Pumpkin and apple muffins - like pumpkin scones in muffin form. They'll warm you kitchen with the lovely spicy aroma of cinnamon. Whenever you eat them they're sure to delight.
The humble pumpkin seems to be one of the only vegetables that's consistently a decent price at the moment and means I always have some in the fridge.
Pumpkin scones or pumpkin and feta loaf would have to be two of my favourite ways to bake with it but they're both slightly on the savoury side.
I needed a pumpkin recipe for something sweet - enter pumpkin apple muffins.
It was a good thing I made up my mind.
If I'd waited much longer I think the pumpkin might have grown legs and walked out the door.
I've never seen anything like it before.
You can probably guess what I did with the insides of the pumpkin.
Yes quite a few little sprouts are now buried in the garden.
I may have done a little sneaky seed planting in other ares too.
I'm just spreading the pumpkin love.
How to prepare pumpkin
To get him ready for baking, I sliced it in half, dug out the babies and placed the two halves face-down on a baking sheet.
I baked them at 180C fan-forced for about an hour (til a knife went through them easily).
Then let them cool, scooped out the flesh and pureed it in the blender (I froze the leftovers in ½ or 1 cup bags).
The other reason I chose muffins was so I'd have an excuse to use the cute pink and white cases mum gave me a few months ago (see I really am digging into my supply).
Aren't they pretty?
They're actually not hard to make.
Here's how to make your own cafe style muffin case.
I'm a sucker for anything with cinnamon and other warming spices like cardamom and ginger so I was practically drooling as these were baking.
The smell drifting from the oven would warm any winter day or fit well with the wet weather we've been having recently.
I could barely wait for them to cool before biting into them.
Actually that's another good thing about muffins, you don't have to wait for them to be totally cool before you dig in.
These babies were dense and sweet but the spices made them so homely while the apples gave them little bursts of crunch.
Can you freeze them?
Muffins are best eaten on the day of baking.
I wrapped them up and popped them in the freezer ready for quick breakfasts and slightly naughty snacks.
Enjoy!
What about you?
Have you ever cut into a fruit to see it has sprouted?
Do you like to bake with pumpkin?
Recipe
Pumpkin and apple muffins
Ingredients
- 2 cups plain flour
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 3 tbs honey
- 1 tbs pumpkin pie spice
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- 1 cup pumpkin not pumpkin pie filling
- ½ cup olive oil
- 2 medium apples cored, and sliced into small chunks
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 160C fan-forced and line a 12-hole muffin tray with muffin liners.
- Line another one with 6 (18 total).
- In one large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients.
- In another bowl, stir the eggs, pumpkin puree and olive oil together.
- Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients then fold in the apple.
- Divide the batter between the muffin cases.
- Bake the muffins for 35-40 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.
- Leave them to cool on a wire rack for a little before devouring.
Anna says
Those look amazing. I have some pumpkin in the freezer that I'm going to have to pull out soon so I can try these.
Miz Helen says
Your Pumpkin and Apple Muffins look amazing! Thanks for sharing and have a good week.
Visiting from Group B SRC
Miz Helen
Claire says
Thanks Miz! You too.
The Life of Clare says
I've never seen anything like your pumpkin before! How incredible! Your muffins sound delightful. I love using vegetables in sweet dishes.
Claire says
Isn't it crazy?!
Alison says
I tend to avoid pumpkin too, but roasted and thrown together with feta, spinach and cherry tomatoes, I can deal with... also baked in anything sweet... adding these to my muffin recipe collection! ;)
Claire says
Actually yes combined with feta and spinach I don't mind it either. Feta makes everything better though!
Lisa~~ says
Your muffins look moist and delicious, great SRC choice. If you haven't already, I'd love for you to check out my SRC entry Loaded Potato Soup.
Lisa~~
Kate | Food Babbles says
I love apples and pumpkin together. I also have kind of a love affair with muffins so this recipe sounds so gooooood! Lovely choice for SRC this month.
Miranda @ Biting Life says
Oh my goodness, these muffins look amazing!! I'll definitely have to make them soon.
PolaM says
How cute! And pumpkin must go great with apple!
Claire says
It does Pola!
AmandaE says
Never cut in to anything to see it sprouting, tho have found missing garlic in that state before. Love the idea of pumpkin and apple muffins, but then I'm a HUGE pumpkin fan! Great SRC pick :-)
Claire says
Oh I quite often find garlic and onions in that state and usually at the back of the fridge :-)
Elizabeth@ Food Ramblings says
Hi! So glad you liked my site-- these are some of my favorite muffins. I am so happy you liked them!!
Claire says
I did indeed Elizabeth!
Cookaholic Wife says
I've never seen a pumpkin do that before, but I've cut open bell peppers to find them growing baby bell peppers inside. The muffins look tasty!
Claire says
Yes me too I've had babies in my peppers but never pumpkins!
Beth @ Good to be the Cook says
I truly believe pumpkin is multi-seasonal... this looks fantastic. I'm craving it now! Stopping by from the SRC March Reveal. Can't wait to read more from your blog!
Claire says
Yes you're right Beth it is good for most seasons!
The Café Sucré Farine says
Looks like a magical pumpkin to me Claire, I've never seen anything like it. It sure made some wonderful looking muffins. I guess you had something to do with that too :)
Claire says
It must be a magical pumpkin Chris. Sadly I haven't seen any action from the seeds yet but fingers crossed.
sara says
Haha, so funny about the sprouted pumpkin...love it! ;)
These muffins look amazing. Love the combo of pumpkin and apple, bet it is totally delicious! :)
Ginny says
These look lovely and moist. I love those baking papers. And that photograph of the pumpkin is awesome! I can almost smell it! :)
Ginny