Happy Halloween Pumpkin Muffins

Soft and perfectly spiced, these delicious pumpkin muffins are sure to delight the palate of young and old alike. The perfect dessert for your Halloween gatherings!

INGREDIENTS

(Makes 12 muffins)

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 cups sugar

• 1 tsp. salt

• 2 tsps. baking soda

• 1/2 tsp. baking powder

• 2 tsps. cinnamon

• 1 tsp. ground nutmeg

• 1 tsp. ground allspice

• 3 eggs

• 2 cups homemade or store-bought pumpkin purée (see note)

• 2/3 cup vegetable oil

• 2 tbsps. sugar frosting

• Cooked pieces of pumpkin (optional)

• Fresh mint leaves

• Whole nuts (of your choice)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 180 °C (350 °F).

2. In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients and set aside.

3. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, pumpkin purée and vegetable oil. Combine with the dry ingredients and carefully mix together with a spatula until perfectly blended.

4. Pour the batter into a muffin tray and bake for 20 to 25 minutes (or until a toothpick comes out dry when inserted in the middle of a muffin).

5. Garnish the muffins with sugar frosting, pieces of cooked pumpkin, mint leaves and nuts.

HOMEMADE PUMPKIN PURÉE

1. Preheat oven to 180 °C (350 °F).

2. Cut a small pumpkin in half and remove the seeds.

3. Place the pumpkin halves skin side up on a cookie sheet and bake for 75 minutes.

4. Cut approximately 25 small pieces of pumpkin (for the garnish) and set aside.

5. Purée the remaining cooked pumpkin in a food processor.