Merciful God, You are great in compassion and Your tenderness for us is without measure. We ask You to give us today our daily bread, and also provide for the needs of all of Your hungry children around the world. Through Christ Your Son and Our Lord. Amen.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Pumpkin Muffins and Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

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My kids are big fans of all things pumpkin, and I love that I can pick up a jumbo can of store-brand pumpkin for less than $2. Pumpkin is so nutritious that I often add it to foods in place of half the oil, much like you would applesauce. It doesn't add as much sweetness as applesauce, so I might use it in a cornbread recipe or savory muffins. The orange color is kind a bonus in my book.

But, this week I was baking for the freezer so my jumbo can of pumpkin went into typical pumpkin baked goods, These two recipes are family favorites. The muffins are a real treat that I would enjoy everyday if I could. They are soft and moist, and the streusel adds a little sweetness and crunch. The Chocolate Chip Bread doesn't even need a description -- chocolate, pumpkin, cinnamon -- yum!




Pumpkin Streusel Muffins
makes 18

2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 T. pumpkin pie spice
1 t. baking soda
½ t. salt
2 eggs, lightly beaten
½ cup oil
1 cup pumpkin
1 cup shredded peeled apple

Place paper cup liners in muffin tins.
Preheat oven to 35o degrees F.
In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, spice, soda and salt.
In a medium bowl, combine remaining ingredients, except apple.
Add liquid ingredients to dry and stir until moist; add apple.
Spoon batter into cups.
Sprinkle streusel over batter and bake for 35 to 40 minutes.

Streusel: Combine 2 T. flour, 1/4 c. sugar, 1/2 t. cinnamon and 4t. butter; cut
until crumbly.



Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread
2 loaves

3 ½ cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 t. baking soda
1 ½ t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
1 t. pumpkin pie spice
1 cup oil
⅔ cup water
4 eggs, well beaten
2 cups pumpkin
12 oz mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease two 3 x 5 loaf pans.
Mix dry ingredients.
Add oil, water, eggs and pumpkin.
Mix well; add chocolate chips.
Pour into pans and bake for one hour or until toothpick comes out clean.


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4 comments:

Madi said...

thanks thanks thanks this is just what i have been looking for!!

Carina said...

This pumpkin muffin recipe looks great! Just one question: how do you shred your apple? Do you use a cheese grater or the grater disc on your food processor?

Thanks for the help!

Carina

Barbara said...

Carina,
Just a hand grater is fine -- no need to mess the food processor for 1 cup of shredded apple. I think I use the big hole grater of my hand grater. It practically dissolves when the muffins are baked.

Carina said...

Barbara,

Thanks for the tip! I made these muffins for breakfast this morning and everyone from the 18 month old on up to my husband LOVED them! Thanks for sharing such a yummy recipe!

Carina