Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins Recipe (Only 3 ingredients!)

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3 from 2 votes
Published: September 27, 2021Author: Camille Beckstrand
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These Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins only require three ingredients and take a few minutes to throw together. You can't taste the pumpkin at all and they are so good. Perfect for breakfast!
Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins Recipe (Only 3 ingredients!)

The perfect snack: Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins (and they only need 3 ingredients!).

These muffins don’t actually taste too “pumpkin-y” . . . the chocolate kind of takes over and these muffins are just a really moist chocolate muffin. I have made these muffins for my kids as a snack and even as breakfast and they absolutely love them.

I love that they are so easy to make- no eggs, no oil- just three simple ingredients.

If you love 3 ingredient recipes, you have to check out our Three Ingredient M&M Fudge.

What cake mix works best for this recipe?

For this recipe we used Devil’s Food cake mix.

However, any chocolate cake mix would work perfectly.

If you want something that will make these muffins a little more pumpkin flavored, we recommend using a spice cake mix.

They will taste a lot more pumpkin-ish, and still work just as well as the chocolate.

If you love pumpkin recipes, be sure to check out the BEST Pumpkin Bread Recipe!

What makes it a muffin and not a cupcake?

Technically, these muffins are made with a cake mix, so they could be considered a cupcake.

However, these are so rich and flavorful that they don’t need frosting on top.

You could always top them with frosting but they are so rich that one bite in, you would be done with it.

You could use oil in place of the applesauce, but the applesauce gives it a sweet flavor that we think you will love.

If you are looking for a delicious cupcake recipe, I recommend our Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes. The frosting on those cupcakes is the best part.

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Watch how to make three other three ingredient pumpkin recipes here:

What ingredients are needed to make this recipe?

So what are the three magical ingredients that make up this recipe? Here they are:

  1. 1 box Devil’s Food cake mix
  2. 1 can (15 oz) unsweetened pumpkin puree
  3. 1/3 cup applesauce

That’s all there is to it! However, you could easily throw in some delicious additions. Here are a few we recommend:

  1. M&M’s
  2. Milk or Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
  3. Slivered Almonds
  4. Reeses Pieces
  5. White Chocolate Chips
  6. Chopped Peanuts
Close up of Chocolate Pumpkin Muffin in a muffin liner

Do I have to use muffin liners?

For this recipe, you do not have to use muffin liners.

You could just spray the muffin tin with non stick cooking spray.

However, I do recommend using muffin liners because it’s much easier to clean!

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How could I make this recipe into bars instead of muffins?

For this recipe, we personally recommend making these into muffins, rather than bars. They aren’t the most smooth dessert on top. They are dense and thick, so if they are made into bars, they may look a little funny.

However, if you do make them into bars, here is what we recommend:

  • Use a 9×13 inch baking pan and spraying it with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Spread the batter out into the pan evenly.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Bake the bars for about 25-30 minutes.
  • Check them for doneness by placing a toothpick in the middle of the bars, and if it comes out clean, the bars are done. If it comes out with batter, it may need another minute or two, to finish baking through.
  • This is a thick batter so they take a while to cook through when made into bars. For best results, make these into muffins.

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How to make Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins:

Ingredients for Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins in a bowl

Add your three ingredients to the bowl.

Chocolate Pumpkin Muffin batter in a glass bowl

Stir well. I used a wooden spoon, but you could also use a standing mixer or a hand mixer.

Chocolate Pumpkin Muffin batter in a glass bowl mixed with chocolate chips

Throw in any other additions. I did chocolate chips, but this is totally optional.

Muffin pan with muffin liners

Place small scoops of the batter into the muffin liners.

Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins batter in muffin tin

Bake and enjoy!

Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins in muffin pan

Check out these other delicious pumpkin recipes:

Serves: 12 muffins

Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins Recipe

3 from 2 votes
These Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins only require three ingredients and take three minutes to throw together. Not to mention, they taste absolutely delicious.
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 14 mins
Total Time 24 mins
Print Pin

Ingredients

  • 1 box Devil's Food Cake Mix
  • 15 ounces unsweetened pumpkin puree
  • ⅓ cup applesauce

Optional:

  • ½ cup chocolate chips (I used mini-chocolate chips in the picture)

Instructions

  • *DO NOT follow the instructions or use the ingredients on the back of the cake mix box.
  • Add the cake mix, pumpkin puree, and applesauce to a large bowl. Mix well either by hand or with a hand mixer. When thoroughly blended, fold in chocolate chips (if using). The batter will be pretty dense.
  • Line a cupcake tin with cupcake liners and lightly spray each liner with non-stick cooking spray. Spoon batter into each liner until it is about 3/4 of the way full (I was able to get about 12-14 muffins). The shape of each muffin will be a little irregular because of the density of the batter.
  • Bake according to the directions on the back of the cake mix box (I baked mine at 350 degrees for 18-22 minutes). Stick a toothpick in the middle of muffin to make sure the middles are done.

Notes

  • For this recipe, you do not have to use muffin liners. You could just spray the muffin tin with non stick cooking spray. However, I do recommend using muffin liners because it’s much easier to clean!

Nutrition

Calories: 193 kcal · Carbohydrates: 33 g · Protein: 3 g · Fat: 7 g · Saturated Fat: 2 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 2 g · Cholesterol: 1 mg · Sodium: 301 mg · Potassium: 197 mg · Fiber: 2 g · Sugar: 18 g · Vitamin A: 5518 IU · Vitamin C: 2 mg · Calcium: 63 mg · Iron: 2 mg

Equipment

  • Muffin Tin
  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Cupcake Liners
  • Non-stick Cooking Spray

Recipe Details

Course: Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: American
Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins wrapped in muffin liners

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  1. Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says:
    August 26, 2012
    I love this idea - I can totally see giving one to my daughter for breakfast and her head exploding because it's chocolate! for breakfast!
  2. Veronica says:
    August 26, 2012
    I've made these without the applesauce and they are amazing! I give them to my friends without telling them they have pumpkin and no one has ever been able to tell. Great recipe!
  3. Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel says:
    August 26, 2012
    Um, this looks totally awesome! Three ingredients AND fall-festive? Sign me up!
  4. Unknown says:
    August 26, 2012
    a weight watchers fav!
    think i might add butterscotch chips instead of the choc chips though....
  5. Unknown says:
    August 26, 2012
    They taste really yummy using a Spice cake mix as well.
    I have not tried chocolate but definately will, very soon!
  6. Danielle Wagasky says:
    August 26, 2012
    Making these tomorrow. Can't wait!
  7. Jocelyn says:
    August 26, 2012
    I love that you are all about the pumpkin in August too:-) I couldn't wait any longer and posted pumpkin donuts today...great minds think alike!!! These are the best muffins...I love that you added some applesauce to it!!
  8. Momarabbit says:
    August 27, 2012
    These look yummy and I actually have all the ingredients for them. Thanks for a quick and easy recipe :)
  9. FarmGirl says:
    August 29, 2012
    I just made these tonight and they are riDICulously good!!!! I got 2 dozen out of the recipe and only have a dozen left.... Whoops!!!
  10. The Podjan Family says:
    March 16, 2013
    These are insanely good! I am not a pumpkin fan and I cannot detect a trace of it in these. Because of the box mix I was curious about the Fat/Calories and was quite surprised. In moderation (almost impossible with these)they are actually okay! With 1/2 bag Ghirardeli Milk Chocolate Chips they are 5 grams fat/172 Calories each and without the chips they are 3 grams fat/127 calories each...in case anyone was curious ;-). This is based on 17 muffins. Definitely give this a try!
  11. Jeanie says:
    September 30, 2013
    I tried the 2-ingredient pumpkin brownies last week. They were great, and I'll try this recipe too, soon. Anybody know of other 2- or 3-ingredient recipes, or where I can look? Thanks.
  12. Cyd says:
    October 1, 2013
    You can go to our new sister site MyRecipeMagic.com and type in 3 ingredient in the search bar. All kinds of fun recipes will pop up. Hope you'll stop by.
  13. Jeanie says:
    October 3, 2013
    Thank you so much!
  14. Jeanie says:
    October 3, 2013
    Thank you!
  15. Sierra says:
    January 4, 2014
    Does this receipe work in a 9x12 cake pan - like as brownies?
  16. Cyd says:
    January 6, 2014
    We have only made them as muffins, so we're not sure how it would all turn out and how you would need to alter the cooking time and temp. Sorry we are not more help.
  17. Chaelyn says:
    April 25, 2014
    Even though these aren't "in season" right now, I had a can of pumpkin in the cupboard and whipped a batch up quick. I love these, the fewer ingredients the better. added crushed almond m&m's this time. Thank you! You sistas are my google for recipes!
  18. Katie says:
    October 26, 2019
    Should the applesauce be unsweetened?
  19. Cyd says:
    October 28, 2019
    Hi Katie, We have actually used both sweetened and unsweetened applesauce in this Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins recipe. They both work great.
  20. Melissa says:
    September 8, 2021
    I have this recipe in my oven now. Guess I didn’t it wrong. I had enough batter to fill 2 12 serving muffin tins & I still have batter left
  21. Kristi Zahos says:
    October 1, 2021
    I did not like this recipe. I love pumpkin and can it it everyday. I made this with spice cake mix and regular size chocolate chips. It was was too mushy and chewy and did not taste good. I did bake it for 20 mins and it was fully cooked throughout. I will look for another pumpkin recipe to make because I love all your recipes that you so sweetly share. Thank u.

    1 star

  22. Momma Cyd says:
    October 5, 2021
    When you have recipes that call for only 3 ingredients, the texture will be slightly different than recipes that are loaded with ingredients. This is our most popular Pumpkin chocolate chip recipe. It can be made into a big loaf, mini loaves, or muffins. You'll love it. https://www.sixsistersstuff.com/recipe/pumpkin-chocolate-chip-bread/
  23. Heidi Thorne says:
    October 11, 2021
    I love this recipe! It is so easy and so dang yummy!

    5 stars

  24. Danielle says:
    January 14, 2022
    I make these all the time and bring them into work. We all love them! They are even better the next day or I freeze them individually. I am making them now and just added 2 scoops of chocolate protein powder. The consistency looks the same so I bet they will be delicious. Thanks for this great recipe😊
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