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Pumpkin Pie Muffins for Thanksgiving

This variation on the pumpkin pie is easy to serve and delicious.

There's not much to say about these delicious muffins! This recipe will be in my cookbook. It's a great treat around Halloween time and a wonderful dessert option on Thanksgiving. One of my tastetesters said, "My daughter said they tasted like pumpkin pie. And my little guy couldn’t help himself from stealing fistfuls of the ones we were trying to save for his daddy."


You can easily call them a cupcake if you add buttercream or cream cheese frosting (as seen above). Since many of my recipes started out "regular" and then I converted them to gluten-free, I thought it would be easiest to provide options for either.

Here are a few more tips:

  • Gather your ingredients on the counter first. Eggs are best if used at room temperature.
  • Use one bowl for dry ingredients and one bowl for wet. Measure the dry ingredients first.
  • Invest in a good 12-cup muffin tin that won't burn the bottom of your muffins. It will be worth it.
  • For easy and consistent portioning, when making muffins, use a hinged-type ice cream scoop (also known as a scooper). These can be found at restaurant supply stores in different sizes.

Enjoy!


Pumpkin Pie Muffins (regular and gluten-free)

Dry Ingredients
2 cups Amy’s Gluten-Free Flour Blend or regular all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp xanthan gum (omit if not making gluten-free)
1 rounded tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves

Wet Ingredients
2 large eggs
1 can (15 to 16 ounces) pumpkin puree
1/3 cup melted butter or vegetable oil
1/2 cup milk or milk substitute
1/2 -3/4 cup organic sugar or other natural sweetener
1 tsp vanilla
Optional: 1/2 to 3/4 cup chopped pecans and/or raisins

1. Preheat oven to 350º F. Line muffin pans with paper cups or grease tins generously.
2. In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients.
3. In another medium bowl, mix the eggs. Add the pumpkin, butter or oil, milk, sugar, and vanilla.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix gently. Add nuts if using.
5. Portion out regular or mini muffins into the cups, filling 2/3 full. Bake regular muffins for 20-25 minutes or mini muffins for 12-16 minutes.

Tip: Always test muffins 1-2 minutes before the recommended time in case your oven is hotter than normal. For regular muffins, insert a toothpick into the center of a muffin. When it comes out dry with some crumbs, it is done.
For gluten-free muffins, instead of using a toothpick to test for doneness, press your finger into the muffin. When it springs back, it’s done. If it leaves an indentation, continue to bake and test in 1-2 minute intervals.

6. Once done, allow muffins to cool for about 2-3 minutes and then remove from the pan.

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Jon DeLong May 18, 2013 at 06:45 pm
With so many good Mexican restaurants in the area, why bother?
Cid May 17, 2013 at 06:14 pm
I enjoy an occasional Taco Bell, but in the same shopping center as Happy Taco with far better,Read More authentic LOCAL Mexican food! Nah! I do enjoy the Combo locations that have KFC & TACO BELL. (Face it, Americans like to have choices!). With no drive-through, perhaps it will be better than the average suburban stores along the El Camino. As for another chain restaurant in Half Moon Bay...What did you expect? Demographics will continue to dictate that we can still expect to keep our "Fast-Food-Free-Zone" between Linda Mar and HMB while "City Councils or Planning Departments in the Cities will attract them....for their tax base.
Dee May 15, 2013 at 08:07 pm
Seriously? Taco Bell? Next to New Leaf? How did this happen? Not happy about this addition and notRead More looking forward to seeing Taco Bell trash all over the place. Not sure about KFC ... we already have a fast food chicken place at Popeyes so we certainly don't need another. The high school students will probably frequent Taco Bell the most and keep it in business but I will not be going there that's for sure.
Carol Wexler May 18, 2013 at 02:42 pm
I would consider volunteering at the California State Parks but dogs are not allowed and I wouldRead More need to bring my dog.
pae May 18, 2013 at 11:22 pm
Misha, I understand where you're coming from, but that's what we don't want to do. One reason thatRead More all dog owners are being discriminated against is those few who don't follow the rules. It doesn't matter that there are bicyclists and horseback riders who don't follow rules, they're "OK," it's the dog owners who pay the price. We want an area where our dogs can exercise freely and legally, where we won't be bothered by people who are afraid of dogs or dislike them, and where they're not at risk from horses who spook. For those of us who live surrounded by Rancho land especially, we don't want to have to drive miles to a small, fenced lot with crowds of others seeking to exercise their dogs in the same small area. We're paying for this open space with our tax dollars, and we want to have access to it. There's plenty of room for everyone.
Misha Flores May 17, 2013 at 09:35 am
To be honest I would probably just let my dog run around without a leash anyway, except there's soRead More much darned poison oak around these hills. I don't want her to get contaminated and then I hug her and trouble ensues.
Anne Martin May 16, 2013 at 04:29 pm
I don't own a dog now but empathize with the dog owners who have been deprived of the right toRead More allow their dogs to run free in the national recreation area that we as taxpayers own. As a taxpayer, I want to know the rationale for this policy. If it is to protect horses from being frightened by dogs what is the basis for that? How many horses use the open space? It appears that dozens of people who have been able to enjoy walking with their dogs in the open space adjoining their neighborhood are now being grossly inconvenienced because some faceless bureaucrats are creating rules that may have no basis in reality.
Chris Vance March 23, 2013 at 03:00 pm
What are you doing with the excess Undaria pinnatifida that is found? Can we get some of it for ourRead More compost piles at the Pacifica Sanchez Library Garden?