Pumpkin-carrot muffins {for Halloween & beyond!}

Holding onto the golden autumn weather this weekend for dear life, my plans include: going to a Harvest Fest at Conklin Orchards, going to the pumpkin patch, and riding a tractor at the Fall Festival. Oh, and eating as much pumpkin pie, Macoun apples, and these pumpkin-carrot muffins as is considered… decent.

It seems that wherever you turn these days, there is pumpkin flavored something available (‘eh’ to the Oreos and coffees, for me), but there is pumpkin flavor and real pumpkin flavor, you know?

No tips and tricks here, just a melding of the truest flavors of the season into a satisfying fall treat. Make your own pumpkin puree after carving out those gourds or use a nice, unsweetened store-bought variety to save time.

Kids will love these too, not that adults (ahem, as I finish my second muffin..) don’t also love a wholesome breakfast or tea treat with a little chocolate chip surprise inside.

Tips: Grate the carrots finely and don’t skimp on the spices, especially if they’ve been standing around in your cupboard for a while!

Pumpkin-carrot muffins (with chocolate chips!)

(makes about a dozen)

You’ll need:

• 1 3/4 cups AP flour
• 1 t baking soda
• 1/2 t baking powder
• 3/4 t salt
• spices: 1 t cinnamon, 1 t allspice, 1/2 t nutmeg, 1/2 t ground cloves, 1/3 t ground cardamom
• 1/2 t vanilla
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup raw sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup shaved carrots
• 1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 35oF and prepare muffin cups.

2. In a large mixing bowl, sift together the dry ingredients. Add in the carrots, pumpkin puree, lemon juice, oil and eggs, one at a time. Mix well.

Fold in the chocolate chips.

3. Use an ice cream scoop to scoop an equal amount of batter into each muffin cup. Bake for 18-20 minutes.

For a crunchier muffin top, turn the oven off, but leave the baked muffins in there for another 15-20 minutes.

Decorate if you want, with chocolate and other seasonal sprinkles.

For another pumpkin favorite, check out this pumpkin and chestnut soup.