Celebrate the essence of fall with our Pumpkin Muffins, combining softness, sweetness, and a delightful crunch. Made with an easy-to-follow batter of pumpkin puree and warm spices, and topped with a tempting streusel. Perfect for autumn days!
In a bowl, combine chopped pecans, brown sugar, all-purpose flour, and cinnamon powder. Mix these ingredients thoroughly to create a delicious streusel topping.
Gradually add the melted, room temperature butter to the dry mixture. Mix until the streusel topping is well-coated and crumbly. Set this aside for later use.
Pumpkin Muffin Batter:
In a separate bowl, add eggs, oil (or melted butter), brown sugar, milk, and pumpkin puree.
Combine these ingredients well. This mixture can also be made even richer by using melted butter instead of oil.
In another bowl, combine all-purpose flour, pumpkin pie spice, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Thoroughly mix these dry ingredients.
Next, carefully incorporate the pumpkin mixture into the dry flour mix. Employ a "cut and fold" technique to blend the batter, ensuring not to overmix – it's okay to have a few lumps.
Baking the Batter:
Grease a muffin pan with oil or use muffin liners. Pour the prepared Pumpkin Muffin batter into each muffin cup. Top each muffin with the streusel topping that you prepared earlier. This will add a delightful crunchy texture to your muffins.
Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F for approximately 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Keep a close eye to avoid overbaking.
Once baked, remove the Pumpkin Muffins from the oven and allow them to cool for at least 10 minutes on a wire rack before indulging in their deliciousness.
Serving:
Enjoy these Pumpkin Muffins as a perfect evening sweet treat or as a delightful breakfast muffin alongside a cup of milk to kickstart your morning!
Notes
Here are some expert tips to perfect your Pumpkin Muffins:
Ingredients and Additions:
Select Fresh Ingredients: Use fresh baking soda, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, eggs, milk, and other ingredients for optimal results.
Pumpkin Puree Options: Choose between homemade or canned pumpkin puree according to your convenience.
Streusel Topping: Enhance muffins with a sweet, crunchy streusel topping or a simple sprinkle of coarse sugar.
Fat Variations for Moisture: Use vegetable oil for moist muffins, or try coconut oil or melted butter for different flavors.
Chocolate Chip Addition: Fold in a handful of chocolate chips for an extra indulgent treat.
Baking Techniques and Tips:
Optimized Baking Temperatures: Bake at 350°F for 35-40 minutes, or start at 425°F for 10 minutes, then reduce to 350°F.
Whisking Tools: Use any tool, from an electric beater to a hand whisk, for making the muffin batter.
Resting Time Post-Baking: Allow muffins to cool for at least 10 minutes on a wire rack.
Avoid Overbaking: Monitor the baking process to ensure muffins are moist and tender.
Greasing Muffin Trays: Lightly grease the trays with oil or butter if not using muffin liners.
Yield Information: Recipe yields 12 medium-sized muffins, or 15-16 mini muffins.