Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Muffin Tin

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease the cups with non-stick spray. Set aside.

Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together the gluten-free flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. These dry ingredients are the base of your muffins and will give them structure and flavor.

Step 3: Mix the Wet Ingredients

In a separate medium-sized bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, eggs, brown sugar, oil, milk, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and well combined. The pumpkin adds moisture and sweetness to the muffins, while the oil helps keep them tender.

Step 4: Combine the Wet and Dry Ingredients

Gradually pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, stirring gently with a spatula or wooden spoon. Mix until just combined—don’t overmix, as this can make the muffins dense. The batter should be thick but smooth.

Step 5: Fold in the Chocolate Chips

Gently fold in the chocolate chips, distributing them evenly throughout the batter. Be careful not to overmix at this stage, as you want the muffins to remain light and fluffy. If you’re adding any extra ingredients like nuts or cranberries, fold them in at this point as well.

Step 6: Fill the Muffin Tin

Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tin, filling each cup about ¾ of the way full. You can sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips or pumpkin seeds on top of each muffin for added texture and presentation.

Step 7: Bake the Muffins

Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean (a few melted chocolate streaks are fine, but there shouldn’t be wet batter). The tops of the muffins should be lightly golden and set.

Step 8: Cool and Serve

Once the muffins are done, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool in the tin for about 5 minutes. Then transfer the muffins to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve warm or at room temperature, and enjoy with a drizzle of maple syrup or a cup of coffee!