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While it’s officially pumpkin season, let’s not forget about sweet potatoes. These healthy potatoes taste naturally sweeter than pumpkin, and in my opinion, they make a better base for both pie and muffins.

I’ve been testing this sweet potato muffin recipe for several weeks to ensure we can make them as fluffy and tender as possible. Using eggs helps with the fluffy factor, but I’ve also tested an egg-free version for you, because I can’t help myself—once I start testing things, I always have questions that come up!

What you’re going to love about these muffins is that they are made without white flour or refined sugar, but they taste like a regular muffin you’d buy from a bakery. Plus, your home will smell amazing as they cook!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Featured Review

“Amazing! My 12 year old said it’s ridiculous how good these are.”

-Amberly

Sweet potato muffin split in half on a white plate.

Why You’ll Love These Sweet Potato Muffins

They are allergy-friendly. This recipe calls for gluten-free and dairy-free ingredients, so they are perfect for those with special dietary needs. While I do like to add pecans on top for crunch, you can leave them off for a nut-free muffin.

Your house will smell like Fall. The aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg wafting through your house is better than any scented candle.

They’re a great way to use leftovers. If you have baked sweet potato leftovers from a previous meal, this is the perfect way to put them to good use. I’d bake an extra potato just for this purpose!

They’re made without refined sugar. Although these muffins taste like bakery-style muffins, they are naturally sweetened with maple syrup and packed with extra nutrients in each bite, thanks to the addition of sweet potatoes.

Sweet Potato Muffin recipe Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Sweet Potato. I’m using leftover baked sweet potato for this recipe. Just scoop the insides of the potato into a measuring cup and pack it tightly. (Canned sweet potato will also likely work.)
  • Oat Flour. This is one of my favorite gluten-free flours, because even if you don’t keep it on hand, most people have rolled oats in the pantry. Blitz it in a dry blender, and you have oat flour! Shop for certified gluten-free oats, if needed, to avoid any cross-contamination during the manufacturing process.
  • Eggs. Adding eggs to a muffin recipe creates a light and fluffy texture while also adding protein.
  • Maple Syrup. This natural sweetener adds the perfect amount of sweetness. Using a liquid sweetener also helps improve the texture compared to granulated sugar.
  • Olive Oil. You can’t taste this in the final muffins, and you could use avocado oil if you prefer. Avoid using coconut oil or butter, as the muffins won’t be as soft with these substitutions.
  • Spices. Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt are key to a classic sweet potato dessert. (These are often used in sweet potato pie as well.)
  • Pecans. These are optional, in case you need a nut-free treat, but they add a nice crunch on top of these muffins.
sweet potato muffin ingredients labeled in glass bowls.

How to Make Sweet Potato Muffins

Step 1:

Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a muffin tin with 12 paper liners. In a large mixing bowl, combine the sweet potato puree, eggs, maple syrup, and olive oil. 

Stir well until the wet ingredients are combined. 

wet ingredients mixed in a glass bowl for sweet potato muffins.

Step 2:

Next, add the dry ingredients, such as oat flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, and salt. Stir again, until the batter looks evenly mixed. 

Fold in any extras you like, such as chocolate chips, chopped pecans, or any other nuts you have on hand.

sweet potato muffin batter mixed with pecans added in.

Step 3:

Use a heaping 1/4 cup measure to distribute the muffin batter evenly among the 12 muffin liners. Top each muffin cup with extra chopped pecans, if you like. 

Bake at 350ºF for 25 minutes, or until the muffins rise and feel firm to a light touch in the center. Let them cool in the muffin pan for at least 20 minutes before serving. 

muffins topped with pecans before and after baking in a muffin tin.

Storage Tips

Leftover muffins can be stored at room temperature for up to 24 hours; however, they will have the best shelf life when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

They can be stored chilled for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months. 

sweet potato muffins in a pan with one split in half nearby.

Sweet Potato Muffin Recipe FAQs

Can I make these muffins egg-free?

Yes, but I don’t recommend simply swapping the eggs for a flax egg. Instead, omit the eggs and increase the oat flour to 2 cups. You’ll also want to increase the oil to 1/3 cup in this case, for added moisture.

Can I bake these as mini muffins?

To bake mini muffins, preheat the oven to 375°F and bake for 15 minutes, or until the center of the muffins feels firm to the touch. 

Can I use almond flour?

No, this recipe was not developed with almond flour in mind. Check out my almond flour muffins recipe for guidance. 

sweet potato muffins in their wrappers turned in a muffin pan.

Sweet Potato Muffins (Gluten-Free!)

4.89 from 18 votes
The next time you have leftover baked sweet potato on hand, turn it into these fluffy sweet potato muffins. You'll want your house to smell like these all season long! They taste like Fall and are made without refined sugar, for a nourishing treat.
prep15 mins cook25 mins total40 mins
Servings:12

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 cup sweet potato puree
  • 2 large eggs
  • ¾ cup maple syrup
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 ½ cups oat flour (certified gluten-free, if needed)
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • ½ cup chopped pecans or chocolate chips (optional mix-in)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a standard muffin tin with 12 muffin liners.
  • In a large bowl, combine the sweet potato puree, eggs, maple syrup, and olive oil. Stir well.
  • Add in the oat flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, and salt. Stir well until the batter looks relatively uniform. (It's okay if you see small chunks of baked sweet potato.) Fold in the chopped pecans or chocolate chips, if desired.
  • Use a heaping 1/4 cup measure to divide the batter evenly among the 12 muffin cups. Top each muffin with extra chopped pecans or chocolate chips, if you'd like.
  • Bake at 350ºF for 25 minutes, or until the centers of the muffins rise and feel firm to a light touch. Let the muffins cool in the pan for at least 20 minutes before serving. They taste best when they reach room temperature.
  • Muffins can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Or you can freeze them for up to 3 months. Let them come to room temperature again for the best flavor and texture.

Notes

Nutrition information is for 1 of 12 muffins, without the optional mix-ins. This information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients and is just an estimate, not a guarantee.
Make it Vegan: Omit the eggs, then increase the flour to 2 cups total, and increase the oil to 1/3 cup total. You can use melted coconut oil if you prefer. (Use refined coconut oil to avoid a coconut flavor.)
Update Note: This recipe was updated in November 2023 to make a better muffin. If you prefer the original recipe, you can find that here.

Nutrition

Calories: 191kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 121mg | Potassium: 291mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 4529IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: gluten-free
Keyword: sweet potato muffins

More Recipes to Try

If you try these sweet potato muffins, please leave a comment and star rating below, letting me know how you like them. 

Megan Gilmore leaning on her white countertop.

Megan Gilmore

Hi, I’m Megan. A former fast food junkie turned best-selling cookbook author. As a Certified Nutritionist Consultant (CNC), I love to make healthier food using simple ingredients. I test these recipes multiple times in my kitchen to make sure they will turn out perfectly for you.

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Comments

  1. Hello, Megan, I love your muffin recipes, wondering if oil can be substituted with yogurt? will the texture be affected?

    1. Hi Margaret! I’ve never tried swapping the oil for yogurt before. I think it might change the texture slightly, but if you’re using full-fat yogurt I think they’d still be delicious! Low fat yogurt might be too watery and give them a gummy texture. Let me know if you experiment with it!