Double Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins

Don't you love it when you take a chance to alter one of your favorite go-to recipes and it turns out AWESOME? :) I've been making this pumpkin muffin/bread recipe for quite some time. I had the brilliant idea to swap some of the flour for cocoa powder + add chocolate chips. These muffins are SO moist & heavenly. Best of all, no oil or butter makes them like super healthy, right? :) No seriously, pumpkin is so good for you. :) I used some whole wheat white flour too because that's what I had- no one knew the difference! :)

Double Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins
yield: 2 dozen muffins- halving the recipe works great too!

• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 can (16 oz) pumpkin puree
• 2 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 3/4 tsp ground cloves
• 3/4 tsp ground ginger
• 2 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 & line your muffin cups. Whisk dry ingredients together & set aside. Mix together applesauce & sugar in large mixing bowl with electric mixer. Add pumpkin until combined. Slowly add dry ingredients Add eggs one at a time until combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Scoop batter evenly into muffin cups - do not fill more than 3/4 full. Bake 20 minutes, or until top springs back lightly when touched. Cool slightly & enjoy. These are best when warm and the chocolate is melty! :) Yum.

Enjoy!

The BEST Banana Bread

I've only posted this recipe once before- as Banana Monkey Muffins, but its just so delicious I had to post it again. And this may not be my last time. I cannot apologize. Also, I think you will thank me. My mom has always made this perfect, moist and delicious banana bread whenever we had brown bananas. Now I've taken to doing the same! Funny how we all turn into our mothers, isn't it? It's OK- I don't mind one bit! :) This recipe is delicious as muffins, bread or even cupcakes. OK, I lied. I have also posted it in my Peanut Butter Banana Cupcakes recipe. :) Oops. I'm sorry, but not really.

Another great thing about this recipe is its so quick and easy to make. Literally 5 minutes until its in the oven. It also doubles and freezes well. I had 5 very brown bananas so I made two loaves, intending to give one away, but somehow the other one ended up in the freezer for a later date. Oops. I really hope you get to make it soon!

The BEST Banana Bread
Makes 1 loaf or 12 muffins

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (1 stick)
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup mashed, very ripe bananas (about 3 medium bananas)

 Preheat oven to 350. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper. It may work better to lay 1 piece going one way and another piece going the other way, both overhanging the pan for easy removal. Spray with cooking spray.

Mix dry ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until well combined and fluffy- about 2 minutes. Add eggs one at a time until incorporated. Add bananas, followed by sour cream until mixed. Slowly add flour mixture until batter is fully mixed. Use a spatula to fill prepared pan with batter and scrape bowl. Tap to settle. Bake for 60-75 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and top is golden brown. Cool in pan for several minutes, then remove by holding both sides of parchment paper and allow to cool fully in parchment paper on rack. Best served slightly warm with butter.

Enjoy!

Perfectly Spiced Pumpkin Muffins

Mmmmm I just love fall baking! Pumpkin is so delicious in many many things.... I've found so many delicious recipes that I want to try! My list has grown so long that I'll have to save some for next year. And the year after that. Pumpkin waffles. Pumpkin scones. Pumpkin pancakes. Pumpkin coffee cake. Pumpkin french toast. Pumpkin whoopie pies. Pumpkin cupcakes. Pumpkin ice cream sandwiches. I could go on and on...pumpkin deliciousness is everywhere!

Since I was plotting the baking of these muffins for a while, I started thinking about what else I might need to up the ante. Normally when I make muffins, I just spray the pan and don't bother using muffin cups. I knew I was going to take these to work (and give them to G's UPS man-long story) and that I was going to need more cups to make pumpkin cupcakes for my work potluck next week. I stopped by Joanne's after work and picked up all these fall goodies- for 40-70% off!

Now I know you're wondering why I needed all of this for a few muffins...well it's no secret that I like to stock up. I admit it. I've tried to slow down lately since the bf thinks I'm a baking/kitchen tool hoarder (Wouldn't it be the worst if you REALLY wanted to make brownies and didn't have enough chocolate or no citrus juicer/zester to make that refreshing lemon gelato???!!!).... Well after seeing Bree's post on her baking pantry, I realized I really need a lot more things! haha My ingredient stock is fairly up to par, but I barely have any cookie cutters, icing tips, food coloring, baking cups, etc. And these were on SALE, so it's OK... :) Don't feel too bad for me, I'm working on my Christmas wish list as we speak!

I really do need to organize my baking cabinet soon. I might even take a few photos for you once its all done. After the main cabinet is organized, my grand plan is to keep flour, sugar, etc. in large glass canisters on the counter and have plastic drawers in the pantry/under the island for all my cutters/other decor. HEAVEN! OK you caught me- my grand grand plan is to have a super amazing kitchen with zillions of storage space and a craft room! Hey- a girl can dream....

Sorry I got a little carried away...I've had this pumpkin recipe for some time now. Not sure where it came from originally, but I got it from my dearest momma a few years ago. I don't remember her making this as often as the banana bread, but she does have a delicious pumpkin cake with cream cheese icing that she still makes for my little brother when he comes to visit (his fav). Yum!

Originally it was a bread recipe, but I found that sometimes the insides would get a bit gooey if not cooked the perfect amount of time, so I started making mini loaves, then it turned into muffins and mini muffins. In college I nannied for a family and made these for the kids all the time. That's when I swapped oil for applesauce and whole what flour for AP- and no one knew the difference. Everyone gobbled them up!

Again, apologies for the iphone photos... my camera will be returning to work soon!


Perfectly Spiced Pumpkin Muffins

• 1 c cooking oil (or unsweetened applesauce)
• 2 c sugar
• 2 cups (1 16oz can) pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie mix)
  
• 3 c white whole wheat flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
  
• 1 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 3/4 tsp ground cloves
• 3/4 tsp ground ginger
• 2 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 4 eggs
  

Heat oven to 350. Mix dry ingredients together and set aside.

Mix applesauce and sugar in large mixing bowl.

Add pumpkin and mix until combined.

Add dry ingredients a little at a time.

Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.

If you were feeling crazy, this is where you could stir in nuts or chocolate chips! Prepare muffin pan and fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Tap pan to make sure batter settles evenly.

Regular muffins...

AND minis...

Cinnamon sugar streusel is also particularly yummy when sprinkled on top. Cook for 20 minutes, or until top springs back when touched with finger and tester comes back clean.

For one large loaf, cook 1:15 in greased pan. For 3 small loaves- 35 minutes each. Mini muffins only need 10ish minutes.

Isn't that cute? I mean creepy...

Best served warm- Enjoy! :)

Please share your favorite pumpkin recipes with me so I can try theme before fall is over!

Banana Monkey Muffins

Did I catch your attention? These muffins are gooooood, sooooooo good, in fact, you'll act like a monkey when you eat them and keep swinging across the kitchen to your muffin jar. I think there is a muffin monkey living in my bf's apartment- all the muffins disappear so quickly there! Maybe he is hiding out with the cookie monster? :)


This is my mother's recipe that she has made as long as I can remember. She always used to make it as a breakfast bread for my brother and me growing up, and it was always perfect! This is best with brown bananas that you're about to throw away. I find myself turning into her- why would you throw away bananas when you could whip up some DELICIOUS banana bread in no time at all? I make these so often that I usually throw half in the freezer to take out for another time. Perfect for company.

These are super quick to throw together, although they will need to bake for a while if you're making the bread version (1 hr+10 minutes-ish). Muffins are about half the time (20-25 min). Mini muffins (pictured) are only 15 minutes. Feel free to add nuts if you like (no raisins allowed!), but I generally don't like nuts in my baked goods.

Banana Monkey Muffins

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup mashed bananas (about 3 bananas)

Preheat oven to 350. Place dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at time, then sour cream and bananas. Make sure the bananas are mashed up really well to avoid lumps. Slowly add dry ingredients. Spray muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray (or use muffin liners) and place in oven. Bake 20-25 minutes until lightly browned and top springs back when pressed with finger. I also do the toothpick test to make sure there aren't anymore doughy parts!

These are best when they are still warm- or zap for a few seconds in the micro. Now before you know it, you'll be scratching your head and goin' bananas! :)