Is there anything better than Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins that taste like moist chocolate cake? Skip the flour, these gluten free muffins are made with a combo of almond butter and canned pumpkin! Each muffin boasts 7g protein and no butter, oil, or refined sugar. Super easy to make in 1 bowl and done in 30 minutes. Grab your muffin tin and let's bake!
Chocolate muffins...made with almond butter. That don't even taste like almond butter! I mean...what is this sorcery?
I took my favorite blog recipe ever (yep!), my Healthy Pumpkin Brownies, and put a spell on them.
Like my Healthy Chocolate Muffins and Pumpkin Muffins, these babies are a cinch to bake (one bowl or nothing) and shockingly fluffy given they don't even have flour.
I'm usually all about the pumpkin spice flavors, but the use of pumpkin here functions primarily for texture. It's a truly impeccable replacement for butter or oil.
In other words, your wholesome chocolate cake BFF has arrived!
Ingredients
- Almond butter: This is the key to the fudgy chocolate cake taste. It should be be nice and drippy and easily pour from the container. I tested these with peanut butter and they're delish but after much trial and error, naturally sweet almond butter was unanimously the best for amazing flavor and texture.
- Pumpkin puree: Canned pumpkin adds moisture, body, and plenty of nutrients. Half a cup packs 120% of the daily value! I've used Libby's as well as the store brand from Target and Whole Foods and they all appear a bit different in the can but work just fine in this recipe.
- Maple syrup: My favorite unrefined natural liquid sweetener for all my Healthy Muffin Recipes. Just make sure it's pure, not the pancake kind.
- Cocoa powder: What's a brownie without unsweetened cocoa powder? You can also use raw cacao for extra antioxidants and a happy heart.
- Eggs: Eggs are essential here for rise.
- Ground flax: For a nutrient boost and extra binding power. Did you know you don't absorb the nutrients in whole flax?
- Vanilla extract: To accentuate our chocolate flavors.
- Salt: A good pinch to round out all the flavors.
Substitutions and dietary swaps
These are dairy free, gluten free, soy free, and grain free. But not flavor free!
- Sweetener: You can do honey instead of maple but I prefer maple because honey has a more pronounced and less neutral flavor.
- Nut-free: Use sunflower seed butter.
- Vegan: You can swap the eggs for flax eggs (2 tbsp flax whisked with 6 tbsp water, set aside to gel for 5 minutes). Increase baking powder to 1 ½ tsp. You will still use additional 2 tbsp flax listed. Bake for 5 extra minutes. They will be much more fudgy versus cakey and less tall but delish!
How to make
No mixer required! Can I get a hallelujah?
Add almond butter, pumpkin, maple syrup, eggs and vanilla to a mixing bowl.
Whisk until smooth.
Add cocoa powder, flax, baking powder, salt, and chocolate chips.
Whisk again until smooth.
Divide batter evenly into muffin tin.
Bake for 20 minutes, cool and devour!
Storage
You can keep muffins in an airtight container on the counter for 2 days, then transfer to the fridge.
Freeze muffins in a freezer baggie for up to 3 months. You can defrost overnight in the fridge then warm for 15 seconds in the microwave. Yay for melty chocolate chips!
Please let me know how these muffs turn out for you by leaving a star rating and/or comment! I hope you adore them as much as I do.
Print
Flourless Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins (that taste like cake!)
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 10 mufffins 1x
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Fluffy Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins that taste like moist chocolate cake! Skip the flour, these gluten free muffins are made with a combo of almond butter and canned pumpkin puree. Each muffin boasts 7g protein and no butter, oil, or refined sugar. Super easy to make in one bowl and done in 30 minutes.
(You can add 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice for pumpkin flavor, but I actually prefer these without for straight chocolate cake vibes!)
Ingredients
- ¾ cup almond butter*
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup**
- ½ cup canned pumpkin puree
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- ⅓ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Place muffin liners in muffin tin and grease with cooking spray.
- Place almond butter, maple syrup, pumpkin, eggs, and vanilla in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk until smooth.
- Add cocoa powder, flax, baking powder, salt, optional pumpkin pie spice, and chocolate chips. Whisk again.
- Spoon batter evenly into liners, filling ¾ way full. You will get 10 muffins. Bake for 20 minutes, or until a knife comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Devour!
Notes
*Use drippy almond butter (not refrigerated) that easily pours from jar (ingredients should be just almonds). I tested these with peanut butter and they are yummy but far better with almond butter!
Vegan: You can swap the eggs for flax eggs (2 tbsp ground flax whisked with 6 tbsp water, set aside to gel for 5 minutes). Increase baking powder to 1 ½ tsp. You will still use additional 2 tbsp flax listed. Bake for 5 extra minutes. They will be much more fudgy and flat versus cakey but delish!
Lena F says
Recipe worked great for me! I recommend adding 1-2 tsp of instant coffee to kick up the chocolate flavor!
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Perfect!!
Claire C says
These are INSANE. Every time I take a bite all I can do is say WOW. Thanks for sharing another healthy treat!! Love everything you create 🙂
Alexis Joseph says
Ahhhh I love this comment! Thank you so much, Claire 🙂
Andrea says
Yummy! These turned out really well, and I love that they are grain free.
I used half peanut butter and half almond butter. Delicious.
I can always count on your recipes. Thank you 🙂
Rachel says
These muffin are life and I didn’t even add chocolate chips!! Thank you for sharing such a yummy recipe! I used 1/2 cup dates blended with 1/2 cup water in place of the maple syrup and added 1/2 teaspoon extra baking powder to compensate for the extra weight.
Alexis Joseph says
Love that! Thanks so much for the feedback, Rachel!
Bridgette Mady says
LOVE these. They taste like the little brownie muffins you used to have as a kid.
LIKE NO JOKE. I was shocked.
I am so happy I made them, and will absolutely be adding them to my weekly baking rotation!
Thank you so much Alexa for creating such yummy and nourishing recipes 🙂
MacleanNash says
Ohhhhh ya, these hit the spot!
Rich, fluffy, and so tasty!
Thank you!
Alexis Joseph says
That’s the best feedback, thank you tons!!
Holly C says
These are really delicious! The texture is right on and I like that they are gluten free and sweetened with maple syrup. Will definitely be adding them to my repertoire!
Alexis Joseph says
Best news, thanks a ton Holly!
Nina says
Can't wait to make these!
Alexis Joseph says
Yay let me know how you like!
Alexis Joseph says
Amazing, I'm so glad these were a hit Michelle!