Pumpkin Muffins with Cake Mix

Pumpkin Muffins made with cake mix taste like a Dunkin Donuts pumpkin spice muffin or donut. Pumpkin Spice Muffins are moist and delicate in texture and stay fresh for days.

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A Tasty Fall Treat

These pumpkin spice muffins are a favorite for the fall. So easy to make, these flavorful pumpkin spiced donuts are perfect for pumpkin spice lovers.

Nothing says autumn quite like pumpkins: pumpkin pies, pumpkin lattes, and, of course, pumpkin muffins. This recipe transforms an ordinary box of spiced cake mix into the moistest and most flavorful pumpkin spice muffins that you have ever had!

Three Marvelous Muffin Making Hints

Making these fantastic muffins is easy, especially if you follow these three tips:

1. The best tip for making better pumpkin spice muffins is to avoid over mixing the batter. That can be tough when the pumpkin pie mix is so dense. Your best option is to beat the pumpkin pie mix separately using a stand mixer for about 2 minutes on medium to lighten the pumpkin pie mix. Then add the spice cake mix, pudding mix, and vanilla extract and beat on the low setting. Add the rest of the ingredients for the batter and mix on low until smooth.
2. If you are someone who loves an extra crispy muffin top, try filling the lined muffin cups almost even to the surface of the tin. Doing this will reduce the number of muffins to about 18, but each muffin will be much higher. Just don’t forget to spray the entire surface of the muffin tin with oil to prevent the muffins from sticking.
3. For an extra bit of oven rise, you can try preheating your oven to 425 degrees. After putting in the muffins, wait a few minutes and then reduce the temperature back down to 350 degrees. The extra burst of heat at the start creates just enough steam to ensure your muffins are fluffy yet still moist.

How to Top These Easy Pumpkin Muffins

Dusting the top of the pumpkin muffins with brown sugar before popping them into the oven creates a beautiful, crackly sugar coating on top, but you can skip it if you want. Or you can get a bit more creative with these topping choices.

Cinnamon and Sugar A little more spice never hurt anyone. Use premade cinnamon sugar or make your own by mixing a half-cup of white sugar with a 1/4 tablespoon of cinnamon (freshly ground if possible).

Crumble Topping A classic crumble topping works very well with this recipe. Use your favorite crumble recipe or combine 1/2 cup of AP flour, 1/2 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of pumpkin spice. Use the back of a fork to cut in 3 tablespoons of very cold butter. Sprinkle over uncooked muffins right before baking.

Cream Cheese Frosting Once the pumpkin muffins come out of the oven and cool, use a piping bag or knife to top with the cream cheese frosting. To make the cream cheese frosting, beat together 8 oz of cream cheese, 1/2 cup of AP flour, and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Once combined, slowly stir in 3 cups of powdered sugar.

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Recipe Ingredients

Here’s a list of what you need:

• Spice cake mix – I don’t find brand matters here
• Canned pumpkin pie mix – do not use canned pumpkin, make sure you get the canned pumpkin pie mix, typically it is the larger can.
• Instant vanilla pudding mix – this is the 4 serving size, it is 3.4 ounces
• Vanilla extract – I like natural the best, I don’t like to use immitation vanilla extract
• Sour cream – I prefer full fat,
• Eggs – I use either large or extra large eggs
• Vegetable oil
• Baking powder
• Pumpkin pie spice – you can buy this premade, or click on the link and I will show you how to make it
• Brown sugar

Note that canned pumpkin pie mix isn’t the same thing as pumpkin puree. Pumpkin pie mix is a pie filling with a blend of pumpkin puree and seasonings. The mix adds a lot of flavor to the muffins.

How to Make Pumpkin Muffins with Cake Mix

1. Combine the cake mix, pumpkin pie mix, pudding mix, and vanilla in a large bowl.

2. Add sour cream, eggs, oil, baking powder, and pumpkin pie spice. Beat with a mixer or whisk until well combined.

3. Spoon the batter into 24 lined muffin tin cups.

4. Sprinkle brown sugar on top of the muffins.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Recipe Notes

Pumpkin is very dense. I find it helpful to make sure I beat the batter with a mixer for a full 2 minutes. This way air is whipped into the mixture and it helps make what could be super dense into something much lighter.

Recipe Variations

• Omit the brown sugar on top if you are trying to cut back on the sugar. It isn’t super necessary.
• Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top instead of brown sugar.
• Add nuts for a little crunchy and nutty flavor.
• Add chocolate chips for a little decadence.
• Top with cream cheese frosting for extra richness.

Tips for Storing and Reheating Pumpkin Muffins with Cake Mix

• Store pumpkin muffins in the freezer for up to three months. Wrap room temperature muffins tightly in plastic wrap. If you frosted the pumpkin muffins, place them in a single layer inside an airtight, freezer-safe storage container without wrapping.
• Reheat the defrosted muffins in the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Put the defrosted muffins back into the muffin tin and heat in the oven for 15 – 20 minutes.

You have to try these delicious pumpkin spice muffins today!

Favorite Pumpkin Recipes

• Double Layer Pumpkin Pie
• Olive Garden Pumpkin Cheesecake
• Pumpkin Custard
• Pumpkin Dump Cake
• Pumpkin Pancakes
• Pumpkin Pie Dip
• Pumpkin Spice Latte
• Starbucks Pumpkin Bread

Popular Muffin Recipes

• Apple Muffins
• Donut Muffins
• Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
• Panera Apple Crumb Muffins
• Starbucks Blueberry Muffin

Check out more of my easy bread recipes and the best fall recipes here on CopyKat!

Pumpkin Muffins

These pumpkin spice muffins taste just like Dunkin Donuts Pumpkin Muffin and Donut. These moist and delicious muffins are easy to make with cake mix and pumpkin pie filling.

5 from 11 votes

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Course: Breads, Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Muffins, Pumpkin, Pumpkin Muffins, Pumpkin Recipes, Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Servings: 24

Calories: 389kcal

Author: Stephanie Manley

Ingredients

• 1 15.25-ounce box spice cake mix
• 1 30-ounce can pumpkin pie mix (pumpkin puree with spices)
• 1 3.4-ounce box instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
• 1 tablespoon sour cream
• 2 eggs slightly beaten
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 cup brown sugar

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a bowl combine the cake mix, pumpkin pie mix, instant pudding, and vanilla. Add sour cream, eggs, oil, and pumpkin pie spice, and mix well until combined.
• Place a large scoop of batter into lined cupcake cups, and sprinkle each one with brown sugar. Place on a baking stone or cookie sheet, and bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Nutrition

Calories: 389kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 449mg | Potassium: 242mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 5925IU | Vitamin C: 2.6mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 2.7mg

Special thanks to Layaley who sent us this recipe.