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    Home > Recipes > All Recipes

    Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

    Published: Oct 11, 2011 · Modified: Jun 18, 2020 · by Jess Smith · Jump to Recipe · 8 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Pumpkin chocolate chip muffins on a plate

    Feel all the fall feels with these stellar pumpkin chocolate chip muffins. The pumpkin aroma is the embodiment of fall, but that tiny kick of chocolate is a reminder of the best thing about October- Halloween!

    It’s fall somewhere. Not here.  But somewhere.  (Although, every once in a while, a cool breeze comes along and I get that festive feel that comes with the changing seasons.) So when Frank picked up a can of pumpkin and held it towards me like he was waiting for me to pounce, I realized that I needed to embrace the idea of fall and oblige.

    And you know what, it worked.  There’s nothing like homemade baked things and the smell of pumpkin pie spice to make one realize that the season of festivities is upon us. Our holidays this year are more likely to involve beaches than snow, but there are some fall things in which it seems appropriate to indulge. At the top of that list? Pumpkin.

    I started the weekend out by looking for a pumpkin muffin recipe, feeling encouraged by the fact that the mere use of the term “muffin” would make these appropriate for breakfast. I have news for you. Pumpkin muffins and pumpkin cupcakes. It’s all a façade – they’re pretty much interchangeable. And when you throw chocolate chips in the mix, all bets are off.

    Muffin liners ready to bake

    What?

    You’ve never had pumpkin muffins with chocolate chips?

    Well then, I insist that you try these. My mom makes a stellar pumpkin chocolate chip "muffin", and now I can’t eat an ordinary old plain pumpkin muffin without the sense that something is missing. The combination is perfect for October. The pumpkin aroma is the embodiment of fall, but that tiny kick of chocolate is a reminder of the best thing about October.

    The chance to gorge on chocolate on the last day of the month.

    Muffin tin filled with easy pumpkin batter

     

    Print Recipe
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    Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

    Feel all the fall feels with these stellar pumpkin chocolate chip muffins. The pumpkin aroma is the embodiment of fall, but that tiny kick of chocolate is a reminder of the best thing about October- Halloween!
    Prep Time20 mins
    Cook Time20 mins
    Total Time40 mins
    Course: Breakfast, Muffins
    Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • 1 cup pastry flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
    • ¾ cup packed dark brown sugar
    • 3 tablespoons molasses
    • ¼ cup canola oil
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 cup canned pumpkin
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ¾ cup lowfat buttermilk
    • 1 cup mini chocolate chips

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a muffin tin.
    • In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose and pastry flour, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice.
    • In a large bowl, whisk the sugar, honey, oil and 1 egg until combined. Add the other egg and whisk well. Whisk in the pumpkin and vanilla. Whisk in the flour mixture in 2 batches, alternating with the buttermilk. Add the chocolate chips. Whisk just until combined.
    • Pour the batter into the prepared muffin pan. Tap the pan on the counter a few times to remove any air bubbles. Bake for 20 minutes for regular muffins (12 minutes for mini muffins) or until a wooden pick inserted in center of 1 of the muffins comes out clean. (Note: keep a close eye on these so that they do not over-bake or they tend to lose their smooth, soft texture.)
    • Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the muffins to loosen them and unmold. Cool completely on the rack and serve.

    Notes

    Adapted from Ellie Krieger’s Pumpkin Muffins via The Food Network.
    As opposed to using the precise combination of spices that Ellie recommends in her original recipe, I used an equal amount of pumpkin pie spice and called it a day. Who has patience for all those spices? 😉 The flavor in the finished muffins was perfectly balanced for my taste – definitely had a hint of pumpkin pie that I wanted but not hit-you-over-the-head with spice. I also opted to make mini muffins, primarily because I fell in love with the absurdly overpriced mini muffin cupcake liners that you see above. There appear to be no fewer than 1,000 mini cupcake liners in the tube, so I hope you like them...they'll be making repeat appearances.

    Loving fall? Keep the season going with S'mores Krispie Treats and Pumpkin Pancakes or check out this Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Snack Cake. Yes, you read that correctly: a cake that is a snack. 😉

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    About Jess

    Hi! I'm Jess. I am the recipe creator and photographer behind the 900+ recipes you’ll find on Inquiring Chef. As a mom to three young kids and professional cook, my mission is to make every moment in the kitchen and around the table count. If you’re looking for easy, flavorful, family-approved recipes, you’ve come to the right place! Learn more about me here.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. CelebrEATySarah

      October 12, 2011 at 12:47 am

      I love the minis too....bite size treats are always irresistible. I'd just use the buttermilk powder diluted in water whenever recipe calls for buttermilk. But chocolates and pumpkin, they are perfect fall combination.

      Reply
    2. CelebrEATySarah

      October 12, 2011 at 12:47 am

      I love the minis too....bite size treats are always irresistible. I'd just use the buttermilk powder diluted in water whenever recipe calls for buttermilk. But chocolates and pumpkin, they are perfect fall combination.

      Reply
    3. themuffinmyth

      October 12, 2011 at 12:57 pm

      I think it's my life's work to blow apart the muffin - cupcake facade! I haven't really tried combining chocolate and pumpkin before, but apparently I must! I have made a pumpkin pie and a tasty batch of pumpkin snickerdoodles, so perhaps pumpkin chocolate cookies are up next. Yum!

      Reply
      • jessica

        October 12, 2011 at 1:04 pm

        I feel like you can definitely do it! We should stop even having two names and just start calling them cupffins!

        Reply
    4. themuffinmyth

      October 12, 2011 at 12:57 pm

      I think it's my life's work to blow apart the muffin - cupcake facade! I haven't really tried combining chocolate and pumpkin before, but apparently I must! I have made a pumpkin pie and a tasty batch of pumpkin snickerdoodles, so perhaps pumpkin chocolate cookies are up next. Yum!

      Reply
    5. Neuf

      October 14, 2011 at 12:56 am

      You could sell these at Carter's Mt. Orchard.

      Reply
    6. Neuf

      October 14, 2011 at 12:56 am

      You could sell these at Carter's Mt. Orchard.

      Reply

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