These Butterscotch Pumpkin Muffins are rich and moist, yet still have a fluffy and airy inside. They’re truly bakery style muffins full of fall flavors and sweet butterscotch chips scattered throughout.

Jump To
About these Muffins
Fall baking is one of my favorite activities as the air gets cooler this time of year. There’s something so cozy about filling the house with warm, welcoming scents and these Butterscotch Pumpkin Muffins do just that.
When biting into these Butterscotch Pumpkin Muffins you’ll see the fluffy air pockets with rich butterscotch chips that melt in your mouth with each bite. They’re also made in one bowl, making them a quick and easy dessert you can whip up in no time just like these Greek Yogurt Banana Muffins, too.
What’s also great about these Pumpkin Butterscotch Muffins is that they use a whole can of pumpkin. In my opinion, recipes that call for just a half a cup of pumpkin are inconvenient because you feel obligated to make three more pumpkin recipes that week until you’re sick of it or the extra sits in your fridge for days or weeks until it goes bad and you have to toss it. Team no waste!
And if you're looking to do some more fall baking, also check out this Maple Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Filling, this Low Sugar Pumpkin Bread, these Healthier Carrot Cake Bars, or these Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies, which I know you'll love, too!
Recipe Ingredients
- All Purpose Flour - The base of our muffins. I’ve not tested any substitutes.
- Canned Pumpkin - We will use the whole can in these Pumpkin Butterscotch Muffins, which is fabulous because I never know what to do with a half can of pumpkin in my fridge.
- Light Brown Sugar - Brown sugar creates a richer, more caramel-y flavor in these muffins as compared to white sugar.
- Maple Syrup - Adds more sweetness in liquid form for extra moisture. It also helps bring out the fall flavors.
- Butterscotch Chips - Butterscotch is a combination of butter, caramelized sugars, and molasses. It’s richness pairs so well with pumpkin in these muffins.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How to Make This Recipe
1. First, preheat your oven to 350°F and melt your butter in a microwave mixing bowl in 30 second intervals until completely liquid. Then, add the rest of the wet ingredients (eggs, canned pumpkin, maple syrup) to the mixing bowl and stir until well combined. Then, stir in brown sugar.
2. Once wet ingredients are mixed, add dry ingredients to the bowl (flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon). Leave out the butterscotch chips for now.
3. Mix batter thoroughly. You want to be sure no flour clumps remain and ingredients are completely combined (a hand mixer can help here, although not necessary. A whisk or fork can help get any flour chunks out).
4. Once your Butterscotch Pumpkin Muffin batter is smooth throughout, add in butterscotch chips and stir.
5. Distribute batter evenly between 12 muffin liners in a muffin tin. The muffin liners will be close to full (these are bakery style muffins and we want them to have large tops). Add additional butterscotch chips on top. Bake muffins for 22-27 minutes until they have risen and a tooth pick inserted comes out completely clean.
6. Once your Butterscotch Pumpkin Muffins are finished baking, melt butterscotch chips and drizzle on top of muffins if desired and enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
These Pumpkin Butterscotch Muffins are best stored covered at room temperature for 3 days. You can also store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days if you prefer a chilled muffin, but make sure they are completely cooled before covering to avoid any condensation build up and a soggy muffin.
To freeze, let cool completely and add to a freezer bag. The Butterscotch Pumpkin Muffins will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. My favorite way to reheat is in the toaster oven.
The base of these muffins are just pumpkin, so you can take them in multiple different directions if you leave out the butterscotch. Instead of butterscotch chips, try white or dark chocolate chips, peanut butter chips or caramel chips.
You could even add walnuts or pecans. Or leave out the add ins all together and go with a cream cheese frosting!
If you don’t have store bought pumpkin pie spice, a quick and easy mixture can come together with the following ingredients:
5 parts ground cinnamon
2 parts ground ginger
2 parts ground nutmeg
1 part all spice
1 part cloves
I usually use a teaspoon to measure each, but scale up or down as you choose. Also, if you’re missing any one of the ingredients, it will be fine without (just not the cinnamon).
I often get asked wether or not to use liners for muffins and cupcakes. The answer we all hate: It depends. It depends on the type of muffin/cupcake as well as what you're doing with them (i.e. if you're serving at a party and people are grabbing from a tray I think liners are a good idea).
For these Butterscotch Pumpkin Muffins I actually made half in liners, half directly in a greased muffin tin because I ran out, so it’s totally up to you. But definitely grease the pan if you choose to bake without them.
More Recipes You'll Love
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & if you really like the recipe consider leaving a comment further down. Thanks for visiting!
Recipe
Butterscotch Pumpkin Muffins
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Rubber Spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Hand Mixer
- Muffin tin
- muffin liners optional
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, 1 stick
- 1 can pumpkin puree, 15 oz
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- 1 egg
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¾ cup butterscotch chips, + more for topping
Instructions
- First, preheat your oven to 350°F and melt your butter in a microwave mixing bowl in 30 second intervals until completely melted.
- Then, add the rest of the wet ingredients (eggs, canned pumpkin, maple syrup) to the mixing bowl and stir until well combined.
- Then, stir in brown sugar.
- Once wet ingredients are mixed, add dry ingredients to the bowl (flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon). Leave out the butterscotch chips for now.
- Mix batter thoroughly. You want to be sure no flour clumps remain and ingredients are completely combined (a hand mixer can help here, although not necessary. A whisk or fork can help get any flour chunks out).
- Once your Butterscotch Pumpkin Muffin batter is smooth throughout, add in butterscotch chips and stir.
- Distribute batter evenly between 12 muffin liners in a muffin tin. The muffin liners will be close to full (these are bakery style muffins and we want them to have large tops). Add additional butterscotch chips on top.
- Bake muffins for 22-27 minutes until they have risen and a tooth pick inserted comes out completely clean.
- Once your Butterscotch Pumpkin Muffins are finished baking, melt butterscotch chips and drizzle on top of muffins if desired and enjoy!
Nutrition
Notes
Looking for this in MyFitnessPal?
If you're using MyFitnessPal, search 'A Paige Of Positivity' and find BUTTERSCOTCH PUMPKIN MUFFINS calories and nutrition facts. Disclaimer: for most accurate macronutrients and caloric breakdown, it is recommended that you input each ingredient into your MyFitnessPal food diary.
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. It’s my passion to create dishes that can be shared with others. Tell me something you loved or just say hi!
Courtney Paige says
Sydney and I made these together and they are SO delicious!! I'm impressed - and I don't love pumpkin things so!!
Sydney says
So fun to make! I've always been a butterscotch fan, but not a ton of recipes out there incorporate them. I'm making these all fall long!
Madison Underwood says
Words can't describe how good these are! The pumpkin and butterscotch are a perfect flavor combination. Would definitely recommend as a fall treat!
Sam hawke says
Okay these are SO good. Very rich, tastes like fall. I swapped for gluten free flour and vegan eggs and they were a bit more moist/sticky but def doable to adjust. A crowd pleaser when I brought in to work!
Sam hawke says
These are SO good. Able to sub gluten free flour for a bit stickier of a muffin but still delicious. Very rich !
Ellie says
I’m not a baker but was craving something sweet with fall flavors. These were so easy and quick to make and soooo delicious, the perfect amount of pumpkin. 10/10 would recommend eating with ice cream 😋
Kim says
This was a hit for the family! So good!
Lindsay says
These are incredible! So great for a fall party. Who knew pumpkin and butterscotch would be such a good combination?
Molly Everly says
These muffins were THE BEST! So moist, delicious, and the perfect sweet for fall 😊
Victoria says
Question- did you add Greek yogurt to yours? One of your photos looks like Greek yogurt in the batter.
Courtney Paige says
Hey Victoria! Thanks for that catch. I originally tested them with greek yogurt, but I didn't like them with it. I'll remove that process photo so it isn't confusing. Thank you & happy baking!
Kelsey says
Absolutely INCREDIBLE. Another win from Courtney. These won’t last till tomorrow in my house!!
Lily says
These are so delicious. It is the perfect flavor and texture, and I love the uniqueness of using butterscotch instead of the tradition chocolate chips; I think the butterscotch is the perfect pair.
Danielle says
These delish muffins are a 10/10! The flavors are perfect, just the right amount of pumpkin and wonderful fall flavor!
Lainey says
Absolutely delicious and easy to make! Will definitely be making again soon
Andrea says
I could eat at least 3 of these every day of my life. They are soooo delicious and simple!!! One of my fav muffins I have made
Bre says
MAKE THESE!!!! 10/10
Sarah says
Have made these 4 weeks in a row!! Easy new family favorite and so delicious!!!
Alyssa Bruno says
These. Muffins. Are. Incredible. Honestly one of my favorite muffins of all time. These will be a fall staple from now on!
Tatiana R says
WOW, to say the least!!! Me and everyone I had try these are in love with the flavor combo!! Thank you for this great recipe!!