Gluten Free Pumpkin Cornbread Muffins

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cornbread Muffins – These light, fluffy pumpkin cornbread muffins are an all-time favorite. The perfect cozy accompaniment to chilis, soups, salads, and more! (Gluten & Dairy Free)

Hi. I’m Emily, and I’m sort of in love with cornbread.

We’ve made so many versions over the years I can’t count them, but these pumpkin cornbread muffins are one of our all-time favorites, especially this time of year!

The texture is light, fluffy, and satisfying. The flavor is delicate and cozy. They make your house smell amazing, and go well with soups, salads, and chili.

Plus, they’re SUPER easy to make. Here’s what you’ll need to get started…

HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED FOR GLUTEN-FREE PUMPKIN CORNBREAD MUFFINS:

• Gluten-Free Cornmeal. Make sure you buy certified gluten-free cornmeal. Cornmeal doesn’t contain gluten, but unless it’s certified gluten-free, you run the risk of cross-contamination with wheat through processing practices. Best to be safe! Arrowhead Mills and Bob’s Red Mill are two of our favorites.
• Gluten-Free Flour. I most often use King Arthur Baking Measure-For-Measure Flour or Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Gluten-Free Flour.
• Baking Powder + Salt + Cinnamon. These simple staples help the muffins puff and gently flavor the gluten-free pumpkin cornbead muffins.
• Canned Pumpkin Puree. Pumpkin does wonders for these muffins’ tender texture and keeps them moist without the need for much added fat. It’s kind of like magic!
• Milk + Eggs. I usually use almond milk in my gluten-free pumpkin cornbread muffins, but you can use whatever milk your family drinks and enjoys. Then, some eggs will bind everything together and keep these muffins from getting dry.
• Pure Maple Syrup (or Honey). A little subtle sweetness makes these lovely. I tried not to make them overly sweet, but you can feel free to add more or less, to taste.
• Oil or Butter. Thanks to the pumpkin, we only need a little oil. I usually use avocado oil for its neutral flavor, but melted butter or vegan butter works as a great substitute if you like!

WHAT MAKES THESE GLUTEN FREE PUMPKIN CORNBREAD MUFFINS AMAZING. 

THE TEXTURE!!! Though we love our Maple Cornbread, and these Gluten-Free Cornbread Mini Muffins, these gluten-free pumpkin cornbread muffins might just have them all beat. The pumpkin does wonders for the texture, and it’s amazing how flavorful and fluffy they get with almost no added fat!

THE FLAVOR. And don’t be fooled! Just because they’re made with pumpkin doesn’t mean they’re only good in the fall. We make these all year round. They don’t taste especially pumpkin-y (they’re not stuffed with pumpkin spice, for instance), and they’re the perfect neutral accompaniment to soups, chilis, and salads. The pumpkin gives them an amazing texture and color, and a lovely subtle flavor I crave regularly.

THE SIMPLE INGREDIENTS! The ingredient list is really straightforward. Most of what you’ll need is simple pantry staples, which means it’s easy to whip these up last minute or on nights where you don’t have much in the fridge.

FAQ + TIPS ON THESE GLUTEN FREE PUMPKIN CORNBREAD MUFFINS:

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE MUFFIN PAN? Lately, I’ve been favoring this muffin pan. The light color helps the muffins cook more evenly, which means golden muffins every time!

THE BEST MUFFIN LINERS EVER. I hate when my muffins stick to the pan, don’t you? These parchment muffin liners are THE BEST. Your muffins won’t stick even a little bit with these!

NOT GLUTEN-FREE? NO PROBLEM! If you’re not gluten-free, you can use regular white flour for these pumpkin cornbread muffins. I adapted this from an Ambitious Kitchen recipe and she uses whole wheat pastry flour.

HOW DO I STORE LEFTOVER PUMPKIN CORNBREAD MUFFINS? You can keep them in a zip-top bag or airtight container on the counter for 1-2 days. If you’d like to keep them 3-4 days, you want to store them in the refrigerator. Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cornbread Muffins also freeze beautifully. I freeze them in a single layer and they’ll keep 1-2 months in an airtight container or freezer bag. To reheat, you can thaw on the counter/in the fridge or pop them in a warm oven for 10-15 minutes.

SHOP OUR FAVORITE TOOLS + INGREDIENTS FOR PUMPKIN CORNBREAD MUFFINS:

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