Air Fryer Pumpkin Muffins (Small Batch, Ready in 21 Min)

These air fryer pumpkin muffins make a small batch of six soft, cinnamon-spiced muffins in about 21 minutes, start to finish. They bake at 320°F in silicone cups right in the basket, so you get bakery-style domed tops without heating the oven.

I wrote this recipe because most pumpkin muffin recipes make two dozen and use a whole can of pumpkin. This one uses just half a cup, fits in a single air fryer basket, and is ideal when you want fresh muffins for the week, not a counter full of them.

Why you’ll love these pumpkin muffins

• Small batch: Six muffins, sized to fit most 5-quart and larger air fryer baskets in one round.
• Fast: 10 minutes to mix, about 11 minutes to bake.
• No oven: Handy in a small kitchen, a dorm or an RV, or when the oven is full on a holiday.
• Moist, not gummy: A lower 320°F temperature lets the centers cook through before the tops over-brown.
• Pantry spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, no pumpkin pie spice blend required.

How I tested this recipe

I tested these in my Ninja Air Fryer using both silicone muffin cups and 6-oz ramekins.

At 350°F the tops cracked and browned before the middles set, so I dropped to 320°F.” If your air fryer runs hot, start checking at 9 minutes.

Ingredients for air fryer pumpkin muffins

Full amounts are in the recipe card below.

• All-purpose flour: Spoon and level it. Packing the cup makes dense muffins.
• Granulated and brown sugar: White sugar keeps them light; brown sugar adds moisture and a caramel note.
• Baking soda and baking powder: Both are needed. Soda reacts with the acidic pumpkin and brown sugar; powder gives extra lift.
• Salt: Sharpens the spices.
• Cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves: The classic pumpkin spice trio. You can swap all three for 1¾ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice.
• Pumpkin puree: Use 100% pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling, which is already sweetened and spiced.
• Egg, milk and oil: Oil keeps muffins moist longer than butter; melted butter gives more flavor.
• Vanilla extract: Rounds out the spices.

What you’ll need

• An air fryer, about 5 quarts or larger for all 6 at once
• 6 silicone muffin cups or small oven-safe ramekins
• Two mixing bowls and a whisk

A standard metal muffin tin won’t fit most baskets. Paper liners alone can blow around from the fan, so set them inside silicone cups or foil cups for support.

How to make pumpkin muffins in the air fryer

Step 1: Preheat. Heat the air fryer to 320°F while you mix. Lightly grease 6 silicone cups or ramekins.

Step 2: Mix the dry ingredients. Whisk the flour, both sugars, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves in a large bowl.

Step 3: Mix the wet ingredients. In a second bowl, whisk the pumpkin, egg, milk, oil and vanilla until smooth.

Step 4: Combine gently. Pour the wet into the dry and fold until no dry flour remains. A few lumps are fine; overmixing makes muffins tough and tunneled.

Step 5: Fill the cups. Divide the batter among the cups, about two-thirds full.

Step 6: Air fry. Arrange the cups in a single layer with space between them. Cook for 10–12 minutes, until the tops spring back and a toothpick comes out clean.

Step 7: Cool. Let them rest in the cups for 5 minutes, then move to a wire rack.

Tips for the best air fryer muffins

• Don’t skip the lower temperature. Air fryers brown the tops fast. 320°F gives the center time to set.
• Leave space around each cup. Hot air needs to circulate. If they don’t all fit, bake in two batches; the second batch may need a minute less.
• Check early. Models vary. Start testing at 9 minutes. Fully baked muffins read 200–205°F in the center.
• Drain fresh pumpkin. Homemade puree holds more water than canned. Let it drain in a fine sieve for 30 minutes so the muffins don’t turn gummy.
• Tent if browning. If the tops darken before the middles are done, lay a small piece of foil loosely over them for the last few minutes.

Variations

• Chocolate chip: Fold in ⅓ cup mini chocolate chips.
• Nutty: Add ¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts, or sprinkle them on top.
• Cream cheese center: Drop a teaspoon of sweetened cream cheese into each cup, then top with the remaining batter.
• Streusel top: Mix 2 tablespoons each flour and brown sugar with 1 tablespoon cold butter and sprinkle over the batter.
• Maple: Replace the brown sugar with 3 tablespoons maple syrup and reduce the milk by 1 tablespoon.
• Gluten-free or dairy-free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend, or plant milk with oil.

What to do with leftover pumpkin puree

A 15-ounce can holds about 1¾ cups, so this recipe leaves roughly 1¼ cups. Double the recipe and bake in two batches, or freeze the rest in ½-cup portions for your next round. For more ideas, see these fall air fryer recipes.

Storing and reheating

• Room temperature: Airtight container, up to 2 days.
• Refrigerator: Up to 4 days. Line the container with a paper towel to absorb moisture.
• Freezer: Wrap individually and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw on the counter.
• Reheat: 300°F in the air fryer for 2–3 minutes, or 15–20 seconds in the microwave.

Frequently asked questions

What temperature do you air fry muffins? Bake these at 320°F. Most air fryer muffins do best between 300°F and 330°F, lower than the 350°F typical for an oven, because the fan browns the tops quickly.

Can I use pumpkin pie filling instead of puree? Not without changes. Pie filling is already sweetened and spiced. If it’s all you have, cut both sugars by half and leave out the spices.

Can I use paper muffin liners in the air fryer? Yes, but set them inside silicone or foil cups. On their own, empty liners can lift into the fan, and filled ones spread and lose their shape.

How many muffins fit in an air fryer? Most 5- to 6-quart baskets hold 6 standard silicone cups. Smaller baskets may need two batches.

Can I use fresh pumpkin? Yes. Roast and puree it, then drain for 30 minutes before measuring.

Why are my air fryer muffins raw in the middle? The temperature is usually too high, which sets the outside first. Lower the heat, fill cups only two-thirds full, and add a minute or two.

Can I double this recipe? Yes. Mix a double batch and bake it in two rounds of six.

More air fryer muffin recipes

• Air Fryer Cinnamon Chip Muffins
• Air Fryer Apple Muffins for Two
• Air Fryer Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal Muffins
• The 10 Best Air Fryer Muffins
• Thanksgiving treats

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