It’s officially fall, and to me nothing says, and smells like, fall more than freshly baked pumpkin bread, or in this case mini muffins, filling your house with the wonderfully warm scents of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.
This is my favorite pumpkin bread recipe, I just love all the spices in it. The recipe is originally from Bon Appétit, and I’ve been making it for years.
I usually use this recipe to make a couple of loaves of pumpkin bread, but this time decided to go the mini muffin route, as I was hosting my 2 year old girls’ playgroup, and I thought mini muffins would be fun for the little ones. There really is nothing cuter than a 2 year old eating a mini muffin!
All of my kids love these Spiced Pumpkin Mini Muffins, they are wonderful for breakfast or as a snack any time of day. I pack them in my son’s lunch or for his snack at school.
Sometimes I’ll swap out half of the vegetable oil in this recipe (or in any muffin or quick bread recipe) and replace it with unsweetened apple sauce. You can’t tell the difference and it cuts down on the fat content.
You can also use this recipe to make two loaves of pumpkin bread or six mini loaves instead of the mini muffins, you’ll just need to increase the baking time accordingly.
This bread, whether in muffin or loaf format, freezes well wrapped in foil, so you can have some to eat and some to freeze for later enjoyment.
The warm wonderful scents of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg fill the air while these Spiced Pumpkin Mini Muffins are baking away in the oven.
Ingredients
- 3 cups sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs
- 1 (15 oz) can solid pack pumpkin
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease or place muffin liners in two 24 cup mini-muffin tins (or if you have just one, you can bake in batches)
- In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat sugar and vegetable oil to blend.
- Add in eggs and pumpkin and mix to combine.
- In another large bowl, sift together (I use a whisk) flour, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
- Stir flour mixture into pumpkin mixture in 2 or 3 additions until just combined.
- Spoon batter into mini muffin tins, filling nearly to the top of each cup. Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of a muffin comes out clean.
- Cool muffin tins on wire racks for 5 minutes. Remove muffins from tins, place on racks and cool completely.
Notes
You can also use this recipe to make two (2) 9 inch x 5 inch loaves or six (6) 5 ¾ inch x 3 inch mini loaves of Spiced Pumpkin Bread.
For two (2) 9 inch x 5 inch loaves increase the baking time to about 50 minutes – 1 hour or until a tester inserted into the middle of a loaf comes out clean.
For six (6) 5 ¾ inch x 3 inch mini loaves increase the baking time to about 35-40 minutes or until a tester inserted into the middle of a loaf comes out clean.
Adapted from epicurious.com.

ooooh! I can just smell them cooking – sounds wonderful!!
Debra @ Bowl Me Over recently posted…Fall Harvest Salad #MeatlessMonday
I agree it’s one of those perfect fall flavors!! Thanks for Sharing on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday!! Pinned! Hope you come back tomorrow!!
Elaine recently posted…Super Easy and Fun Halloween Wreath!
PUMPKIN!! I love these mini muffins! I am taking these to Sunday School this weekend!
Jennifer Stewart recently posted…Basil Martini with Lime and Black Pepper
I need to make some pumpkin muffins soon! Looks very delicious and easy to make! Pinning!
Neli @ Delicious Meets Healthy recently posted…Comment on Stuffed Zucchini Boats with Garlic Sauce by Chrisy @ Homemade Hooplah
I made some pumpkin spice scones last week, and my house just smelled like Fall!!!! I love these. Mini-muffins are the best–I don’t feel bad when I have more than one. :o)
Dee Dee (My Midlife Kitchen) recently posted…Little Food, Big Flavor–Braised Beef Cheek Sliders
Just in time for fall, perfect!
Florian @ContentednessCooking recently posted…Power Protein Salad
I used to make pumpkin bread all the time when my kids were little. I think now I would swap out the veggie oil for coconut oil and cut down on the sugar too — and mini muffins are a good idea for any age! Cheers!
I’m always so amazed by you! This looks so good! Pinned and tweeted. I appreciate you taking the time to party with us. I hope to see you on Monday at 7. Happy Saturday! Lou Lou Girls
Lou Lou Girls recently posted…Best Buy Wedding Gift Registry! Top 5 Gift Picks!!
Those muffins look wonderful! They probably smell amazing when they are baking in the oven!
Nicole recently posted…Show Off Friday 166
Great recipe for the fall season! We are so excited that you linked up to Merry Monday this week! Sharing your post today on my Twitter! Stop by back next Monday for another great party share! Party opens Sunday night! Have a great week!
Best,
Kim
Kim~madeinaday recently posted…Merry Monday Linky Party #71
I LOVE these mini muffins. I think I will try them. Thinking of adding some pistachio crumbs to your muffin recipe.
Thanks so much, I hope you try them and enjoy! Pistachios sound like a great addition!
Joy recently posted…Let’s Get Real Friday Party #74
Hey Joy! Just wanted to give you a heads up. The roundup I did that included your muffins was also featured at http://www.alifeinbalance.net/68-mouthwatering-christmas-desserts/#comment-90703 today! Whoop whoop!
Have a wonderful week!
See you tomorrow for the link party 🙂
jess
jessica recently posted…Holiday Music to Get You Moving
Awesome news, thanks Jessica!
Joy recently posted…Missionary Date Balls
Another recipe that will make my house smell amazing. You are very good at that! I’m partial to mini muffins. So cute.
Thanks for linking with See Ya in the Gumbo!
Michelle recently posted…What’s the Haps Wednesday {Decorating the Tree}
Thanks Michelle!
Joy recently posted…Missionary Date Balls
Hello cute lady! Looks so good. Pinned. We really appreciate you taking the time to stop by our party. It wouldn’t be a party without you. Please join us on Monday at 7 pm. Happy Sunday! Lou Lou Girls
Lou Lou Girls recently posted…Craig Claiborne’s Smothered Chicken
Thanks for the pin! I will definitely be back at your party!
Joy recently posted…Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
Pumpkin bread is my weakness and I am loving this new recipe with so many great spices in it! Pinned!
AnnMarie recently posted…Vintage Finds Under the Tree
Thanks AnnMarie! Thanks for the pin! Hope you give them a try and enjoy!
Joy recently posted…Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
Thank you so much for linking these delicious muffins up at #TheWeekendSocial. Please be sure to come back this week starting Thursday at 9PM EST on KitchenDreaming.com ! I hope to see you there! Pinned
Thanks Dina! I will definitely be back at #TheWeekendSocial!
Joy recently posted…Black Bottom Banana Mini Cupcakes
These muffins would be wonderful to wake up to in the morning! Thanks for sharing at #theWeekendSocial. Love seeing you each week Thursdays 9:00 PM EST through Sunday 9:00 PM EST. Pinned! http://www.theKitchenChopper.com
Thanks KC, I will definitely be back at #theWeekendSocial!
I love finding new recipes for using pumpkin in the fall. These sound delicious and I love that they are mini in size! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe with us!
Thanks Jamie! Thanks for coming by!
Joy recently posted…Dutch Hutspot
These look really good. 🙂 Great for this time of year.
Gentle Joy recently posted…Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls-Wow!
Thanks, hope you give them a try and enjoy! Thanks for coming by 🙂
Joy recently posted…Beef & Broccoli in Black Bean Garlic Sauce
Joy’s pumpkin muffins are addictive. This recipe is so easy and delicious. I have been baking pumpkin muffins since you posted the recipe, my kids and husband can’t get enough. I usually freeze most of them and leave a few on the counter overnight or warm the muffins in the toaster in the morning for breakfast or to pack in the lunch boxes for the kids to eat at snack time at school. Thanks for sharing this recipe Joy, this is a keeper, I wrote this recipe on my notebook 🙂
Thanks Rosani! I’m so delighted to hear that you and your family are enjoying them! Such a great idea to freeze them and take out as needed!
Joy recently posted…Beef & Broccoli in Black Bean Garlic Sauce
There you go again Joy – another tempting recipes. Actually I am glad you linked this up at Home Matters Linky because I can add this to my collection of what the kids would eat. I recently made a pumpkin bread and they really surprise me by eating lots of it!
zan recently posted…Weekend Review: A Trip to Royal Oak Farm & a Recipe for Homemade Apple Pie
Thanks Zan! My kids LOVE this one, hope yours do too 🙂
Joy recently posted…Slow Cooker Beef Burgundy
Yum! These look fabulous! Bring on the pumpkin! So glad to have you join us again at Foodie Fridays!
Thanks Michelle! See you next week at #FoodieFridays!
Thank you so much for attending week 4 of #PureBlogLove and linking your fantastic blog post. These muffins sound delicious! I am still yet to try a baking recipe with pumpkin, it’s not something we do here in NZ. I think I will love these muffins! I can’t wait to see what you have in store for our party next week Thursday 8 PM EST- Sundays at midnight . Have a great day!
Nicole
http://picnicnz.blogspot.co.nz/
Thanks Nicole! You should definitely try baking with pumpkin, you will love it. See you next week at #PureBlogLove!
Yum. Love pumpkin muffins during the fall…such a treat. Thanks for sharing on Merry Monday. Pinned 🙂
Thanks Erlene!
I have been in a muffin mood, lately. And these look delicious. I will be going with the applesauce. Pinned!
Thanks Rachel, hope you give them a try and enjoy!
These look so good. I love pumpkin stuff!
Thanks Amber, I love anything with pumpkin too!
I really need to make some pumpkin muffins soon. Your recipe sounds so good!
Thanks Jenna, hope you give them a try and enjoy!