Pumpkin Mania!

You know it's Fall when Starbucks starts rolling out it's Pumpkin Spice Latte and every food blog out there starts posting pumpkin inspired recipes. I must admit, that's okay with me. I love pumpkin flavor and the other spices that go along with it - nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, etc. Over the past couple weeks I've probably bookmarked at least a dozen pumpkin recipes, everything from soups to pastas, cookies, breads, etc. Then I came across this recipe for Pumpkin Muffins from one of my favorite blogs ever (BitchBuzz.com) and immediately had to make it! It didn't hurt that I happened to have all the ingredients already in my cabinets (now that is the TRUE sign of someone who has become more of a cook). The only thing I needed was a muffin pan... so I bought one on the cheap and now own my very first muffin pan :)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/3 cup vegetable oil (I used Canola oil, my baker roommate told me it was okay to sub)

1 cup canned solid-pack pumpkin

2 large eggs

1 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp ginger

1 1/4 cups PLUS 1 tbsp of sugar

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

Directions:

- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and put liners in muffin cups.

- In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, oil, eggs, 1 1/4 cups sugar, nutmeg, ginger, baking powder and soda, and salt until smooth. Then stir in the flour until well blended.

- In another bowl mix together the cinnamon and extra tbsp of sugar.

- Divide batter among muffin cups, no more than half full, and sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture on top.

- Bake approx 25-30 minutes until puffed and slightly golden brown or until a toothpick comes out clean.

- Let the muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes before removing. Let cool completely until room temperature.

These were omg-good! I probably could've gotten more than 12 muffins out of the recipe, maybe 15, but alas I only had a 12 cup pan. I brought them to work too and everybody loved them! They are perfectly moist and sweet and delicious and even dairy free! Plus so easy! About 5 pts/muffin and worth every bit!

Bon Appetit!