Try these delectable keto pumpkin muffins with a rich gooey cream cheese center. They’re a delicious fall breakfast or snack. So good that you might even want to eat them for dessert!
You don’t want to mess with perfection. Take these keto pumpkin muffins, for example. I first posted this recipe back in 2013 and they were a huge hit from the get-go. Readers love them, and my family does too. So we make them every fall.
It’s one of my most popular keto muffin recipes, and with good reason. They have that classic pumpkin spice flavor, with a gooey, creamy cheesecake center. No one can believe they’re sugar free.
They are, of course, modeled after the famous pumpkin muffins from Starbucks. And they taste just as delicious, but with a mere fraction of the carbs.
How does that sound to you, pumpkin lovers???
Why you must try this recipe
In case you haven’t noticed, I am a huge fan of keto pumpkin recipes. There is something so lovely and comforting about the warm spices paired with pumpkin puree.
And these muffins are no exception. They are tender and sweet, with hints of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. And that sweet cheesecake center takes them to the next level. But if you prefer them plain, I offer instructions for that too!
Best of all, these keto pumpkin muffins have only 3.7g net carbs per serving. Compare that to the hefty 53g of carbs in the Starbucks version.
Other fan favorites include my Keto Pumpkin Cream Pie and Easy Pumpkin Breakfast Bars. And let me not forget my updated Keto Pumpkin Bread, which gets rave reviews every time!
Reader Testimonials
“I made these exactly as written. They were easy to make and tasted fabulous! I can always count on your recipes to be delicious!” — Dana
“These are pure perfection, so delicious! I like extra simple recipes with standard ingredients, and even with the a separate filling, these are simple enough for me to put in regular rotation. I just need to remember to make a double batch next time. Thank you!” — Jamie
“These muffins are the VERY BEST thing I’ve made using Keto ingredients! Thanks!” — Kathy
Ingredients you need
Cream Cheese Filling:
- Cream cheese: Use full fat cream cheese as low fat cream cheese has fillers that can make it higher in carbs.
- Powdered Swerve Sweetener: Use a powdered sweetener for the cream cheese filling so there’s no residual grittiness.
- Heavy cream
- Vanilla extract
Pumpkin Muffins:
- Almond flour: Choose a good, finely ground almond flour for the best texture. This recipe won’t work well with coconut flour, but you can use sunflower seed flour for a nut-free version.
- Swerve Brown: A brown sugar replacement is ideal for the best keto pumpkin muffins. But any granular sweetener should be fine in these, so use what you like best. Do be aware that allulose will make them brown much faster.
- Unflavoured whey protein powder: It’s important to understand the science behind keto baking. Gluten is a protein and in its absence, another dry protein helps baked goods rise properly. You can skip the protein powder, but your muffins will be more dense and fragile. You can also use egg white protein powder instead.
- Pumpkin pie spice: If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice, you can combine ground cinnamon, ginger and cloves.
- Pumpkin purée: You can use homemade or canned pumpkin purée. If it’s on the thinner side, reduce the amount of added liquid.
- Pantry staples: Eggs, butter, baking powder, salt and vanilla extract.
Step-by-step directions
1. Prepare the filling: Beat the cream cheese with the powdered sweetener, cream and vanilla extract until smooth. Set aside.
2. Whisk the dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the almond flour, sweetener, protein powder, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.
3. Stir in the wet ingredients: Add the eggs, pumpkin puree, melted butter, water, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
4. Fill the muffins: Line a muffin tin with parchment or silicone liners. Drop a spoonful of batter into the bottom of each and use a spoon to make a well in the center. Drop a tablespoon of the filling into the well, then top with more batter to cover.
5. Bake the muffins: Bake at 325F for 23 to 25 minutes, or until the tops are set and the edges are browned. Let cool in the pan.
Expert tips
The filling is optional! I have made these keto pumpkin muffins several different ways. I love the filled muffin style, but I have also swirled the cream cheese into the top of the batter (very pretty!). And I’ve made them with no filling at all!
So if you prefer a classic pumpkin muffin, feel free to skip the filling. Adding chopped nuts or chocolate chips is delicious too.
The rise and fall of keto pumpkin muffins: If you do make filled muffins, expect them to rise nicely and then sink a bit as they cool. That is the nature of cream cheese stuffed goodies. The filling expands during baking, and then contracts as it cools. So a little sink hole will appear in the tops of the muffins. They still taste fabulous!
Dairy-Free Option: You can make these muffins dairy-free as well, with egg white protein powder, dairy-free cream cheese, and coconut cream. Replace the butter with your oil of choice and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Canned pumpkin puree has 12g of carbs and 4g of fiber per half cup serving. While it’s not the lowest carb option, it can be consumed on a keto diet in small quantities. This keto muffin recipe uses only half a cup spread out over 12 servings, so it’s very keto-friendly.
This keto muffin recipe has 6.1g of carbs and 2.4g of fiber per serving. That comes to 3.7g net carbs per muffin.
This keto pumpkin muffin recipe was developed and tested using almond flour. However, you can use sunflower seed flour as a 1 to 1 replacement. Just remember to add a tablespoon of lemon juice to offset the reaction between sunflower seeds and baking powder. They will turn a lovely shade of green if you forget!
More recipes you might enjoy
Keto Pumpkin Muffins Recipe
Ingredients
Cream Cheese Filling:
- 6 oz cream cheese softened
- 3 tablespoon powdered Swerve Sweetener
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
Pumpkin Muffins:
- 2 cups almond flour
- ½ cup Swerve Sweetener
- ¼ cup unflavoured whey protein powder (or egg white protein)
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (Or 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ginger, ¼ teaspoon cloves)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup butter melted
- ¼ cup water
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Cream cheese filling
- Beat the cream cheese with the powdered sweetener, cream and vanilla extract until smooth. Set aside.
Muffins:
- Preheat the oven to 325ºF and line a muffin tin with parchment or silicone liners.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the almond flour, sweetener, protein powder, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.
- Add the eggs, pumpkin puree, melted butter, water, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
- Drop a spoonful of batter into the bottom of the prepared muffin tins and use a spoon to make a well in the center of each. Drop a tablespoon of cream cheese filling into the well, then top with more batter to cover.
- Bake 23 to 25 minutes, or until the tops are set and the edges are just browned. Let cool completely in the pan.
JD says
Hi, Can I use cashew or oat milk instead of almond in the muffins?
Carolyn says
Sure.
Susan Chase says
Super yummy and a real crowd pleaser.
Kate says
These are scrumptious!
Teri says
These were delicious;however, I think I did something wrong. I had quite a large air pocket between my filling and the top of the muffin. What could I do differently? It still tasted so good!
Carolyn says
I don’t think you did anything wrong, per se. Do you happen to live at elevation at all?
Lisa Quan says
Made these muffins today and they turned out great. I love it when I can get a good result following a recipe for the first time! Thank you for sharing it with us.
Toni says
These were so good! Really amazing muffins!
Sarah says
the gooey center makes these just so amazing! I loved it!
Cathy Boyer says
I absolutely love all of your baked goods recipes. These muffins were so good it made me feel guilty like I was eating off plan. Was wondering if they could be made ahead and then frozen fir later indulging? ????
Sabena says
Very good muffins, although mine did not look like the photo. I think the reason for that is because I am 3000ft above sea level, so that may be the reason I couldn’t replicate the photos.
Carolyn says
Yes high elevation messes with keto baking, just as it does with regular baking!
deb eliason says
i love your keto pumpkin cream cheese muffins sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much
Dawnella says
OH MY THESE WERE DELICIOUS ! Hubby approved ! I used classic Lakanto for the sweetner and doubled the pumpkin pie spice ! This will be on the Thanksgiving menu!
I love it ! Thank you so much for a wonderful recipe! Q
Heidi Scribner says
Just made these. So good. My husband asked if the recipe was from “that woman”. I said yup. He said she should write a book!
SheriA says
Is whey protein isolate a suitable substitute for whey protein powder in this recipe?
Carolyn says
Yes.
Tracy says
Hi Carolyn! I only have vanilla protein powder, should I eliminate the vanilla extract from the batter? Hoping to make these when I get home tonight as it’s a rainy, dreary day here in Massachusetts, and baking is a great way to warm the soul ☺️. Thank you!
Carolyn says
Yes, that should work!
Tracy says
Thank you, they came out amazing!!! Should these be refrigerated because of the cream cheese filling?
Carolyn says
They should be okay on the counter for a day or two but yes, fridge after that. I recommend letting them come to room temp again before eating. But some people like them cold!
Dana says
I made these exactly as written. They were easy to make and tasted fabulous! I can always count on your recipes to be delicious!
Carolyn says
Glad to hear it!
Flo says
Best ever.
Shirley Bader says
Can anything else be used as a substitute for the whey protein powder?
Carolyn says
Only another protein powder. And not collagen protein, it makes things gummy and hard to cook through.
Tasha Worley says
How much would it change the carb count if I used the streusel topping from your Keto Pumpkin Crumb Cake recipe? I think that would put it over the top amazing as most of the pumpkin muffins I eat have the streusel topping.
Carolyn says
I am honestly not sure, you will need to run those numbers yourself. I don’t have that offhand. Lovely idea, though!
Kati says
Can I sub in whipping cream for almond milk?
Carolyn says
No it needs to be thinner. Try half cream half water.
Kelly Barnes says
This recipe turned out exactly as promised! They were soft and delicious. Thank you!