Meet your new favorite cross between pumpkin muffins and cornbread. They're quick to make (on the table in 30 minutes and no mixer needed!) and you can serve them plain, with butter and honey, alongside chili and soups or for Thanksgiving dinner. Think of them as the best of both worlds: the structure of cornbread with the comfort of a pumpkin bake.
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Slightly sweet and moist
Cornbread muffins are already a cozy classic, but adding pumpkin puree (homemade or canned) takes them into seasonal, fall-ready territory.
The pumpkin brings moisture and a subtle sweetness that balances the cornmeal's grit, making these muffins softer and more tender than traditional cornbread but not as spongy or sweet as pumpkin muffins.
This isn't a sugary muffin; it's still very much a cornbread. You'll taste the cornmeal first, then get a warm background note of pumpkin and spice. Perfect for people who want something seasonal but not dessert-sweet.
You can also serve them with honey butter or plain maple syrup if you want a sweeter bite.
Testing notes
Roast the pumpkin (if not using canned puree, which is the easiest option) instead of boiling it for a richer flavor and less water in the batter. If it has too much liquid after mashing and processing it, drain it.
Canned pumpkin puree is always the quick, easy choice, and I'm all for it. Make sure it's plain puree and not pumpkin pie filling, which is a different ingredient.
Use buttermilk: It reacts with the baking soda for extra rise and softness. If you don't have it, you can use natural yogurt or add a teaspoon of lemon juice to regular milk.
Sift the dry ingredients, especially the baking soda, as they can clump during storage. If not well distributed, you might bite into a salty piece, and it's not a nice thing. Trust me. You can avoid sifting the cornmeal as it's sometimes too coarse for a fine-mesh sifter.
Avoid tough muffins and 'tunneling' (the creation of large air pockets or 'tunnels' within the crumb). This often results from overmixing the batter or from improperly dispersed leavening agents. So stir the dry ingredients well and, when the wet ones are added, stir the batter just until combined. It should be thick but spreadable.
Don't overbake: Check with a toothpick in the center of a muffin (ideally in the center of the pan also). A few moist crumbs are fine; it shouldn't be wet, but don't overbake them or they'll dry out.
Spices: I love this homemade mix of Fall spices as it has very little cloves, which I don't particularly like and find quite invasive, but you can adjust it to your personal taste or use a purchased one. Don't be shy about this, as the spices make a large part of the pumpkin flavor.
These are great to freeze: Wrap muffins (cooled or barely warm, but not hot) in plastic wrap first and then aluminum foil, freezer-safe bags or containers. Freeze up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature, uncovered, and warm or reheat in the oven (not the microwave, which makes them soggy) before serving (my recommendation).
Ingredient Notes
Quantities are listed in the recipe card toward the end of this post. The Ingredients page has more details and lists the brands I use.
- Yellow cornmeal is traditional, but you can use classic polenta.
- Buttermilk: If you can't buy it, it's very easy to make at home with milk and lemon juice (see Notes in the recipe card).
Variations & substitutions
- Sweet potato muffins: Substitute sweet potato puree (or yam) for the pumpkin. They're a tad sweeter, but they work very well.
- Cheesy pumpkin cornbread muffins: Stir in ¾ cup (loosely packed) shredded sharp cheddar or pepper jack for a savory version. Great with chili or BBQ.
- Whole grain boost: Replace ¼ cup of the flour with finely milled whole wheat flour or oat flour for extra heartiness. They will be a tad denser.
- Add-ins: Fold in ½ cup of chopped pecans, dried cranberries, or pumpkin seeds for texture and flavor.
- Bake it in a pan and cut into squares like this cornbread with sweet potatoes.
- You can use melted butter instead of oil, but the muffins might be too rich and sometimes heavy, in my opinion.
Process steps
Mini muffins: Bake in a mini muffin pan for 10-12 minutes. Perfect for holiday baskets or party trays. It makes about 24, but it depends on the size of the mini cups.
Dry ingredients
Sift the ingredients together into the bowl, except the cornmeal, as they might clump during storage.
Add the cornmeal and stir until uniform in color.
Wet ingredients
There's no need for an electric mixer as it will stir the ingredients too much.
Use a whisk, spoon or spatula to gently mix everything until it's lump-free.
Combine both preparations
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ones and stir just until incorporated. Don't beat or overmix!
Use a whisk or spatula to gently mix everything until it's barely lump-free.
Muffin batter
Scoop the batter evenly, filling the tins no more than ¾ of their capacity to avoid overflow.
A cookie scoop is the best way to bake even portions.
I usually use muffin liners (or cupcake liners), but you can grease the pan (with butter or baking spray) and omit them.
Bake
The key is not to overbake them.
Check with a toothpick in the center. A few moist (but not wet) crumbs are fine.
Paula's Storing Tip
Always keep leftover muffins covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container; cornbread can dry up fast, even though the pumpkin adds moisture.
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Pumpkin Cornbread Muffins (30-minute recipe)
Ingredients
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, homemade mix or store-bought
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal
- ⅓ cup brown sugar, light or dark
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- ½ cup buttermilk, at room temperature, see notes below for homemade
- ½ cup sunflower oil, or other neutral oil
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup pumpkin puree, homemade or canned
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line 12 muffin tins with paper liners.
- In a large bowl, stir together the dry ingredients: ¾ cup all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spiceAdd 1 cup yellow cornmeal and ⅓ cup brown sugar. Stir to mix well until evenly colored.
- In a medium bowl, lightly whisk 2 large eggs. Add ½ cup buttermilk, ½ cup sunflower oil, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1 cup pumpkin puree. Mix until smooth and fully combined but don't overmix.
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients. Stir with a spatula or wooden spoon just until combined. Don't overmix; the batter should be thick but pourable.
- Scoop the muffin batter evenly in the prepared muffin cups.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden on top and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist (not wet!) crumbs.
- Let the cornbread muffins cool on a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature, with butter or honey if you like.
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