Birthday Pumpkin Muffins
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Author Notes: Out of all my personal recipes, this one is "The Recipe I Want To Be Remembered For," because it is so loved by my husband and kids; it has become a ritual that is almost sacred in our house! It probably started 7 or 8 years ago. My husband wasn't going to be home for dinner on his birthday, and this really disappointed my daughter who was maybe seven years old, so we decided to make pumpkin muffins for breakfast that morning. That way he would have something to put a candle in for making a birthday wish. Somehow this became a regular birthday morning event, and we haven't missed a birthday since then - even on hectic weekday mornings we squeeze in this family ritual. I have several loose copies tucked into cookbooks so that the recipe can always be found by whoever needs it. They are not super fancy, and my kids like them "plain" without the nuts or cherries, but they are fairly quick and easy if you prep the night before, by mixing the dry ingredients together (and stored covered on the kitchen counter), and mixing the wet ingredients (and stored covered in the fridge.) The next morning I can whip them up while not quite awake. I sometimes add toasted pecans (or walnuts) and dried cherries. We spread them with plain whipped cream cheese, as "frosting." - Sadassa_Ulna
Makes 18
- 2 cups unbleached flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup milk
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons orange zest (or 2 drops orange oil)
- 1/2 cup dried cherries (optional)
- 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans or walnuts
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Liberally butter muffin tins without paper baking cup liners (or line 18 muffin tins with paper baking cups and spray with unflavored canola oil spray.) Omitting the paper liners and baking the muffin in buttered dark metal tins will give the muffins a nice crunchy crust!
- In a medium mixing bowl, mix together the first 7 ingredients.
- In a separate bowl, mix wet ingredients together. Add orange zest - if using orange oil be very sparing, two tiny drops goes a long way.
- Add wet mixture to dry mixture and stir by hand to until well mixed. Add nuts and berries.
- Pour batter into the prepared muffin tins, filling each about 2/3 full.
- Bake 20-25 minutes.
- Serve with soft whipped cream cheese or your favorite cream cheese frosting. If it's your birthday top with a lit candle and make a wish!
- This recipe was entered in the contest for The Recipe You Want To Be Remembered For
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Holiday Breakfast
Tags: breakfast, can be made ahead, dried cherries
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about 2 years ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Great story! What a lovely tradition to pass on to your daughter. I bet she'll be making these for her family one day.
about 2 years ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
What a great story! The muffins sound very yummy. Thanks for sharing it with us!
about 2 years ago Sadassa_Ulna
Thank you mrslarkin, that means a lot coming from a pro baker like you!
about 2 years ago lapadia
Great birthday story, great tradition and recipe. Oh, and congrats on shining in the spotlight, too!
about 2 years ago Sadassa_Ulna
Many thanks, frienda!
about 2 years ago lapadia
:)
about 2 years ago Midge
I love your tradition and these sounds really delicious!
about 2 years ago Sadassa_Ulna
Thanks Midge, they're tasty without being too decadent . . . it is breakfast after all!
about 2 years ago healthierkitchen
What a lovely tradition! These sound delicious.
about 2 years ago Sadassa_Ulna
Thank you healthierkitchen, please let me know if you ever try them!
about 2 years ago drbabs
Barbara is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Great story and recipe--what a wonderful family ritual!
about 2 years ago Sadassa_Ulna
Thanks drbabs, this contest is one of my favorites, from reading entries like yours!
about 2 years ago gingerroot
Birthday food rituals are the best! These sound delicious. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
about 2 years ago Sadassa_Ulna
Thanks gingerroot, we will have them on Friday when my son turns 12!
about 2 years ago gingerroot
Early birthday wishes to your son!!
about 2 years ago kmartinelli
Such a nice story and love the recipe! My mother-in-law makes mini pumpkin chocolate chip muffins for everyone's birthday so this really strikes a chord with me!
about 2 years ago Sadassa_Ulna
Chocolate chips sound like a great addition, can you post your MIL's recipe?
over 2 years ago AmyKlegs
these look delicious!
over 2 years ago Sadassa_Ulna
Thank you, we love them, especially with toasted walnuts and cherries or dried cranberries. Its a funny ritual we've been doing for many years now!
over 2 years ago xsim57
These are fantastic with cream cheese.
over 2 years ago peanutbutterjellytime
YUMMY!