Healthy Morning Glory Muffins (Gluten-Free Option!)

Get ready to rise and truly shine with my Healthy Morning Glory Muffins. Featuring a colorful medley of pumpkin, apples, and carrots, plus whole grains, nuts, and seeds, these naturally vegan little bundles of joy are like sunrise in a muffin cup. Trust me: these super moist, deliciously spiced pumpkin carrot muffins are the make-ahead breakfast and snack-on-the-go you need in your life right now!

This recipe was originally published on November 1, 2019. It was updated with new photos and information on August 20, 2023.

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Why You’ll Love This Healthy Morning Glory Muffins Recipe

Are you Team Sweet or Team Savory when it comes to breakfast? I love starting my day with a comforting bowl of oatmeal, but on those days when life is on the fast track, these hearty dairy-free pumpkin muffins swoop in to save the day!

My eggless pumpkin muffins are packed with the goodness of oat flour, pumpkin, carrots, apple, coconut, and a symphony of cozy spices. These fall-inspired pumpkin morning glory muffins are the perfect embodiment of a nourishing and indulgent morning treat, a testament to the fact that mornings – and muffins – were made for each other. 😉

Still on the fence about trying these morning glory vegan muffins? Aside from tasting like a symposium of morning magnificence, these egg-free pumpkin muffins are also:

• Wholesome & hearty - Between the whole grains, pumpkin, 3 types of fruit, nuts, AND seeds, these deliciously spiced muffins are a far cry from the sugar bombs that many muffin recipes end up being. 
• Allergen-friendly - Naturally dairy-free, egg-free, and soy-free, plus easy to make gluten-free, these glorious morning muffins are made for just about everyone. Read on below for other customization ideas so you can make sure they work for you and your family!
• Perfect for meal prep - I’ve gotten in a habit where I stay up long past everyone else has gone to sleep so I can get my work done. As such, I generally wake up feeling like a sleep-deprived zombie. Rather than add “make breakfast” to my morning honey-do list, these pre-made, pre-portioned healthy vegan pumpkin muffins are ready to go even if I’m still shaking the cobwebs off my brain.

What is a morning glory muffin?

​​Think of these muffins as a celebration of everything good and wholesome. They're a canvas of flavors and textures, packed with goodness, and crafted to give you the perfect morning boost. 

You've got that hint of warmth from pumpkin pie spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Then there's the softness of freshly grated carrots and sweet apple that add a delightful chewiness, plus a sprinkle of coconut for that extra bit of tropical magic. And in this tasty vegan rendition, they're even joined by the velvety touch of pumpkin 

My healthy morning glory muffins aren't just your average morning treat – they're practically a morning ritual in a baked form. Whether you're dashing out the door or taking a moment to savor the quiet of the morning, these nourishing treats are the perfect companion, ready to brighten up your day bite by delicious bite.

Ingredients Needed

These no egg pumpkin muffins require just a handful of pantry staples, plus a bunch of fruits and veggies. Here’s what to grab:

• All-purpose flour - This recipe will also work with gluten-free all-purpose flour mixes if they have xanthan gum. (GF instructions below.) Or, if you have a hankering for my old recipe, you can also use whole wheat — just note that they’ll turn out a bit denser if you do.
• Oat flour - Fresh out? You can make your own by blitzing old-fashioned rolled oats in a high-speed blender or food processor until very fine. You can also use more all-purpose flour.
• Fine salt - I think fine sea salt has the best flavor here, but you can also use kosher. (I’m typically not a fan of iodized salt — it tends to leave a bit of a bitter taste.) If you’re making a swap, consult a conversion chart. 
• Baking soda & baking powder - You’ll need both kinds of raising agents to get the perfect tender crumb. Been a while since you baked anything? Give them a quick test using vinegar and hot water, respectively.
• Pumpkin pie spice - If you don't have pumpkin pie spice, use 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground ginger, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, and ¼ teaspoon ground clove.
• Unsweetened shredded coconut - You *could* use sweetened if you wanted. I just think they’re sweet enough on their own without the added sugar.
• Apples - While you can certainly use any apples you like to eat out of hand, this is a great spot if you accidentally got a mealy one in the bunch. (Not-so-great eating apples make great baking apples, especially when they’re shredded!)
• Carrots - Feel free to use orange, yellow, or purple carrots. Parsnips work, too!
• Pecans - They’re better in smaller pieces for these carrot pumpkin muffins, so don’t waste your money on the fancy halves! (Save those for decorating my gluten-free German Chocolate Cake!) 
• Ground flaxseed + water - Together, these humble ingredients work wonders to replicate an egg. Simply mix, stir, and let sit for about 5-10 minutes until it becomes gelatinous. 
• Light brown sugar - Dark brown sugar will do just fine, but leave a more distinctive molasses flavor. You can also swap in less-refined sugars like muscovado or grated jaggery.
• Canned pumpkin - If you happen to have a can kicking around from the last time you made my gluten-free pumpkin bread or pumpkin spice blondies, these breakfast treats are a great way to put it to use any time of year. Pumpkin acts as a binder in the batter and does an amazing job at keeping them super moist.
• Oil - Any neutral-flavored oil will work, like avocado oil. You can also use a fruity Spanish olive oil if you want an added layer of complexity.
• Vanilla extract - Feel free to use an equal amount of either vanilla paste or vanilla powder.

How To Make These Pumpkin Morning Glory Muffins

My homemade morning glory muffins come together in just a few simple steps:

Step 1: Prep. Preheat the oven to 356°F (180°C) and line a muffin pan with paper liners.

Step 2: Make flax eggs. In a large bowl, mix together the flaxseed and water and set aside until it thickens into a gel, about 10 minutes.

Step 3: Dry ingredients. In a separate bowl combine the all-purpose flour, oat flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and unsweetened shredded coconut. Set aside.

Step 4: Wet ingredients. Add the sugar, pumpkin, oil, and vanilla extract into the bowl with the flaxseed mixture and stir until smooth. Fold in the apples and carrots using a spatula.

Step 5: Mix wet & dry. Add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture and stir until just combined. 

Step 6: Fold in the pecans using a spatula.

***NOTE: If you’re turning these into gluten-free dairy-free pumpkin muffins, make sure to let the batter rest for 30 minutes after this step before baking. 

Step 7: Bake. Evenly dish out the batter in the muffin pan and bake them in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. 

Step 8: Cool. Let them cool in the pan for 5 minutes before taking them out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Optional Variations & Dietary Adaptations

These morning glory pumpkin muffins are delightful as written, but they can also be tweaked to fit your preferences. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:

• Vegan pumpkin chocolate chip muffins - If you want a breakfast muffin that’s a bit more virtuous than, say, these streusel-topped treats, but also want a bit of dessert goodness, try stirring in ½ cup of your favorite chocolate chips for an added boost of sweetness.
• Vegan gluten-free pumpkin muffins - To make these tasty treats celiac-friendly, use your favorite gluten-free 1-to-1 flour for the all-purpose flour. (1 cup of Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 baking flour is 148g.) Also, make sure your oat flour is certified gluten-free. Then, give your muffin batter a brief 30-minute rest before baking so the flour can properly rehydrate.

Different fruits/veggies/extracts - Consider this healthy morning glory muffins recipe your basic template and feel free to make them your Everything Muffins. Swap sweet potato puree, mashed banana, or leftover baby food for the pumpkin. Use pear instead of apple. Walnuts instead of pecans. Almond or maple extract for vanilla. You got this!

Serving Suggestions

• Breakfast on the go - If you, like me, are not quite human first thing in the morning, these vegan healthy pumpkin muffins are the solution. You can whip them up on a lazy Sunday, then enjoy their wholesome yumminess all week long!
• Post-workout snack - Next time you’re zapped by your HIIT sweat-sesh, treat yourself to a little GLOM, or “goodness-laden oatmeal muffins!”
• Packed lunches - When you have to go to the office for work (or your kiddo is at camp or school), these lovely, moist muffins are a perfect lunchbox treat.
• When it’s your turn to be “snack mom” at the next sporting event. Don’t be the boring mom that brings carrot sticks! These pumpkin-laced vegan morning glory muffins are sweet enough to get the kid stamp of approval while still giving your tots a nice boost of nutrients. Hooray for cool mom points!
• For a breakfast buffet, pair with other healthy self-serve options like coconut yogurt, granola, and fresh-cut fruit. Don’t forget the coffee, tea, and juice!

Recipe Success Tips

• Try using a food processor. A food processor (Fitted with the large shredding blade) will make short work of your veggie prep. That said, a box grater will totally do the trick. Plus, it’s a good workout for your arms! 💪
• Don’t over-fill your muffin liners. I find that using an ice cream scoop is super helpful when filling the muffin pan with batter - they all turn out the same size! Make sure to evenly distribute the batter into the 12 wells on your muffin tin.
• Make it look pretty. Save a few pecans to sprinkle over the top before baking to get that pro bakery look. You can also sprinkle a little granulated, turbinado, or sanding sugar as well!
• Let your homemade morning glories cool to room temp before storing them in an airtight container. If you pop them in while they’re still warm, condensation will accumulate and rain down on the muffins, leaving them soggy and sticky.

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Alright, my pumpkin-loving health nuts. I hope you love this easy recipe for Healthy, Vegan Pumpkin Morning Glory Muffins as much as I do! If you give the recipe a try, don't forget to leave me a ⭐️ rating and a comment below — I always love hearing from you! And make sure to follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also get all of my newest content delivered straight to your inbox by signing up for my email newsletter.