The ONLY 2-Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins Recipe You Need (No Egg, No Oil, No Water!)
This recipe is so easy, it’s basically cheating. In 22 minutes, you have 12 ready-to-go, grab-and-go muffins for your kids’ lunchboxes or a hectic Monday morning.
The Two Magic Ingredients
You don’t need a pantry full of spices, flour, and leavening agents. We’re leveraging a baking hack that keeps the effort low but the flavor high. Here are the only two things you’ll need:
- 1 Can (15 oz) 100% Pure Pumpkin
- Crucial Tip: Make sure it is 100% Pure Pumpkin and NOT pumpkin pie filling. Pie filling already has extra sugar and spices that will make these muffins too dense and sweet.
- 1 Box (15.25 oz) Spice Cake Mix
- Any brand of Super Moist Spice Cake Mix works, but we prefer Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines for the best texture.
The Science Behind the Hack (No Eggs or Oil?)
Readers often ask how these work without any traditional ingredients. The magic is in the Spice Cake Mix. Cake mix is essentially a complete pre-measured blend of all your dry ingredients, including:
- Flour
- Sugar
- Baking Powder/Soda (Leavening)
- Salt
- Emulsifiers (which act like oil)
When you mix the wet pumpkin puree with the complete cake mix, the pumpkin provides all the moisture necessary to activate the dry ingredients, resulting in perfectly fluffy, moist muffins without needing to add anything else.
Pumpkin Spice Muffins Ingredients
Here are the only two things you’ll need:
- 100% Pumpkin (This is not pumpkin pie filling <– that has extra spices in it that we don’t need.)
- Spice Cake Mix (The Super Moist cake from Betty Crocker really is super moist and makes the best muffins.)
The Upgrade: 3- and 4-Ingredient Add-Ins
These simple additions only take seconds but elevate the muffins from “easy” to “bakery-quality.”
Tier 1: Simple Mix-Ins (Add right to the batter)
Cream Cheese Surprise: Drop a small dollop ($\frac{1}{2}$ teaspoon) of cream cheese into the center of the batter once it’s in the muffin tin before baking.
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin: Fold in a half cup of semi-sweet or white chocolate chips.
Cranberry Pecan: Fold in a half cup of chopped pecans and a half cup of dried cranberries.
Tier 2: The Must-Try Topping Upgrades
1. Quick Cream Cheese Drizzle
This simple glaze adds a tangy finish and looks beautiful!
- Ingredients: 2 oz softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1-2 tbsp milk or cream.
- Method: Whisk all ingredients until smooth. Once the muffins are completely cool, drizzle over the top with a fork.
2. Simple Streusel Crumble
A crunchy topping that makes these taste like professional coffee-shop treats.
- Ingredients: 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 2 tbsp packed brown sugar, 1 tbsp cold butter (cut into small cubes).
- Method: Use your fingers to rub the butter, flour, and sugar together until coarse crumbs form. Sprinkle over the muffin tops before baking.
This Can Also Make Pumpkin Bread
Want to make pumpkin bread instead? Follow the exact same steps, but instead of a muffin tin, pour the batter into a loaf pan and bake for 40 minutes at the same temperature.
The Busy Parent Prep Guide
Stop worrying about frantic mornings! This recipe is built for freezing and fast reheating.
Freezer Prep Instructions
- Bake the muffins completely and allow them to cool fully on a wire rack. Any residual heat will cause freezer burn.
- Wrap each individual muffin tightly in aluminum foil.
- Place the foil-wrapped muffins into a large, freezer-safe bag (like a Ziploc bag).
- Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to Reheat
- Microwave (Fastest): Remove foil, wrap in a paper towel, and microwave for 30-45 seconds until warmed through.
- Oven/Toaster Oven (Best Texture): Remove foil and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes. They taste freshly baked!
Looking for More Easy Holiday Hacks?
Now that you’ve conquered Fall baking, let’s get a head start on the holidays. If you loved this ultra-easy two-ingredient trick, check out these other quick recipes in our winter holiday baking hub. It’s your go-to guide for all our best fall and winter seasonal baking.
- Our Famous 60 Dirty Soda Recipes (Tons of easy drink ideas for your next party!)
- Free Printable Christmas Gift Card Book (A simple way to organize and present gifts!)
2-Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins
Pumpkin Muffins
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Mix the two ingredients together in a bowl.
- Scoop 1/4 cup into each spot of a muffin tin.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Let cool then remove from pan.
