It's Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffin time!

Fall is in there air which means all things pumpkin will be coming our way. I just love the smell and taste of this season as we transition into colder weather. The next few blogs will be about pumpkin everything from the oven. Muffins will be up first. I hope you are ready to try one of my favorites Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins.

Muffins are basically quick breads made small. Muffin batter should only be beaten until mixed so it if alright if you see some small lumps in the batter. Over beating muffin batter will produce a tough texture in the finished product. The muffin batter will be thicker and stiffer than if you were making a cake.

All muffins can be made small, medium or large just remember to adjust the cooking time. If you are making small ones they might take a few minutes less to cook than the recommended cooking time while big ones will probably take a few minutes longer.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

1 ¾ C Flour

1 ½ t Baking Powder

½ t Baking Soda

2 ½ t Pumpkin Pie Spice

¾ t Salt

2 Eggs

1 C Canned Pumpkin – not pumpkin pie filling

1 t Vanilla

1 C Sugar

1/2 C Softened Butter

¾ C Mini Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 400°. Grease or lightly spray bottom of muffin tins. Cream together softened butter and sugar. Mix in eggs, pumpkin and vanilla until well blended. Add baking powder, baking soda, salt, pumpkin pie spice and stir. Slowly mix in flour a little at a time until blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Fill prepared muffin tins ¾‘s full and bake 15 to 20 minutes. Be sure to test for doneness with a toothpick.

Tips and Tweaks 

You can use cupcake papers if you would rather have a little less mess than greasing the pans.

Regular chocolate chips can be used in place of the mini chips. The mini chips just spread more chocolate through the muffins. Don’t like chocolate chips with your pumpkin, feel free to either omit them all together or substitute chopped nuts.

The original recipe called for cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves which is basically pumpkin pie spice. Anytime you see this combination of spices or something similar you can substitute pumpkin pie spice. I generally make my own. Except for cinnamon I buy the other spices in the bulk section of the grocery store so that I only have to buy what I need. There are lots of recipes for pumpkin pie spice out on the internet so try making your own and save some cash.

Applesauce may be substituted for the pumpkin in this recipe. When using applesauce substitute the chocolate chips for chopped nuts, raisins or dried cranberries.

Adapted from original recipe which can be found at the below link:

http://seattletimes.com/html/foodwine/2003321041_muffins25.html