Pumpkin Muffins with Pecan Streusel

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This recipe is a keeper.  We’ve made it literally dozens and dozens of times. These Pumpkin Muffins with Pecan Streusel are simple the best pumpkin muffins ever. The recipe comes from Dorie Greenspan’s Baking:  From My Home To Yours, which is one of my favorite cookbooks. Every time I pull a batch of these out of the oven, I’m reminded just why we love them so much.

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The muffins themselves are tender and pumpkin-y with just the right amount of spices to warm you up on a chilly fall or winter morning. They are great with a cup of tea, a glass of milk, or by themselves. My kids often request these muffins more than any other kind. If that’s not a sign of a good muffin, I don’t know what is. Over the last few years, I’ve started making them gluten-free, and they are still just as incredible as the originals. (See recipe notes for conversions.)

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The original recipe includes raisins and sunflower seeds. I usually swapped those out for the pecan streusel because obviously that’s always the right choice to make. I got the idea from Dorie herself. In Baking, she included a fabulous recipe for Caramel Pumpkin Pie with Pecan Streusel that made me fall in love with pumpkin pie again for the first time since I was a little kid. Like I said: pecan streusel, an obvious choice.

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I’ve made these sans streusel and they are still good, but the streusel is worth the extra few steps and makes these special.  Every time I take them to a potluck or to a neighbor or friend, they always comment on the streusel.  It’s the best part.

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I think the only other thing to do to make this better would be to make a double batch every time. :)

Other streusel-topped muffin recipes we love:
Pear Nutmeg Streusel Muffins (gluten-free)
Peach Muffins with Pecan Streusel (gluten-free)

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Pumpkin Muffins with Pecan Streusel

Gloriously tender pumpkin muffins topped with sweet and crunchy pecan streusel.

  • Total Time: 40 mins
  • Yield: 12 muffins 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • For pumpkin muffins:
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 3/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ginger
  • 1/8 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
  • pinch allspice
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 3/4 cup canned unsweetened pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling!)
  • 1/4 cup buttermilk
  • For pecan streusel:
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/4 cup cold salted butter, cut into small pieces (if you use unsalted, add a pinch of salt–it needs it)

Instructions

  1. For pecan streusel:
  2. In a small bowl mix together the flour, brown sugar and pecans. Using your fingers or a pastry cutter, work the cold butter into the other ingredients until crumbly. Chill until ready to use.
  3. For pumpkin muffins:
  4. Preheat oven to 400F / 200C. Grease a standard 12-well muffin tin or fill it with paper muffin cups.
  5. Whisk flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and spices together. Set aside.
  6. In a the bowl of an electric stand mixer or in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer, cream butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each one. Beat in the vanilla. Lower the speed and add the pumpkin and buttermilk.
  7. Add the dry ingredients with the mixer running on low speed. Avoid overmixing by adding the last of the dry ingredients by hand as the batter will be very thick.
  8. Transfer the batter into the muffin cups. (I use a small ice cream scoop and each well gets two scoops.) Place one tablespoon of the streusel mixture on top of the batter and gently press it down so it doesn’t fall off. Bake on the center rack of oven for 20-25 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove muffins from tin and place on a cooling rack to cool slightly before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature.
  9. Yield: 12 regular sized muffins
  • Author: Lindsey Johnson
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 25 mins
  • Category: Breakfast

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20 Comments

  1. Your muffins are beautiful and I’m glad you love them so much. I’ll bet that streusel topping was yummy. Love all the cooking you’ve been doing.
    Nancy

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