Soft and perfectly spiced, these delicious pumpkin muffins are sure to delight the palate of young and old alike. The perfect dessert for your Halloween gatherings!
INGREDIENTS
(Makes 12 muffins)
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 tsps. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsps. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 tsp. ground allspice
3 eggs
2 cups homemade or store-bought pumpkin purée (see note)
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 tbsps. sugar frosting
Cooked pieces of pumpkin (optional)
Fresh mint leaves
Whole nuts (of your choice)
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 180 °C (350 °F).
2. In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients and set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, pumpkin purée and vegetable oil. Combine with the dry ingredients and carefully mix together with a spatula until perfectly blended.
4. Pour the batter into a muffin tray and bake for 20 to 25 minutes (or until a toothpick comes out dry when inserted in the middle of a muffin).
5. Garnish the muffins with sugar frosting, pieces of cooked pumpkin, mint leaves and nuts.
HOMEMADE PUMPKIN PURÉE
1. Preheat oven to 180 °C (350 °F).
2. Cut a small pumpkin in half and remove the seeds.
3. Place the pumpkin halves skin side up on a cookie sheet and bake for 75 minutes.
4. Cut approximately 25 small pieces of pumpkin (for the garnish) and set aside.
5. Purée the remaining cooked pumpkin in a food processor.