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Pumpkin Ginger Muffins

It's fall y'all (bad rhyme, I apologize).  My favorite ingredient when the weather starts to chill is pumpkin with all the spices.  For some reason, the sweet gourd just doesn't seem right in spring or summer.  It's not like the canned stuff isn't available year-round.

For pumpkin, the spicier, the better, and lots of chopped up candied ginger.  Instead of tea, I prefer warm apple cider with these (another fall favorite).  
Pumpkin Ginger Muffins

Pumpkin Ginger Muffins

INGREDIENTS
•         1 1/2 CUPS FLOUR
•         1/2 TEASPOON OF SALT
•         1 CUP SUGAR
•         1 TEASPOON BAKING SODA
•         1 CUP CANNED PUMPKIN PURÉE
•         1/3 CUP MELTED BUTTER
•         2 EGGS, LIGHTLY BEATEN
•         1/4 CUP ALMOND MILK
•         1/2 TEASPOON NUTMEG
•         ¾  TEASPOON CINNAMON
•         1/2 TEASPOON ALLSPICE
•         1 TEASPOON GROUND GINGER
•         2 TBSP CHOPPED CANDIED GINGER

OPTIONAL:
•         TURBINADO SUGAR (FOR SPRINKLING)
•         PUMPKIN SEEDS
•        
METHOD
1) PREHEAT OVEN TO 350°F. IN A MEDIUM BOWL, SIFT TOGETHER THE FLOUR, SALT, SUGAR, AND BAKING SODA.
2) BLEND THE PUREED PUMPKIN, BUTTER, EGGS, ALMOND MILK, AND SPICES TOGETHER, THEN GRADUALLY COMBINE WITH THE DRY INGREDIENTS, UNTIL JUST INCORPORATED. DO NOT OVER-MIX! FOLD IN THE CANDIED GINGER.
3) SPOON MIXTURE INTO A LINED OR GREASED MUFFIN TIN. SPRINKLE A LITTLE BIT OF TURBINADO SUGAR AND A FEW PUMPKIN SEEDS IF DESIRED ON TOP.
4) BAKE FOR 25-30 MINUTES. CHECK FOR DONENESS WITH A TOOTHPICK INSERTED INTO THE CENTER OF A MUFFIN. IF IT COMES OUT CLEAN, IT'S DONE.

MAKES ABOUT 12 MUFFINS.  ADAPTED FROM SIMPLY RECIPES

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Chai Chocolate Cupcakes with Spiced Buttercream

Babies! Almost every single one of my girlfriends and sister had one or is having one this year.  I am proud to say none of them are a traditional "Mom".  They are smart, savvy women that I can learn from when the day comes for me...

This tea party was a baby shower for my friend "Ritzy".  She definitely doesn't go for the powder blue pastel crap and neither do I.  Her roots are Indian, so her mother and aunt cooked up an amazing feast of South Asian goodness.  I was in charge of sweets.  I decided to bake a chai tea/chocolate cupcake with spiced buttercream with a recipe adapted from the amazing Cupcake Blog. Hubby contributed Paul Newman's alphabet cookies as decorations.

Pair these with, of course, a good chai latte with lots of cardamom.

Recipe after the jump:

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Banana Nutella Muffins

I was absolutely craving the cake my sister once ordered at Alice's Tea Cup a few months ago.  It was a banana cake with Nutella in between the layers and cream cheese frosting on top...

I wanted a (slightly) healthier version of that.  I substituted some of the flour for almond meal, chopped up some dark chocolate, swirled Nutella on top...  No nuts, I wanted gooey without crunch to get in the way

I paired this with the "Wedding Tea" from Harney & Sons.  It has a subtle vanilla and rose flavor to it.  I also love their tins and organza tea bags!

Banana Nutella Muffins


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