A Delicious Fall Treat!

(Pumpkin pictured above is courtesy of Caleb Browning) :-)

I love fall.  I love everything about it.  I love fall decorations.  I love fall smells.  I love fall football (Go FSU NOLES!) and I love fall foods!  I love it when the air begins to get cooler and crisp, and everyone pulls out their warmer clothes and spends time playing outside together.  Pumpkin patches become the "must" for weekend activities, and fall festivals bring memories to be treasured for years!


One of my most treasured things to do in the fall is to sit outside, sipping a warm cup of hot tea or coffee and enjoy snacking on a delicious pumpkin chocolate chip muffin (or two!).  I was given the recipe for these muffins from a sweet mentor in my life who worked hard to prepare me to be a wife one day, and I've hung on tight to the recipe ever since, handing it out to many pumpkin chocolate-chip muffin addicts! :-)  This morning, we decided that to help you embrace "family" this weekend, we would provide you with the recipe for a delicious "fall" treat that is sure to be a quick family favorite!  We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!  Happy Fall!!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins - 

(Makes 12 regular sized muffins)

Ingredients:

1 2/3 c. All-Purpose flour

1 c. Sugar

1 Tbs Pumpkin Pie Spice

1 tsp Baking soda

1/4 tsp Baking Powder

1/4 tsp Salt

2 large Eggs

1 cup Plain Pumpkin (Half of a 1# can, but don't worry -- you'll use the other half quickly on another batch!)

1/2 cup (1 stick) Butter, melted

1 cup (6oz) Chocolate Chips

Pre-heat your oven to 350, and make sure that you grease your muffin pans!   (I LOVE Bakers Joy because it doesn't leave that greasy film on my pans!)

Thoroughly mix flour, sugar, pie spice, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl with a whisk.

Break eggs into another bowl.  Add pumpkin and melted butter, and whisk until well blended. 

Once everything is mixed, add 1 cup of your favorite type of chocolate chips and mix them in.

 Stir chocolate chips into pumpkin mixture and once mixed, pour pumpkin mixture into bowl with flour mixture.  Fold in with a rubber spatula just until dry ingredients are moistened.

Scoop the mixture into the muffin pans and smooth out the tops using your spoon.  Then, pop them in your oven for 20-25 minutes, until the muffins come out puffed and springy.  

When they come out, they'll need to cool a bit, so pop them onto a cooling rack (if you can!).  In our home, they rarely all make it to the cooling rack!

Then, once they've cooled, add a little butter to the middle and watch the smiles of your family light up!  YUM!

Just in case you missed something....

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins - 

(Makes 12 regular sized muffins)

Ingredients:

1 2/3 c. All-Purpose flour

1 c. Sugar

1 Tbs Pumpkin Pie Spice

1 tsp Baking soda

1/4 tsp Baking Powder

1/4 tsp Salt

2 large Eggs

1 cup Plain Pumpkin (Half of a 1# can, but don't worry -- you'll use the other half quickly on another batch!)

1/2 cup (1 stick) Butter, melted

1 cup (6oz) Chocolate Chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.  

Grease muffin cups or fill with paper baking cups.  

Thoroughly mix flour, sugar, pie spice, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl with a whisk.

Break eggs into another bowl.  Add pumpkin and melted butter, and whisk until well blended. 

Stir chocolate chips into pumpkin mixture and once mixed, pour pumpkin mixture into bowl with flour mixture.  Fold in with a rubber spatula just until dry ingredients are moistened.

Scoop batter evenly into muffin cups.  

Bake 20-25 minutes, or until puffed and springy to the touch in the center.  Turn out onto a rack to cool.  Best if served warm with butter -- delicious!!!