I have learned over the past few years that if I use xanthan gum in baked goods, it comes out more like bread. The xanthan gum gives these muffins just the right kind of texture you would expect from a carb-loaded muffin. If you don't have xanthan gum or it affects you, you can leave this ingredient out and it will still taste great. A viewer of mine didn't have this ingredient and still enjoyed the muffins. The image below is a view muffin that pureed their own pumpkin and did not use xanthan gum. It's slightly different looking but still looks great.