A Touch of Fall

Long ago when I first started this blog, I very ambitiously attempted an entire week of cooking with pumpkin. That was actually very useful in helping to discover that some things just taste disgusting with pumpkin. It doesn’t matter how cool it sounds to make pumpkin chili, it’s just not. But fortunately, not everything was a mistake and some recipes have become family favorites.

The hands down winner from the entire week was pumpkin muffins. As delicious as those muffins were, it always seemed like they needed just a little something to take them over the top. Get that handshake from Paul Hollywood if you know what I mean? That little something as it turns out – is cream cheese. The remaining ingredients are simple, butter, brown sugar, eggs, flour, and of course pumpkin pie spice! At any grocery you can buy a little box of pumpkin pie spice, which you will likely use once maybe twice a year and in no time at all it will have no taste left. That is why you should just mix the stuff up when you need it. Cinnamon, all spice, ginger, and nutmeg – that is the entire recipe for pumpkin spice. Easy as…pie! Of course, we can’t forget the cream cheese. It’s such a happy surprise when you take a bite. This recipe is simple, you mix up everything in a bowl – don’t get your mixer dirty, it’s a basic batter. The cream cheese goes in at the end, just half of a 16 oz package torn into little bits. It’s easier to tear it with clean fingers than try to cut it. It’s a marvelous job for a small person who is willing to “play” with cream cheese. Lately I’ve added a streusel topping but it’s just for fun. If it took a lot of energy it wouldn’t happen. The best part is that 20 minutes later you have hot muffins, a house that smell heavenly, and a chance to make some people very happy! Enjoy!

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners

In a large mixing bowl combine butter and sugar and mix well.

Add in eggs and mix well.

Stir in pumpkin puree.

Stir in pumpkin spice to combine

Add in flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and mix until just combined.

Tear cream cheese into little bits and stir into batter.

Add batter to prepared muffin tins. (It’s true an ice cream scoop makes it easier.)

Top with streusel if using and bake for 19 to 22 minutes until just set.

Cool slightly and then have a muffin!

Streusel – optional

1 Tbsp butter

2 Tbsp flour

2 Tbsp sugar (brown or white)

½ tsp cinnamon

Smash together with a fork and sprinkle on top of muffins before baking.

Pumpkin Pie Spice

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ginger

½ tsp nutmeg

½ tsp all spice