Monday, January 14, 2013

Pumpkin Ginger Muffins

What do you do with a cup of pureed pumpkin that you find when you defrost the freezer?
You make muffins or muffin tops. This is a long lost post from before we moved to PA. This recipe served to clear out not only the pumpkin but the crystallized ginger, a package of brown sugar, cane syrup and raisins. It was very exciting at the time to get things "out of the cupboards" so it didn't have to be moved. But have it be known that all of these things have returned now that we are well settinged in PA.
Pumpkin Ginger Muffins
5 1/2 Tbsp minced crystallized ginger
1/2 cup raisins
2 Tbsp rum
2 cups flour
1 Tbsp ground ginger
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice*
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup + 2 Tbsp pumpkin puree
1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp fat free milk mixed with 1 tsp white wine vinegar (1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp buttermilk)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large egg whites
1 large egg
3/4 cup + 3 Tbsp (packed) golden brown sugar
1/2 cup Steen's Pure Cane syrup (or molasses)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
Cooking spray
Preheat oven to 375°F. Line sixteen muffin cups with paper liners. Mix 2 1/2 Tbsp crystallized ginger, raisins and rum in small bowl.
Sift flour, ground ginger, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt into medium bowl. Whisk pumpkin puree, buttermilk and vanilla in another bowl. In the bowl of a stand mixer mixer, beat egg whites and egg bowl until foamy. Add 3/4 cup and  2 Tbsp brown sugar; beat until light. Beat in  the cane syrup or molasses and oil. Add the dry ingredients alternately with pumpkin mixture.Stir in raisin mixture. (I had my doubts about these muffins at this point because the batter was much looser than most muffin mixtures I had made. I was very happy to see that I was wrong.)
Divide batter among prepared muffin cups. Mix the remaining 3 Tbsp crystallized ginger and 1 Tbsp brown sugar in small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over muffins.
Bake muffins until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool on rack.

* Pumpkin Pie Spice is available in the spice aisle but since I usually have all the components in my spice rack I make my own... not to mention it is cheaper.
Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix 
4 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cloves 
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
Combine in a small container. Store any remaining with your other spices.

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