Fall Harvest Muffins

{Again, do not judge photo abilities} This photo was taken awhile ago, but I made these yummy muffins again. I must be eagerly waiting for Fall.

Can you spot my Neti pot in the background. Obviously it was fall because I always get a sinus infection from the germs of my darlings. Also, a gatorade, interesting. What can you spy? My amateur food photos can be fun and entertaining.

These muffins are a great breakfast food at 404 calories, but since this time I eliminated the topping, it is somewhat less of an indulgence. If you would like, eliminate nuts and substitute apple sauce for some of the butter. This will make it a healthier treat. Also, if you do not have all of the spices, just make sure you have the cinnamon and use what you have.These are thick, soft, crunchy and filling--everything one would want in a muffin. There are a lot of ingredients and can be a bit time consuming, but worth every minute. (Just imagine sitting on the deck with a piping hot cup of coffee, your Fall Harvest Muffin, and a brisk breeze-- sounds like a perfect Saturday morning before I'm forced to watch college football all day:)

Fall Harvest Muffins (recipe taken from our local newspaper: The Daily Globe)

What you'll need:

Topping                                                    

4 T butter, softened

1/4 c flour

1/4 c brown sugar

1/4 c sugar

1/2 t cinnamon

1/2 c oats

pinch of salt

Muffins

1 c. flour

1 c. whole wheat flour

1.5 t baking powder

1/4 t. baking soda

1 t. cinnamon

1 t. ginger

1/2 t. allspice

1/4 t. cardamom

1/4 t. ground clove

1/2 t. salt

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3/4 c. butter, melted, cooled

1 c. brown sugar

2 eggs

1 t. vanilla

1 c. canned pumpkin

1 apple (peeled, cored, grated)--3/4c. (I used Red Delicious)

1/2 c. chopped pecans (optional)-- save on calories

1/2 c. craisins

Whew! Now what to do:

1. Preheat oven 375

2. Mix all topping ingredients and set aside (I skipped this because it was unnecessary and added unnecessary calories)

3. In a medium bowl, mix flours, baking powder, soda, spices, and salt.

4. In a large bowl, whisk butter and brown sugar

5. Whisk in egg and vanilla

6. Add pumpkin

7. Gently and thoroughly add/mix dry ingredients to wet ingredients. 

8. Add apple, pecans, cranberries

9. Divide into muffins pan (which I sprayed with olive oil-- thanks ReRe for the olive sprayer thingy)

10. If you so wish, add the topping at this point.

11. Bake 20-25 minutes

Makes 12 muffins

404 cal; 20 g fat (!!! eliminate nuts and substitute some applesauce for butter); 53 carbs, 5 protein, 5 fiber

These are the totals if muffins made according to original directions.

I'd say these would run about $8.50 to make, considering you have the spices. Just make sure you get the apple, nuts, pumpkin, and craisins, but it would be tasty if you were missing any ingredients. That's a whopping .70 per muffin-- take that Starbucks morning muffin. Invite a friend over for "breakfast." The muffin and coffee may cost you a total of $1 and you can spend a great morning with a friend eating a homemade treat.