Friday, October 23, 2009

Pumpkin Patch, Pumpkin Spice

What is the best thing to carve on a pumpkin?
IMG_8728

A pumpkin of course!

Visiting the pumpkin patch, picking out the "perfect pumpkin" and carving it in the backyard while breathing in the crisp fall air inspired me to bake some fall goodies. I have dreamed of sitting in weather cool enough for a light jacket while sipping hot apple cider and enjoying a moist spiced muffin for weeks now. I searched the internet for pumpkin recipes and in the end, I decided upon pumpkin chocolate chip muffins. I tweaked the recipes I found and ended up with the following recipe for delicious pumpkin muffins...


Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
makes about 18 regular-sized muffins

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup of white sugar
1/2 cup of brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon salt

4 large eggs
1 (15 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons plain yogurt

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
* 1 cup walnuts

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. In a mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt
3. In a separate bowl--the bowl of the stand mixer if using--mix together the eggs, pumpkin, applesauce, vegetable oil, and plain yogurt
4. Combine the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients--with the mixer on low--until just incorporated
5. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts (*if using)
6. Fill muffin tins with batter and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes


IMG_8660
IMG_8685

These muffins not only tasted like fall, but also filled the entire house with a lovely, warm, spiced aroma as they baked. I was very pleased with the results. They came out incredibly moist--probably as a result of the substitution of applesauce AND yogurt for oil--and they only got better the next day! I had to restrain myself from grabbing one muffin after another. They're so tasty and perfect for fall!


5 comments:

  1. Christina those muffins look like perfection. And I love your pumpkin!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mmmm! The muffins look delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  3. thanks! i wish i could jump in the kitchen right now and make more!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love the smell of pumpkins cooking! Thank you for the recipe. I bet it smells just like fall!

    ReplyDelete