This recipe for two-ingredient pumpkin muffin is a fall and now a year-round family favorite. This is perfect when the kids have friends over for a quick breakfast, snack, or dessert! Yes, this is 'that' easy recipe showing you how to make pumpkin muffins using spice cake mix and pumpkin. The spice cake mix makes the muffins taste like pumpkin spice!
I always have the ingredients for this in my pantry. If you ever feel like a smaller version, more like a muffin bite, make these delicious Pumpkin Quickies Cookies. Or, for lots of options, I compiled my 15 easy cake mix recipes for you.
If you want to make bars and want a totally scratch recipe, you will love these Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting!
Table of contents
Every fall, this muffin recipe goes crazy. It was first published in September 2013, and ever since then, I can tell when people get that pumpkin spice craving! This recipe goes crazy on Pinterest. However, now it seems these easy pumpkin muffins have turned into a year-round treat.
Helpful Hint
I've had many questions about how to make this as a 2 ingredient pumpkin cake. I ended up making it and sharing the baking instructions. The Two Ingredient pumpkin bread with spice cake mix recipe is also popular. I figured out and tested the baking instructions for you. Click through the blue links to get there.
These pumpkin two-ingredient muffins are easy to make! It seems like overkill to do the step-by-step, but why not? Do you have a favorite spoon? Here is mine:
Why I Love These Easy Pumpkin Muffins
They are super easy! Many readers have told me this is the first recipe they make with their kids! These muffins are super quick! And with two inexpensive ingredients, it's a great and affordable treat!
My main reason for loving these? They taste so good! And with a whole can of pumpkin in them, they have to be healthier than a typical muffin!
Simplicity is key: Two ingredients, one bowl, minimal cleanup. Baking bliss without the stress, perfect for busy mornings or spontaneous cravings. The whole recipe, including baking time, takes less than 30 minutes.
Feeling adventurous? Add chocolate chips, walnuts, or a drizzle of maple syrup. My kids love the little chocolate chips!
Ingredients
These two ingredients make a wonderfully flavored pumpkin spice muffin. If you crave chocolate with your pumpkin, you may want to check out this three ingredient pumpkin muffin with chocolate chips!
1 box spice cake mix - any brand works. The spice cake flavor is what gives these muffins their pumpkin spice flavor.
1 can 15 or 16 oz of pumpkin puree. The can may also be labeled as pure pumpkin. You want the small can. You do not want to buy the pumpkin pie filling.
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Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 1
Mix spice cake mix together with pumpkin.
Step 2
Scoop into lined or well-sprayed muffins. Using a scoop helps the muffins be a uniform size and keeps the muffin tin cleaner (no drips).
Muffin-making tip
Use a scoop to put the batter into the muffin wells. Perfectly portioned and less messy!!
Step 3
Bake 18 - 20 minutes. Test with a toothpick to see if done. The toothpick should come out clean.
Below is a closeup of a muffin broken in half. It's not light and fluffy like a cupcake. It is fairly dense and heavy, like a delicious muffin.
Be warned, the kids do like them, as evidenced by the missing muffin that went to school before I took this picture. This was the original picture from 2013!
I'm just happy he ate something before he went to school. I couldn't help but laugh. They are just that good!
Weight Watchers pumpkin muffins
This was originally a Weight Watchers recipe. So, it's low-calorie. It's about 160 calories per muffin if you make 12 (may vary due to different cake mix calories).
I get many requests for the WW point values. With the program changing so often, I cannot keep up with the point values. However, I know you can calculate the points with the nutrition label from both ingredients. Add the values you need from these ingredients together. This recipe will make 12 servings if you like nice-sized muffins.
FAQ's
Use a yellow cake mix with a can of pumpkin puree. The muffins won't have the pumpkin spice flavor. You can add just some cinnamon if you'd like!
I like adding ½ cup of chocolate chips. I know a friend who always adds pecans to hers. Walnuts would work too!
That's happened to me before! Use yellow cake mix and add 1 ½ teaspoons of pumpkin spice. If you can't find pumpkin spice, make your own - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon ground ginger.
Nope. You use the dry cake mix and the can of pumpkin puree. That's it!
Pumpkin pie filling has spices and extra ingredients that we don't need for this recipe.
Other Delicious Easy Pumpkin Desserts
2 Ingredient pumpkin muffins
Ingredients
- 1 box spice cake mix
- 1 15 oz can pumpkin puree the small can - not pie filling
Instructions
- Preheat to 350 degrees.
- Mix spice cake mix together with pumpkin. Do NOT include the ingredients listed on the box.
- Scoop into lined or sprayed muffin wells.
- OPTIONAL - add chocolate chips
- Bake 18-20 minutes (until toothpick comes out clean).
Notes
Nutrition (I am not a nutritionist. These are estimates only)
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Jenna
I love these. Make them at least three times each fall. I also put in Hershey cinnamon chips. So good!!
momcrieff
I'm so glad you like these easy pumpkin muffins! I have also started adding different types of chips too!
Julz
I make them in mini muffin tins, then dip them in whipped topping!
Elsaabeth
I just made these. Wonderful. Fantastic pumpkin taste. I will make them again they were so simple.
Joan
I made these pumpkin muffins and sprinkled cinnamon and sugar on top. I was scared because it was 2 ingredients but they're delicious. My home even smelled fantastic. I will make these again!!
cathy a Miller
These are really lovely with golden raisins.
Briana
Do you make the cake mix as it says on he box and then add the pumpkin??
momcrieff
Hi Briana,
No, you do not make the cake mix first. Follow the directions on the blog post. You use the mix and the pumpkin. That's it! Nice and easy.
momcrieff
The way Weight Watchers calculates points changes so that's why I don't want to put the points on them. If you want to calculate, just use the ingredients on the cake mix and the canned pumpkin. Divide by 12 and that should give you the points.
momcrieff
I wonder if you may have used the larger can of pumpkin?
Vicki
I've been in Weight watchers on and off for years. The pumpkin muffin recipe was given to us years ago. Have made them several times. Love them. Way back then, it was suggested to us to make mini muffins and 6 mini muffins was like 3-4 points. But that's been like in the 1970's.
momcrieff
The way WW points are calculated always changes. To be totally accurate, calculate the points on a spice cake mix and a can of pumpkin puree. Divide by 12.
Momma2
I meant to add its so true what you said about making them with the kids because we have 4 boys and before they're fully cooled they sneak them! Lol!!
Momma2
This is actually a signature weight watchers recipe...I've been making them for years. Very good muffins.
momcrieff
Yes, they are good muffins! And yes, my kids still sneak these before they are cool. As teenagers, I think I could get them to stop by telling them it's a Weight Watcher's recipe (but that would spoil a loved treat for them).
Margie Lechowicz
I had my fresh pumpkin from my roasted Halloween pumpkin and wanted to try the muffin recipe but my local store was out of spice cake mix so I substituted butter pecan cake mix and they were awesome- added a little pumpkin pie spice and need 25 minutes for baking I’m guessing because of the fresh pumpkin.
Darling
Very good I added cream cheese to the center of my muffins!!!!
Daniel
My local grocery store was giving away a free box of cake mix yesterday. Found your site and went with the pumpkin. They were out of the spice mix so I used yellow. I tried adding my own spices but I guess not enough to tell. I also added a couple of eggs and some walnuts and pecans. They were a hit. My wife does not like sweet items and she enjoyed these. Next time will try the spice or a ginger bread mix. Also, I love bananas, so the banana is next on my list. Thanks for sharing this. Great with some butter and cream cheese too.
BethB
I make these with a dark chocolate cake mix and canned pumpkin, I add just enough water to thin the batter to a cake batter consistency. I always planned on trying it with the space cake mix but, I live in a small town where only the basic mixes are usually sold. I now use my mom's recipe to make pumpkin bread, but still love the chocolate pumpkin muffins for a lighter chocolate snack.
Anonymous
I added vanilla chips this time. Waiting to see how they turn out! Just thought I'd change it up this time with something fun. I'm sure golden raisins would be yummy too, but not so much fun
Renna Hanlon
I made these Thanksgiving morning this week for my family to nibble on while I was preparing our feast. They were VERY well received. In fact, I was asked to make more just as soon as they were gone. I did have to cook mine about 25 minutes. Next time I make them, I'm going to try adding raisins. Thanks for sharing this! 🙂
Anonymous
I used cinnamon strudel muffin mix for these and mixed some cream cheese with a bit of vanilla and spooned it into the middle before baking. They were heavenly.
momcrieff
Mmmmmm. That sounds really delicious!
Phoebe
I was just wondering what the calorie count per muffin would be? Made these last night and I definitely will be making again! They are amazing!
momcrieff
I calculated it once and based on what I used, the calories were 160 per muffin. Calories differ based on what mix you use. But just add the total calories for the mix and the pumpkin, then divide by 12. That'll let you know exactly how many calories your muffins have.
We have loved these for years! Even the kids will eat these for breakfast (when normally, it's a struggle to
get them to eat anything before heading out to school).
Enjoy!!