Healthy Pumpkin Bread, Muffin and Scone Recipes

Every fall, I start thinking about pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins and warm-from-the-oven pumpkin scones.

There’s just something about the smell of pumpkin and cinnamon baking that makes the kitchen feel especially cozy.

And while I enjoy a good bakery treat as much as anyone, I also appreciate having lighter homemade options to enjoy with my morning coffee or afternoon tea.

Over the years, I’ve collected quite a few favorite pumpkin recipes, from simple two-ingredient muffins to homemade pumpkin bread, cranberry pumpkin scones and even pumpkin doughnuts.

Here are some of my favorite healthy pumpkin bread, muffin and scone recipes, including easy WW-friendly recipes from Simple Nourished Living and a few delicious finds from other food bloggers.

Why I Love Baking with Pumpkin

Pumpkin puree is one of my favorite ingredients for lighter baking.

It adds moisture, beautiful color and a little natural sweetness to breads, muffins and cakes. In some recipes, it can replace part of the butter or oil, helping reduce the fat and calories while keeping the finished baked goods moist and tender.

Pumpkin also provides fiber and beta-carotene, which our bodies can convert to vitamin A.

Of course, adding pumpkin doesn’t automatically make a baked good low in calories. Sugar, oil, butter, chocolate chips and serving sizes still matter.

That’s one reason I enjoy baking at home. I get to decide what goes into the recipe and how large to make the portions.

And there’s nothing quite like enjoying a homemade pumpkin muffin while it’s still a little warm.

Easy Tips for Healthier Pumpkin Baking

A few simple tricks can help make pumpkin breads, muffins and scones a little lighter.

• Use plain pumpkin puree. Be sure you’re buying canned pumpkin, not sweetened pumpkin pie filling.
• Replace some of the fat with pumpkin. In recipes designed for it, pumpkin can stand in for part of the oil or butter.
• Watch the add-ins. Nuts, chocolate chips and sweet glazes are delicious, but a little can go a long way.
• Make smaller muffins. Mini muffins or smaller portions are an easy way to enjoy a homemade treat.
• Freeze the extras. Most pumpkin breads and muffins freeze well, so you can enjoy them a little at a time.
• Keep it simple. Sometimes a plain slice of pumpkin bread is every bit as satisfying as one loaded with frosting or toppings.

Favorite Healthy Pumpkin Bread Recipes

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Bread

This moist, gently spiced pumpkin bread is made right in the slow cooker.

It’s a wonderful option when you want to bake something homemade without turning on the oven. And it’s especially nice served warm with a cup of coffee or tea.

Three Favorite Pumpkin Bread Recipes

If you love a good loaf of pumpkin bread, this collection offers several more delicious possibilities.

Pumpkin bread is one of those recipes I enjoy having on hand because it’s easy to slice, share and freeze for later.

Pecan-Crusted Pumpkin Squares

These pumpkin squares are essentially a moist pumpkin quick bread baked in a square pan instead of a loaf pan (affiliate link).

The crunchy pecan topping adds a delicious contrast to the soft pumpkin cake underneath.

They’re perfect for sharing at a fall gathering or enjoying with an afternoon cup of tea.

Low-Fat Pumpkin Bread with Pepitas (SkinnyTaste)

Gina’s lighter pumpkin bread is topped with crunchy pumpkin seeds, adding a nice contrast to the soft, moist loaf.

It’s a lovely choice for breakfast or an afternoon snack.

Pumpkin Cranberry Loaf from Baking Bites

Pumpkin and cranberries make a wonderful fall combination.

The tart cranberries balance the sweetness of the bread, making this a nice alternative to traditional pumpkin spice loaf.

Easy Healthy Pumpkin Muffin Recipes

Two-Ingredient Pumpkin Spice Cake Mix Muffins

These easy pumpkin muffins are made with just two ingredients: spice cake mix and canned pumpkin puree.

No eggs, oil or butter required.

They’re moist, warmly spiced and perfect when you want a quick homemade fall treat without much fuss.

I especially like that you can make them in different sizes and freeze the extras for later.

Two-Ingredient Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins

These are another example of how easy homemade muffins can be.

Just combine dry chocolate cake mix with canned pumpkin puree, then bake.

The result is a moist, chocolatey muffin that’s perfect when you want something sweet without spending much time in the kitchen.

You can make regular-size or mini muffins, depending on how you plan to serve them.

Dorie Greenspan’s Pumpkin Muffins Made Lighter

These pumpkin muffins are adapted from a recipe by Dorie Greenspan, one of my favorite baking authors.

Made with low-fat buttermilk, golden raisins, nuts and pumpkin seeds, they’re moist and tender, gently spiced and not overly sweet.

They’re a wonderful choice when you’re in the mood for a more traditional, from-scratch pumpkin muffin.

Ellie Krieger’s Pumpkin Muffins

Ellie Krieger is known for recipes that balance nutrition and flavor, and these pumpkin muffins are a nice example.

They’re a good option when you want a homemade pumpkin muffin with a little more substance than a typical bakery treat.

Grandma’s Pumpkin Muffins

These simple muffins use pumpkin and applesauce for moisture.

They’re another good reminder that lighter baking doesn’t have to be complicated.

Healthy Pumpkin Scone Recipes

Low-Fat Cranberry Pumpkin Scones

I have a soft spot for scones, especially when they’re fresh from the oven.

These low-fat cranberry pumpkin scones are one of my favorite fall breakfast treats. The pumpkin adds moisture, while the cranberries provide little bursts of tartness.

They’re especially delicious served warm on a leisurely autumn morning.

More Pumpkin Breakfast Treats

Not quite breads, muffins or scones, but these recipes are too good to leave out.

Healthy Baked Pumpkin Doughnuts

If you love pumpkin doughnuts but would rather skip the deep fryer, these baked pumpkin doughnuts are worth trying.

Made with pumpkin puree and whole-wheat flour, they’re cake-style doughnuts that are almost as easy to make as muffins.

A fun treat for a cozy fall morning.

3-Ingredient Pumpkin Spice Latte Donuts

These easy Pumpkin Spice Latte Donuts are made with just three ingredients: spice cake mix, pumpkin puree and instant coffee. They’re soft, incredibly moist and full of the warm pumpkin-spice-and-coffee flavor of a favorite fall latte.

More Easy Pumpkin Recipes to Try

If you’re as fond of pumpkin as I am, you might also enjoy these collections:

• Easy Healthy Pumpkin Cake Recipes
• Healthy Pumpkin Cookie and Bar Recipes
• Easy WW-Friendly Pumpkin Pie Recipes
• WW-Friendly Pumpkin Dessert Recipes

Whether you’re in the mood for a simple loaf of pumpkin bread, a batch of easy muffins, warm cranberry pumpkin scones or a baked pumpkin doughnut, I hope you find something here that inspires a little fall baking.

Do you have a favorite pumpkin bread, muffin or scone recipe? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!