On our flight back from Philadelphia two weeks ago, I found myself in a middle seat caught in a conversational crossfire between Lucas and the founder of HotorNot.com at the very moment I'd decided to get some dissertation writing done. If ever there was place to be a fly on the wall. After forcing Lucas to swap seats with me, I threw some instrumental music on my headphones to drown out their animated discussion. Which would have been a solid plan except Explosions in the Sky's A Song for Our Fathers was the only instrumental song on my iTunes.
So obviously I listened to it on loop for three straight hours. And let me just say: never was I more productive.
My friend Jamie just told a story about her 7-year-old daughter reading a novel while listening to Adventures in Odyssey at the same time. When her Grams asked how she could make sense of both stories at the same time, she simply explained, "Grandma, it's no problem because my brain has two sides."
All I'm asking is to be able to put my iTunes library on shuffle on in the background while I work. Meanwhile this kid's successfully splitting her attention between a book and the radio. Can you IMAGINE how productive you'd be if you had her skills? Instead I'm sitting here listening to A Song for Our Fathers for the fourth twelfth time in a row since starting my quest to tell you about these pumpkin muffins.
As if mother nature knew I was in a pumpkin spice state of mind, it's finally feeling like fall around here. The wind is dragging thin branches against my window like fingernails and the sky a dull gray with a hint of a chill in the air. Plus, I have a sore throat which is a clear indication that the weather's changing. I'm sure I'm jinxing it and it'll be warm again at a moment's notice, but for now I'm snuggled up with a scarf, a cat, and a cup of hot tea wishing I could build a fire and dreaming about squash and pomes.
You know when it wasn't so chilly? When I baked these pumpkin spice muffins last weekend...two times in a row because the first attempt needed tweaks. Hours with the oven on brought the kitchen to a toasty 90°F, but these streusel-topped fall muffins were completely worth the sweat. With all my petty weather complaints, it's striking me that I live just where I belong - in a climate that fluctuates no more than 30 degrees all year round. Life is good.
Back to the muffins. These pumpkin spice muffins are an updated gluten-free version of the pumpkin pie muffins I made two autumns ago. In addition to the optional flour swap, I lightened them up by replacing some of the sugar with honey and oil with applesauce. Then I added an oat flour streusel and thin drizzle of cinnamon cream cheese glaze to make breakfast feel just a little bit more like dessert.
Whether you've been on the fence about the texture of gluten-free baking, or you're the muscle behind the "I hate muffins" brigade, these pumpkin spice muffins are here to win you over. They're moist and hearty without being heavy or chewy. The fall spices draw out and highlight the rich pumpkin while the streusel and cream cheese drizzle make it all taste a tad tart and indulgent, but not cloyingly so. I'm going to go ahead and call this the official muffin of fall 2014.
Recipe
Pumpkin Spice Muffins with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Glaze {Gluten-free}
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup gluten-free oat flour, 1½ cups all-purpose flour can be substituted for the first 6 ingredients if not making gluten-free
- ⅓ cup millet flour
- ⅓ cup white rice flour
- ¼ cup sweet rice flour
- ¼ cup Bob’s Red Mill tapioca flour
- ½ teaspoon xanthan gum
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2½ tablespoons applesauce
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup gluten-free oat flour, Note: I grind gluten-free oats in a food processor until fine
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 ounce full-fat cream cheese (blocked), room temperature
- ¼ cup powdered sugar, sifted
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2½ teaspoons non-fat milk
INSTRUCTIONS
Pumpkin Spice Muffins
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
- Prepare the streusel topping according to the directions below.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the oat flour, millet flour, rice flour, sweet rice flour, tapioca starch, xanthan gum, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the pumpkin puree, applesauce, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and eggs. Whisk on medium-low speed until smooth.
- Add the sugar and honey and mix thoroughly to combine.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture, mixing on low until just thoroughly combined.
- Divide the batter among 12 lined muffin tins, filling each cup about ¾ full.
- Sprinkle the streusel topping on top of each muffin.
- Bake for 26-30 minutes, or until a toothpick stuck in the middle comes out clean.
- Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Streusel Topping
- Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl with a fork or with your hands until they are evenly combined and crumbly.
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Glaze
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and cream cheese over medium-high speed until smooth and creamy.
- Reduce the speed and gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until thoroughly combined.
- Add the vanilla extract and ground cinnamon, and mix until combined.
- Gradually add the milk in small amounts until the mixture thins into a glaze (adding a teaspoon more milk at a time as needed).
- When the muffins have cooled a bit, drizzle the glaze on top (I used a pastry bag to pipe the glaze, but you could also use a spoon to drizzle it on top).
Alene -
As you can see by the date, I save recipes, especially yours. These were so easy and delicious, even without the cream cheese drizzle. After all, I had to try one just out of the oven to see if I needed to bother with the drizzle. And I will, just because. I love the crumb of the muffins. They're so light! I'm not sure anyone would know they are gluten free. We'll see how many my husband eats. That's always a good test! Hope you are staying safe and healthy, during these weird times.
Rachael @ Set the Table -
Um, these look amazing. I wish I could eat one (or two) of them right this second! Thanks for the link to my pumpkin spice oatmeal! Spreading the pumpkin love- awesome :)
Isadora @ she likes food -
Sometimes when I run I listen to the same energizing song over and over again and for some reason it really helps! I've been dying for some good pumpkin muffins lately and these look like the ones! I don't do much gluten free baking because I'm kind of intimidated by all the flours, but these look like they are worth it :)
Sarah Menanix -
Now THAT'S a good idea. I should find one song that makes me feel like running and just listen to it on repeat. Maybe then I'd actually put on my running shoes:)
I hear you on the intimidation factor. I find my staples are: sweet rice flour, millet flour, oat flour (ground up from my oats), rice flour, and tapioca starch. Once you buy them once, you'll use them in all of your gluten-free baking. HOWEVER, if you're not up for that, you can also replace the gluten-flours with all-purpose flour in these muffins instead:)
Erika -
Okay omg your photos are BONKERS beautiful! Like I want to snatch that delicious crumb right out of the screen. Also, I'm totally going to start listening to that song--maybe it'll be my secret productive weapon!!!
Sarah Menanix -
You are way too sweet, Erika! Haha - I should just put a sticky note on my screen to remind me to turn it on when I feel procrastination coming on.
Sarah@WholeandHeavenlyOven -
I am seriously swooning over how awesome these muffins look, Sarah! That crumble, the glaze....totally gorgeous! Pinned!
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks for sharing it, Sarah!
Kayley | The Kitchen McCabe -
That wooden cake stand. LOVE! These look perfect for a fall breakfast, I'm loving that cream cheese drizzle on top!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you! I think it's actually meant to be a cheese stand, but I couldn't pass it up as a cake stand:)
Karen @ The Food Charlatan -
No hyperlink for Hot or Not? What gives Sarah?
Sarah Menanix -
That guy doesn't need my linkbacks or support...also...I was afraid of losing readers like you to the rabbit hole of hot or not. ;)
Alice @ Honestly Fitness -
Mmm, these looks so delicious and beautiful! One of my friends adheres to a GF diet so I will have to pass this her way.
I tried using tapioca starch once in a bid to make GF coconut cookies but it was such a disaster haha.
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you! I'd love to hear if she tries them out!
Oh noes - I hope you try GF baking again sometime! I tend to like ratios that use only a little bit of tapioca starch for structure, but not too much.
Liz @ Floating Kitchen -
This is so funny because I'm reading your post while listening to a podcast. And of course, I had to go back and re-read it because I can't pay attention to two things at once like that. Oh...to have the flexible brain of a young kid! Gah. These muffins look amazing. That glaze has me drooling!
Sarah Menanix -
Haha - I can't read a thing if there's even one tiny piece of noise around. I'm impressed that you even tried to listen to the podcast while looking at blogs!
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen -
Love, love, love some Pumpkin Spice muffins, and that glaze is screaming my name!!!
Sarah Menanix -
Hehe - it's pumpkin spice anything for me! Thanks, Kristi!
Alex Caspero MA,RD (@delishknowledge) -
First off, I adore Expolosions in the Sky. Another reason I adore you and your beautiful gluten free muffins. Second, I am currently on a plane trying to be productive... but once again I find myself recipe hunting and watching Food Network. How come I can only multitask when it's around food??
So good seeing you again last night! I vote for another SF meetup soon!
Sarah Menanix -
Ditto, girl! If there's food, I'll figure out how to split my attention. Otherwise, forget it. I second that vote - I hope you're having a great weekend at your conference! I'm so glad I got to see you at least for dinner:)
kelly - a side of sweet -
I want to write an all instrumental love song for these beauties! They look delish!
Sarah Menanix -
Please do. And then record it onto a mix tape for me. Kthnx.
tanya -
I love that answer, "there are two sides to my brain", what a smart kid. When it comes to theses muffins, both 'sides" of my brain scream "yes"!! These are beautiful!
Sarah Menanix -
This girl's going to have a successful future, right? Meanwhile, I also have a one-track brain straight to the muffin tin. Ha. Thanks, Tanya!
Annie | MontgomeryFest -
when i was a kid, i used to eat "cinnamon toast" which was really just a slice of bread with a small layer of butter, a small layer of cinnamon, and a full splattering of sugar that covered the entire thing a few layers over. and then i'd lick all of the (purposefully spilt) excess sugar off the counter. true story. i miss those days. my hips however, do not.
ps. these look amazing, is what i want to tell you.
Sarah Menanix -
Haha. I used to mix sugar in a bag with Kool-Aid and use my finger as a fun dip lick-a-stick. I should really put that recipe on the blawwwg. Thanks lady! xo.
Medha @ Whisk & Shout -
Oh my god these are some gorgeous muffins!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you, Medha!
Trish - Mom On Timeout -
These muffins are just gorgeous Sarah! I just want to dip my finger into a bowl of that cinnamon cream cheese glaze - fantastic! Pinned!
Sarah Menanix -
I mean, just go for it - lick the ENTIRE bowl. That's what I did. PS. Come visit me and I'll make you a bowl of the glaze all to yourself. And maybe even something to put it on too.
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter -
These are the seriously the prettiest muffins girl! Love that cream cheese glaze and glorious streusel topping! Glad that the weather is getting a bit cooler even though it wasn't the day you made these. I would gladly polish off any of these for breakfast, lunch or dinner - yum!
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks Kelly! I'm hoping the weather just stays like this for the rest of the year - it's the perfect cool breeze without being too cold.
Jess @ whatjessicabakednext -
These muffins look lovely! Your photography is amazing! Love pumpkin spice muffins and that cream cheese glaze sounds absolutely lush! :D
Sarah Menanix -
You are so sweet - thank you Jess! With all the pumpkin I've been eating, I feel like I should just live in Trader Joes overloading on pumpkin spice- ha!
Min -
Wow! I'm DEF impressed by that 7 year old! Seriously, how productive would I be!! I've really been struggling to stay focused lately. Not good…not good at all. sniff sniff. I'm also jealous that you got to bust out your scarves! Enjoy! ;)
I really do want to try baking gf desserts. However, I find the long list of ingredients a bit intimidating. I don't have a lot of them on hand. But these muffins look wayy too good to pass up! Pinning!
Sarah Menanix -
I've been wearing my scarf for four days straight now! Never taking it off! (Ok, once it gets hot again, I'm sure I'll be back to shooting in my underwear.
I'm so glad you said this because that was my biggest gripe too! Most gluten-free baking can be made with the same ingredients, so if you buy a bag of each, you can adapt most gluten free cooking with them. Here's what I keep on hand: sweet rice flour (also good for mochi!:), white rice flour, millet flour, oats (which I grind into oat flour as needed), and xanthan gum. These are the same ingredients I use in my cupcakes, cookies, and cornbread. It's tough to get started, but once you get over the hurdle the first time you'll always have them on hand! I do hope you give it a try! xo.
dina -
i'd love to have one of these for breakfast!
Sarah Menanix -
They'd pair perfect with a pumpkin spice latte (pumpkin overload!!:).
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet -
Gorgeous. Love the oat flour topping! Pinned!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you Anna! I've been loving using oat flour in place of wheat flour in baked goods - I think it adds so much flavor!
ellie | fit for the soul -
Gurlffrrrannnn high five, I have a super sore throat too! Err maybe that's not a good way to to go about it, hehe. But seriously. I think my body gets all wonky whenever the seasons truly start to change--I probably wouldn't survive anywhere else other than LA now. :P And great job making these GF!!! No offense to true gf folks out there, but these do look too good for GF. So fluffy and not as dense as you'd expect. And that was too cute about the 2 sides of the brain, wish I could use it all at once like that! Have a marvelous day, lovely~ <3
Sarah Menanix -
Haha yes! Let's high five our sore throats! Hehe. Funny how wise our bodies are to the changing weather. Thank you so much, Ellie! I don't think you'd be able to tell at all that there's flour missing from this recipe! In fact, I think they might even be better than their flour counterpart :D.
Louisa [Living Lou] -
I've been trying to teach myself to be a better multi-tasker! It's tough, but I like listening to some mellow music or something (especially if they are songs that I don't know) when I'm working, or going to a coffee shop! This recipe also looks delicious, love the cinnamon and cream cheese glaze :)
Sarah Menanix -
Oh, that's a good idea! I never considered that I might be able to train myself into multitasking with noise. Thank you so much, Louisa!
Maryanne @ the little epicurean -
Man, I wish my brain worked like that 7 year old girl!
The muffins look great! I normally don't eat muffins, but I'd make an exception for yours :)
Sarah Menanix -
Me too! My dissertation would surely be done by now. Let me tell you a little secret: I also don't normally like muffins! These are here to change your mind.
Lisa @ Snappy Gourmet -
Can't believe these are gluten free! Amazing! Would have never guessed! Perfect fall treat!
Sarah Menanix -
You definitely can't tell anything's "missing" from these gluten-free muffins. Thanks, Lisa!
Bubble Girl -
These look insanely delish! I MUST make this weekend!
Sarah Menanix -
Oh please do let me know if you make them! I'd love to hear how you like them!
Des @ Life's Ambrosia -
I LOVE pumpkin muffins but with cinnamon cream cheese glaze? Well that is just heaven.
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks Des! I had a little bit left over and I really wanted to just pipe it directly into my mouth!
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts -
I am obsessed with muffins, I am love all kinds. But these pumpkin spice muffins look amazing. And that glaze!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you so much, Erin! It took a lot of self control not to eat the glaze by the spoonful.
Carla (@charliesue) -
We've discussed how I feel about these muffins (when are you bringing these delicious and gorgeous things over again?) but we have NOT discussed *my* last plane ride. I was happily seated in an exit row window with an empty middle seat. The gentleman in the aisle seat was nice and all, but a talker. When I find out where I worked, he insisted on telling me his favorite flavors as I nodded and said "oh, um, yes, that IS a good one" and THEN he asked me how brown rice syrup is made. "Do they add SUGAR to the brown rice?"
I am obviously an expert in everything.
Sarah Menanix -
Haha - I'm totally the talker on the airplane. Usually. This was the exception. Also, I can only imagine your utter excitement for his words fueled his conversation. I'll give you muffins when you come for dinner, deal?
Carla (@charliesue) -
You're totally right. I didn't exactly deter him. :)
Deal!
Katie | lovely letters -
ALL about this. Breakfast is my favorite meal for this exact reason... is it breakfast or is it dessert? Is there more savory or more sweet? IT'S EVERYTHING!
Making these immediately (once I'm in the new kitchen that is).
xx Katie
lovely letters
Sarah Menanix -
Yeahhhhhh new kitchen! So the next brunch is at your house with party hats and muffins. Got it:)
Danae @ Recipe Runner -
Why is it that whenever we need or want to bake it's always warm out instead of the other way around. Either way I'm glad you made these delicious pumpkin spice muffins!
Sarah Menanix -
I know! Something about the heat makes me feel like having baked goods - seems so backwards!
Amy @ Amy's Healthy Baking -
So true about your city staying within those same 30°... And then up where I'm at, we get a 70° split from 110° in the summer to 40° in the winter! Although I suppose I should be thankful we're generally up towards to the higher end of the spectrum... But anyway, I can't listen to music AT ALL when I write. All I can hear is the lyrics, and that just totally blows my concentration. Same with the TV. Or people trying to have conversations. I'm impressed you managed to get any work done on your dissertation at all! And finally, on to these muffins... I totally wish you hadn't made them a few weeks ago because I would beg you to bring me one tomorrow. (AHH it's tomorrow -- that snuck up on me way too quickly!!) That's all. For now. ;) Pinned!
Sarah Menanix -
We get pretty lucky with the weather here in California! Thanks for sharing it:) Woo - see you tomorrow! xo.
Amy | Club Narwhal -
Oh man, I wish I could multitask like that little gal--talk about lucky :) These muffins look too good for words. And THAT GLAZE. Be still my heart :)
Sarah Menanix -
Seriously! Lucky and uber talented. Come visit California and I'll make sure there are muffins.
Serene @ House of Yumm -
That crumble topping. And that glaze!!! Oh my! So many things to love about these muffins. They look absolutely delish!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you! I tried to figure out how to get the crumble, the glaze, and pumpkin into the title and realized it was just a little ridiculous haha.
sue/the view from great island -
I've never met a pumpkin muffin I didn't love --- these look perfect :)
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you so much, Sue!
Alanna -
Ps. Thanks for the shout out!
Alanna -
As someone with only 4 things on her itunes (2 David Sedaris audiobooks and 2 Joni Mitchell songs), I feel your pain. Although I'm uber curious about what Lucas and the hot or not guy talked about! (Rating other passengers on the flight, I'm guessing.) These muffins are definitely hot! I'm all over them.
Sarah Menanix -
Haha, I now also have a Catamus song on my iTunes that makes me pretty happy. Apparently he was super secretive about "an app" he was working on, but kept dropping the "I have to send this off to Apple when I land" line to make sure we knew he was a big deal. Although at this point I put my headphones on, so probably they started a scoring sheet, obviously.
Thanks, lady!
Ashley Pitt @ A Lady Goes West -
I've never tried any gluten-free muffins before, so I don't have a predisposed dislike. I'd be happy to sample these if you want to drop a little basket off in the City for me. :)
Sarah Menanix -
Ha - this makes me feel like Little Red Riding Hood delivering muffins to grandma! :)
Lisa @ Healthy Nibbles & Bits -
These muffins are heavenly! I agree, sometimes, I've had my most productive working sessions with my headphones on and music slightly louder than necessary. Love the purplish leaves on that bunch of corn in the background!
Sarah Menanix -
Hehe - I felt like my table could use a little fall and the purple corn just sucked me in! Thank you!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate -
These are so, so pretty and they sound (and look) amazing!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you Patricia! I'm sad their all gone because I could use one right about now!
Allie | Baking a Moment -
I can't imagine a more perfect looking muffin. So happy you sweated it out in the kitchen to bring us these!!!
Sarah Menanix -
Aw - thank you Allie!
Tina @ Just Putzing Around the Kitchen -
Things would be so much easier if we were neighbors, Sarah. Cuz I want ALLLLL those muffins. Now.
Sarah Menanix -
Yes! And then you could make me dinner every night.
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction -
I wish I had one to go with my morning coffee!
Sarah Menanix -
I would totally send you one if It'd make the trip not all smushed up!
Jen @ Baked by an Introvert -
I would love to be able to use both sides of my brain at once. I have a one track mind and easily get distracted. It can be annoying to say the least.
I am swooning over these muffins! I love the streusel topping and cream cheese glaze. Pinned!
Sarah Menanix -
Right?! I'd be a way better student and blogger if I could multitask to that extreme. Thanks so much for sharing it, Jen!
Sheila @Life, Love, and Good Food -
Oh, my! I love pumpkin flavor in the fall and these muffins look scrumptious! Great photos, by the way...you are making me droool!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you so much, Sheila!
Allison -
Oh man, do I wish I could use both sides of my brain at all times! That was a really great plane story, by the way. I always find that some of the best stories come off of planes! It's such a strange situation to be in when you're stuck with a crew of strangers.
On to the muffins–these look way too good! I need to make these before all of the pumpkin is gone from the shops. Gorgeous recipe and photos and story!!! Really enjoyed reading this post :) PS. The colour on the interior? PERFECTION!
Sarah Menanix -
Haha - I'm totally that person that seeks out plane stories by talking to whoever is sitting next to me! I do hope you make them - please let me know if you enjoy them! Thank you, Allison!
Meg @ The Housewife in Training Files -
Dessert or breakfast...either way I want these muffins!
Sarah Menanix -
I'm all over the breakfast treats that walk the line between breakfast and dessert...but aren't terrible for you!