams; or 1/2 teaspoon baking soda)
- 2 teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice (6 grams; see notes)
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt (2 grams)
- ½ cup dark chocolate chips, walnuts, or raisins (optional mix ins)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350ºF, and line a muffin tin with 12 parchment paper liners. (I don't recommend making these without a liner, as grain-free baking is prone to sticking.)
- In a large bowl, combine the almond butter, pumpkin, maple syrup, eggs, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Stir well, until the batter is completely smooth.
- Fold in any of the optional add-ins, then use a 1/4 cup measure to scoop the batter evenly among the 12 baking cups. Top with a few extra chocolate chips or walnuts, if you like.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes at 350ºF, until the centers puff up and feel firm to a light touch. Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Because these muffins are pretty moist, store them in the fridge for the best shelf life. They will keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Or you can freeze them for up to 3 months.
Notes
Nutrition
If you try this Paleo Pumpkin Muffin recipe, please leave a comment below letting me know how you like them.
Oops I am sorry I didn’t read the other comments. Disregard my question.
Hi, love the site !
my question is about the syrup / honey used in the pumpkin muffins…I’m not using honey or real syrup at this point, is there something else I could use …maybe DaVinci sugargree syrup or the likes or maybe alittle bit of maple extract ??
I would really like to try these.
Thanks
I am so glad you like pumpkin spice everything because I do TOO! And I am in love with your recipes!!!! Question: If I want to replace the honey for Liquid Stevia would it work and how many drops would you recommend? Thanks for all your delicious recipes!
Could i use stevia in these instead?
Yes, I’m sure stevia will work, too. You’ll just have to compensate by adding some extra moisture (maybe almond milk or extra pumpkin puree would work?) in place of the maple syrup. Please let us know if you have any success!
I’d suggest adding some applesauce for the moisture! 🙂
Wow those muffins look awesome for using almond butter! And I’m the same I love pumpkin spice anything! I am officially addicted. Just a quick question, what do you think of baking the almond flour/almond butter because of the oxidation and the rancidity of the almonds? And that is apparently has free radicals and is unstable when baking with. I get so confused with all that ha ha.
Hi Lisa! I’ve wondered the same thing myself, and after doing some searching, I’m still at a loss. Some experts seem to think heating almonds has no impact on their health benefits, while others swear it will make the Omega-3 acids go rancid– and therefore should be avoided. So, who knows for sure! Personally, I’m of the thought that these almond-based goodies should be a special treat, rather than an every day indulgence, just to be on the safe side.
Just made these this afternoon and they’re delicious! Thanks for the great grain-free options!
So glad you enjoyed them already! 🙂
Thank you so much for this delicious recipe. It’s the only one I know which is both flour- and sugar-free(I use xylitol in place of the syrup and 100% cocoa chips). Just one muffin is very satisfying, and I and my son, who are both sugar addicts, can’t say this about hardly any other treats. Bravo!
Thanks; I’m glad you and your son enjoyed them!
i LOVE pumpkin spice, sometimes i add cocoa powder to pumpkin puree with a little raw maple syrup for a little treat! i’m so surprised that nut butter makes such a nice muffin! i thought they would be super flat!
ahhh i just got a new jar of almond butter so these will be made asap they look so good!
These look amazing!!!! Love anything pumpkin! I would never think to use almond butter as a base to my muffins but I bet it’s really good!
Oh boy, these look yummy! So glad to hear they freeze well because I like to make big batches of food on the weekend and refrigerate or freeze for convenience during the work week. Thanks!