It is a strange fact of life that I love the flavor of pumpkin, but am conflicted about actual pumpkin foods. Pumpkin bread? Yes please! Pumpkin pie? Blech! Pumpkin cookies? Yum. Pumpkin ravioli? Noooo. Fortunately, pumpkin muffins fall firmly into the "EAT ME" category, so I was excited about this week's recipe. (I was also excited about using these adorable plates I found at the 99-cent store. Admire, please!)
Now, maybe I was just suffering from a lack of pumpkin in my life when I made these, but I thought they were fantastic. Is this true? Were they really delectable specimens of pumpkin muffintude, or was I just starved for pumpkin? Because I really thought they were awesome. They had crunchy tops and moist, fluffy interiors, with a perfect balance of sweet pumpkin and spices. 
I sprayed the muffin cups with cooking spray, then coated them with cinnamon sugar, and before baking the muffins, dusted the tops with the same cinnamon-sugar. I love the caramelized sugar shell that results from this method. 
Probably the only thing I didn't like about this recipe was the raisins. WHAT is her DEAL with putting RAISINS in every RECIPE?! Sorry to shout. Everything about those chewy little withered grape corpses gets me upset. However, it was an easy fix: I just tossed a handful of mini chocolate chips in instead, and presto! Delicious pumpkin-chocolate chip muffins that are perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and all the meals in between.
Chocolate Raspberry Truffles
10 years ago
Posts
Two things: (1) cinnamon sugar topping, hell yeah! and (2) I know! what's with the raisins in everything? I don't get that, either. Your muffins are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThese look DELICIOUS! I love the idea of coating the muffin cups with cinnamon sugar so that the whole muffin is covered.
ReplyDeleteAre these recipes ever published somewhere (by you, or others)? Or is it just a TWD thing?
LOVE the idea of cinnamon sugar in the pan after spraying. What a tasty crunch that must add!
ReplyDeleteI agree re: raisins. Maybe it's just a coincidence that a lot of the recipes chosen lately have raisins. Let's move on! Yours look great, though!
ReplyDeleteI really like raisins in baked goods, but the chocolate chips look delicious in your muffins - plenty of them too!
ReplyDeleteNinety-nine cents for those plates? Score!
ReplyDeleteRaisins are grapes that are full of evil.
Cute muffins! Like the chocolate chips. When my turn comes around and TWD asks, "What question would you ask Dorie?" it's going to be, "What's up with the raisins?"
ReplyDeleteI think I want to put cinnamon sugar on all my muffins now! I also don't get the raisin fixation, but isn't it nice to know that chocolate chips are always a great substitute?
ReplyDeleteI love raisins, so I have no problems with Dorie putting them in almost every recipe ;). But yours without the raisins look amazing!!
ReplyDeleteMaking the pumpkin puree from scratch wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. Actually it was quite easy!!
Oh yummo, chocolate chips and a cinnamon sugar topping! Your muffins look and sound fabulous!!! well done!
ReplyDeleteYour pumpkin muffins look delicious and the cinnamon topping YUM! You have got to try pumpkin ravoli with a sage sauce it is sooo good!
ReplyDeleteI have to make these and your way is exactly how I would want them! Cinnamon sugar and chocolate chips!! Hello!!!
ReplyDeleteMmmm... I bet the sugar-cinnamon sugar topping was so yummy. And I was totally admiring your plates. Makes me wanna hop in my car and head down to my local 99cent store too!
ReplyDeleteClara @ iheartfood4thought
The cinnamon sugar plus mini chips would make this especially drool worthy. I never ever put in the raisins. Never ever ever. Chocolate is a much better mix in!
ReplyDeleteCinnamon sugar, what a great idea and I love chocolate and pumpkin too!
ReplyDeleteI will definitely use the cinnamon sugar trick on a muffin soon...but probably not these. Not pumpkiny enough for me.
ReplyDeleteCinnamon sugar is so simple and is such a great idea. Sounds very yummy!
ReplyDeleteHow can something so simple taste so good. Just sets your muffins apart. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteFun Reading and perfect plates for your fall pumpkin muffins.
PS I loved choc chips in the pumpkin muffins too!
AmyRuth
Thanks for stopping by for a visit.
I am glad that pumpkin muffins fall into the eat me category. And I agree about the RAISINS...I am NOT sure WHY they are in all the RECIPES! :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like you don't like the consistency of pumpkin filling. I think I know what you mean :)
ReplyDeleteLovely muffins :)
The raisins in her recipes don't bother me as much as all of those peanuts! Thankfully these were spared!
ReplyDeleteThe chips look like the perfect addition!