Oh, the smell of fall! It’s honestly my favorite time of year, and nothing says “cozy season” quite like the aroma of freshly baked pumpkin muffins filling the kitchen. These Pumpkin Muffins with Streusel are an absolute dream – super easy to whip up, ridiculously delicious with that sweet, crunchy topping, and just perfect for any autumn occasion, from a casual family breakfast to a Thanksgiving treat. As a chef and a mom with way too many years (17, to be exact!) spent in the kitchen, I’ve learned that bringing joy to the table with fantastic flavor doesn’t have to be complicated. My family loves these, and I bet yours will too! You can learn more about my kitchen philosophy over on my about page!
Why You’ll Love These Pumpkin Muffins with Streusel
These muffins are a total dream, and I bet you’ll love them for so many reasons:
- Seriously Simple: You can totally whip these up in a flash, even on a busy weeknight. They’re one of my favorite easy pumpkin recipes.
- Flavor Explosion: The warm, cozy pumpkin spice combined with that irresistibly crunchy streusel topping is just heavenly.
- Perfect for Fall Festivities: They’re not just for breakfast; these are practically begging to be on your Thanksgiving dessert spread!
- Family Approved: Trust me, these are a hit with everyone, kids and adults alike. They’re wonderfully moist and so satisfying.
- Amazing Aroma: Get ready for your kitchen to smell like pure autumn bliss while these bake.
Gather Your Ingredients for Pumpkin Muffins with Streusel
Alright, let’s get our ingredients lined up for these amazing Pumpkin Muffins with Streusel! You’ll need a few things for the muffins themselves and a little something extra for that glorious topping. Trust me, having everything ready to go makes the baking process so much smoother.
For the cozy muffin batter, grab:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup pumpkin puree (make sure it’s pure pumpkin, not pie filling – that’s a key difference!)
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
And for that irresistible streusel topping:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into little pieces
Having good quality spices really makes a difference here, so use the ones you love! And remember, the butter for the streusel needs to be cold – that’s how we get those perfect little crumbles.
Easy Steps to Make Pumpkin Muffins with Streusel
Okay, let’s get down to business! Making these Pumpkin Muffins with Streusel is honestly a breeze. I promise, you don’t need to be a professional baker to get fantastic results. Just follow these steps, and soon your kitchen will be filled with the most amazing fall scent! For all my go-to quick recipes, you should definitely check out my easy recipes selection.
Preparing the Muffin Batter
First things first, let’s get that oven preheating to 350°F (175°C). While it’s warming up, grab a 12-cup muffin tin and prep it with liners or give it a good grease. Now, in a nice big bowl, whisk together your dry stuff: the flour, baking soda, salt, and all those wonderful pumpkin pie spices – cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. In a separate bowl, go ahead and whisk together the sugar, that glorious pumpkin puree, your oil, eggs, and vanilla. Once those wet ingredients are smooth and melded together, pour them right into your dry ingredients. Stir *just* until everything is combined. Seriously, a few streaks of flour are okay! Overmixing is a muffin-killer, making them tough, so be gentle!
Crafting the Perfect Streusel Topping
This is the best part, right? The streusel! Take another small bowl and mix together the streusel flour, brown sugar, regular sugar, and cinnamon. Now, add your cold, little butter pieces. You can use a pastry blender, two forks, or even just your fingertips to work that butter into the dry stuff. You want it to look like coarse crumbs, no big chunks of butter allowed! If you’re feeling fancy, you can toss in some chopped pecans or walnuts here, too, for extra crunch.
Assembling and Baking Your Pumpkin Muffins
Now for the fun bit: assembling! Spoon your pumpkin batter into those prepared muffin cups, filling them about two-thirds of the way full. Don’t overfill them, or you’ll have muffin overflow, which is a messy disaster! Then, generously sprinkle that delightful streusel topping all over the batter in each cup. Pop them into your preheated oven and bake for about 20-25 minutes. You’ll know they’re ready when a wooden skewer or toothpick you stick into the center comes out clean. Let them hang out in the tin for a few minutes to cool down a bit before you move them to a wire rack to cool completely. Patience, almost there!
Tips for Perfectly Baked Pumpkin Muffins with Streusel
Want to be sure your Pumpkin Muffins with Streusel turn out absolutely perfect every single time? I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve from all those years in the kitchen! First off, remember that ‘do not overmix’ rule I mentioned? It’s super important because overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, and that just leads to tough, chewy muffins instead of tender, fluffy ones. A few little lumps are totally fine – trust me on this!
Also, make sure your oven is actually at the right temperature. Ovens can be a little quirky, so using an oven thermometer is a smart move if you’re not totally sure yours is accurate. And don’t skip that crucial cooling step! Letting them cool in the pan for a few minutes before moving them to a wire rack helps them set up properly and prevents soggy bottoms. If your muffins brown too quickly on top, don’t be afraid to loosely tent some foil over them during baking. Happy baking!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Pumpkin Muffins
Let’s chat real quick about some of the ingredients for these Pumpkin Muffins with Streusel, because a little detail can make a big difference! First off, the pumpkin: please, please, please grab pumpkin puree, NOT pumpkin pie filling. Pie filling already has sweeteners and spices, and it will totally throw off your muffins. You want the pure, unsweetened pumpkin goodness!
If you’re out of vegetable oil, you can totally swap it for a neutral-flavored oil like canola or grapeseed. Some folks even use melted unsalted butter, but oil really gives these muffins that perfect tender crumb. Can’t find all the spices? No worries! You can always use a pre-made pumpkin pie spice blend – just use about 2 teaspoons total. And if you want to make these a bit healthier, you could try swapping out half the granulated sugar for a whole wheat pastry flour, but your muffins might be a tad denser. For more yummy dessert recipes, have a peek at my dessert recipes!
Frequently Asked Questions about Pumpkin Muffins with Streusel
Got questions about these yummy Pumpkin Muffins with Streusel? I’ve got answers! Baking is all about understanding the little things, so let’s clear up anything you might be wondering about.
Can I make these pumpkin muffins vegan?
You sure can! To make these vegan, you’ll want to swap out the eggs for a flax egg (1 tablespoon flaxseed meal + 3 tablespoons water, let it sit for 5 minutes) or your favorite commercial egg replacer. Then, use a plant-based butter for the streusel and a plant-based milk or a bit more oil in the batter if needed. They still turn out wonderfully moist and delicious!
How long do these pumpkin muffins last?
These muffins are pretty forgiving! Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, they should stay fresh and tasty for about 2-3 days. If you need them to last longer, pop them in the refrigerator, and they’ll be good for up to a week. Just warm them up a little before serving to bring back that fresh-baked goodness!
What can I use if I don’t have pumpkin puree?
The star here really is the pumpkin puree, so it’s hard to replace and get that signature flavor and moisture. Make absolutely sure you’re using pure pumpkin puree and *not* pumpkin pie filling, as that already has sugar and spices mixed in and will change the recipe entirely. If you absolutely can’t find pumpkin puree, you might try using an equal amount of mashed sweet potato or butternut squash puree, but the flavor will be a bit different.
Can I add nuts to the streusel?
Oh, absolutely! Adding nuts is a fantastic idea if you ask me. Chopped pecans or walnuts are wonderful in the streusel topping. Just mix them in with the flour, sugars, and cinnamon before you cut in the butter. It adds another layer of texture and a lovely nutty flavor that goes perfectly with the pumpkin spice. It turns an already amazing easy pumpkin recipe into something even more special!
Serving and Storing Your Delicious Pumpkin Muffins
These Pumpkin Muffins with Streusel are so versatile! They’re absolutely divine with a hot cup of coffee or a comforting mug of tea, especially on a chilly autumn morning. If you’re feeling a little extra fancy, a tiny dollop of whipped cream or even a light drizzle of maple syrup can be divine. Honestly, they’re so good, they barely need anything extra!
Now, about leftovers – though I doubt you’ll have many! You can keep them fresh at room temperature for about 2-3 days in an airtight container. If you need them to last a bit longer, pop them in the fridge. To reheat them and enjoy that just-baked goodness again, just pop them in a warm oven for a few minutes or microwave them gently for about 10-15 seconds. Enjoy every last crumb!
Estimated Nutritional Information
Just so you know, here are the estimated nutritional facts for one of these delicious Pumpkin Muffins with Streusel. Keep in mind these can vary a bit depending on the exact ingredients you use, like the type of oil or sugar. This is our best guess!
- Serving Size: 1 muffin
- Calories: 350
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Protein: 4g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 35g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Pumpkin Muffins with Streusel
- Total Time: 40 min
- Yield: 12 muffins 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Easy and delicious pumpkin muffins topped with a sweet streusel, perfect for a fall treat.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- For the Streusel:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease it well.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, pumpkin puree, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Prepare the streusel: In a small bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Divide the muffin batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full.
- Sprinkle the streusel topping generously over the batter in each muffin cup.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
- Let the muffins cool in the tin for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Ensure you use pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling.
- For best results, do not overmix the batter.
- You can add chopped pecans or walnuts to the streusel for extra crunch.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 muffin
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 35g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 40mg



