Just wait till you try these pumpkin muffins – they're about as simple as it gets, and they turn out perfect every time.
I've been baking for over 40 years, and sometimes the easiest recipes are the best ones. No fussing with a dozen different ingredients or dirtying every bowl in your kitchen. These muffins only need three things from your pantry, and they come out just as moist and tasty as the ones that take all day to make.
Now, I know what you're thinking – three ingredients can't possibly make a proper muffin. But trust this old baker, these little beauties will surprise you. They've got all those good autumn flavors we remember from grandma's kitchen, without the endless measuring and mixing.
Perfect for when you want something homemade but don't feel like spending hours in the kitchen. And between you and me, nobody will ever guess how easy they were to make.
Recipe
Easy 3 Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins
These simple pumpkin muffins require just three basic ingredients, making them perfect for busy mornings or last-minute baking needs. The combination of spice cake mix and canned pumpkin creates a perfectly moist and flavorful treat that tastes like it took hours to make. The addition of warm spices enhances the natural sweetness of the pumpkin, reminiscent of the delightful fusion of fresh banana bread and summer blackberries.
The beauty of this recipe lies in its versatility and foolproof nature. The muffins come out consistently delicious every time, with a tender crumb and warm autumn spices that complement the natural sweetness of pumpkin. They're ideal for breakfast, snacks, or even as a light dessert.
Ingredients:
- 1 box spice cake mix (15.25 oz)
- 1 can pure pumpkin puree (15 oz)
- 1 large egg
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners. In a large mixing bowl, combine the spice cake mix, pumpkin puree, and egg until well blended. The batter will be thick. Divide the mixture evenly among the muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow muffins to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
For best results, avoid overmixing the batter as this can lead to dense muffins. Store cooled muffins in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature or freeze for up to 3 months. These muffins can also be customized by adding chopped nuts, chocolate chips, or a streusel topping, though this will increase the ingredient count beyond three.
These 3-ingredient pumpkin muffins transform pantry staples into warm, fall-spiced treats with minimal effort. Born from mid-century convenience baking, when cake mix shortcuts became popular among busy home cooks, this recipe has stood the test of time.
The combination of yellow cake mix, canned pumpkin, and pumpkin pie spice creates muffins that taste like they required far more ingredients and effort than they actually do. Perfect for autumn mornings, bake sales, or last-minute gatherings when time is short but the craving for something homemade strikes.
Conclusion
Good old pumpkin muffins – and would you believe it only takes three ingredients? After years of baking, I can tell you straight: sometimes the simplest recipes are the best. Every fall, when the pumpkins show up at the market, I get to thinking about these muffins. They're just right for those mornings when you want something warm from the oven but don't fancy turning the kitchen upside down.
You know what's funny? Americans go through more than 50 million pounds of pumpkin each year, and I reckon a fair bit of that goes into treats like these. Makes sense – they're dead simple to throw together, and they come out just right every time. Whether you need something quick for breakfast or want to pack a snack for later, these muffins do the job without any fuss.
I keep the recipe card for these right at the front of my box because I reach for it so often. No fancy ingredients, no complicated steps – just honest-to-goodness muffins that'll make your kitchen smell like autumn. Give them a try, and I bet they'll become one of your regulars too.