Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Looking for the perfect fall treat? Nothing says "fall" like these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins. Moist, soft, and full of pumpkin flavor! You'll eat them all season long. Bonus~these are lighter and healthier  pumpkin muffins.

The Best Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

These are my all-time favorite pumpkin muffins. I make them every year. Multiple times.

To me, the addition of chocolate chips is what makes this recipe extra delicious. Especially dark chocolate!

Pumpkin has to be my absolute favorite flavor of Fall.

I love to make my own pumpkin puree, and stash it in the freezer so I have it at the ready to make all my favorite pumpkin recipes, like Pumpkin Overnight Oats, Smoky Pumpkin Soup, and of course these muffins.

Whether it's that first pumpkin spice latte of the season, or pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, I simply can't get enough pumpkin in the fall.

Instructions

Step One: Combine the wet ingredients and sugar together, stir well.

Step Two: Combine the dry ingredients except the chocolate chips and stir well.

Step Three: Blend the wet and dry ingredients together and gently stir until just combined. Then fold in the chocolate chips.

Step Four: Fill your muffin pans ⅔ full, and bake at 400 degrees for 16-20 minutes.

Notes

• These work well as mini muffins too. Just make sure you check them after about 12 minutes, they shouldn't need to bake as long.
• You can use muffin liners, grease a traditional muffin tin, or use Silicone. I've become a huge fan of the silicone trays over the years. No greasing the pan, and you just can't beat the clean up. Mine are from Bon Cook, but they are quite pricey, I'll link some Amazon options below.

Healthier options

I've lightened up these muffins by using coconut oil and applesauce to replace the traditional fats. You can take it a step further with any or all of these options:

• Use unsweetened applesauce to replace all the fats (coconut oil here)
• Use whole wheat pastry flour or whole wheat white flour
• Use unrefined sugar, such as maple syrup or honey. Just check a conversion chart.
• Use 85% dark chocolate. If you can't find this in chips, get a bar and chop it up.

If you like healthier muffins, check out these Bran Muffins.

Behind the scenes (a quick story)

The first time I had the pumpkin/chocolate combination was many years ago at a small group meeting. The hostess had made them, and I couldn't get enough!

But the memory of this muffin stretches beyond that. Here we were, a group of people, like-minded with a mission.

But never could I have guessed that ten years later, (long after the group had dissipated) the lovely hostess that made these pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, and I would have such a heart connection.

Over the past few years, we were in a homeschool community together, and we have both adopted children. We've shared stories together, and we've cried together. If you are in either one of these positions, I'm sure you can relate.

I don't see her very often anymore, but you know those people, that you just have a strong connection with even though you're not in constant communication?

Every time we have these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins, I think of her. Food does that. Do you have any particular recipe that comes attached with a strong memory?

Pro Tip

As mentioned earlier, I'm a huge fan of baking with silicone. Removing your muffins has never been easier! Cleaning your muffin pan has never been easier! No greasing the tray! I'm not kidding, this is amazing! Look at this~

The muffins just pop right out! I even did it one-handed, because I was holding the camera at the same time.

Don't limit yourself to muffins either. Anything you make in a muffin pan can be done with this, it will just be 1000x easier. 🙂

Try these ideas~

• mini meatloaves
• mini frittatas
• individual servings of baked spaghetti.

The possibilities are endless!

I would love to connect with you! Let's keep in touch, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.