Spiced Pumpkin Muffins

Cozy up your autumn mornings with these delicious Spiced Pumpkin Muffins.

After a string of 80ºF days here, the weather has finally cooled off. Not that I don’t enjoy 80ºF days, but it is just hard to cook and plan fall menus, like soups, stews, and fragrantly spiced baked goods when you are sweating and wearing flip flops. This morning was particularly nice, with an overcast sky and a temperature of 50°F. Time to break out the housecoat and slippers. I couldn’t think of a better breakfast than a cup of hot apple cider and a basket full of fresh pumpkin muffins to start the day. The smell of these muffins baking will get any sleepyheads out of bed. It worked on mine!

This is a simple recipe, and you can get all the ingredients out the night before, so they will be at room temperature in the morning. Mix it up first thing in the morning and read the paper while they are baking. Cool for just a few minutes and eat them while they are still warm with a good slathering of butter. I have also made them in a mini muffin pan to pack for those school lunches. Just freeze the rest for another day.

After reading the recipe, you will note: 1 cup (about 1/2 can) of pumpkin puree…? Yes, I am sure most of you have heard about the pumpkin can shortage. But fear not, I have seen them on the shelves. If all else fails, it is simple to make your own Homemade Pumpkin Purée.

Spiced Pumpkin Muffins

By Nicole Prep: 10 minsCook: 20 minsTotal: 30 mins Servings: 12 muffins These moist and perfectly spiced muffins are a sweet way to start the day! If you make mini muffins, they are a scrumptious afternoon snack!

Equipment

• Hand mixer with flex beaters
• 12-cup standard muffin pan

Ingredients 

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon ground allspice
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons (2 ounces) unsalted butter at room temperature
• ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons of light brown sugar
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup (8-ounces) pumpkin purée, Homemade or store-bought
• ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 2 extra-large eggs

Instructions 

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spray a 12-cup muffin or 24-cup mini muffin tin with non-stick baking spray.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, using an electric hand mixer (I use my standing mixer with the paddle attachment) set on medium speed, beat the butter and sugars until creamy. Reduce the speed to low and add the pumpkin, orange juice and eggs. Beat until well blended. Add the flour mixture and beat on low speed just until well blended. Do not over mix. Divide the mixture evenly among the prepared muffin cups.
4. Bake for 20-25 minutes for standard and 18-22 for mini. Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a rack. Serve warm. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 200kcal, Carbohydrates: 36g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 37mg, Sodium: 228mg, Potassium: 111mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 19g, Vitamin A: 3355IU, Vitamin C: 6mg, Calcium: 63mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.