Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

I know pumpkin season in short-lived, but I find a can of pumpkin puree in my cupboard at random times in the year and whip up a batch of these muffins and trust me, no one complains. Pumpkin really does need a much longer season.

The best part of these is that you can use the same recipe for a few different things. You can omit the chocolate chips and make a cream cheese frosting and top these with that instead. It will be more dense than your typical cupcake, but these are amazing with frosting. Need a treat for your kid’s school and you want those with allergies to be included? Use this recipe, omit the chocolate chips, add any white frosting you’d like, and top with a holiday candy. I made these and put candy corn pumpkins on top of white frosting and they were a hit for a Halloween party where I knew a few people joining couldn’t have gluten, dairy, or both. Not only that, there were compliments from those who can eat all the gluten and dairy they’d like.

Pumpkin Pie Spice Treats
Pumpkin pie spice is an easy way to add some pumpkin flavor into your baking. You can use it in cakes, cupcakes, muffins, cookies – the options are endless! If you are not one for baking from scratch, there are also plenty of boxed cake mixes that already have pumpkin pie spice added in.

Savory Dishes
Pumpkin is not just for sweet treats! It makes a great addition to savory dishes as well. In soups, stews and curries it adds more depth of flavor while keeping the dish light and healthy. The natural sweetness of pumpkin pairs well with spices like cumin and coriander. Try adding some cubes of roasted pumpkin on top of your salads or roasting them with garlic and herbs as an easy side dish.

Pumpkin Puree Recipes
Canned pumpkin puree doesn’t just have to be used for pies! It’s also great in other types of desserts such as cheesecakes, puddings, pancakes or waffles. You can even add it to smoothies or oatmeal for a nutritious start to your day. For those who don’t eat dairy, try making vegan ice cream with canned pumpkin puree instead of milk or cream.

Give these a try and let me know if you use them for anything fun or if you adjust the toppings!