Tuesday, October 21, 2008

TWD: Pumpkin Muffins

Boy, did that week fly by! And am I ever glad it did - the floors are beautiful, but it sure was a big job. My husband and his brother worked 14 hour days for 6 days to install and were such troopers, they even fought through colds to finish! Of course, the house was in complete and total chaos during that time, but I finally have my kitchen back and got a chance to make these wonderful muffins yesterday.
I decided to up the healthy-factor on these and so here are my substitutions:
  • Used 1 cup whole wheat and 1 cup AP flour
  • Added 1/2 cup whole oats
  • Decreased butter from 8 tablespoons to 4
  • Added the entire can of pumpkin (as opposed to 3/4 cup called for in the recipe) to increase the moisture content due to less butter and the addition of the oatmeal. I also did this because I hate to have that small amount of pumpkin left over in the can - I never want to throw it away, but never seem to use it up either.
  • Used regular raisins and omitted the nuts
  • Added an oatmeal crumb topping rather than the sunflower seeds (forgot to buy them!)

Crumb Topping

1/2 cup AP flour

1/2 cup whole oats

1/2 cup brown sugar

4 tablespoons melted butter

Mix together until large clumps form and crumble on top of the muffins.


One more change I made was to decrease the oven temperature to 350 ° (the recipe calls for 400 °). I'd like to tell you how long they were in there for, but I forgot to notice the time and so I just checked for doneness with a toothpick - but I would guess they were in there for 20 to 25 minutes.

These lightened muffins came out wonderfully moist and tasty. Even after they'd been sitting out for a while, the kids thoroughly enjoyed a pumpkin muffin after-school snack! This is definitely a keeper recipe. You can find it listed on Sounding My Barbaric Gulp - thanks for choosing such a fab recipe Kelly! Check out all the other Tuesday's with Dorie blogs here.

Next week: Chocolate, Chocolate Cupcakes!

15 comments:

Engineer Baker said...

Ooo, I'm going to have to try all of your lightening techniques. I like the addition of oats especially. And streusel makes everything better, right?

Cathy said...

Yum! I love that you lightened these up! I always feel particularly guilty eating really fattening muffins, in particular, because you know that healthier (but equally tasty) versions are readily available. I also love your oatmeal crumb topping! That looks like it would be good on just about anything. And your floors look gorgeous!

Audrey said...

The oatmeal is a GREAT idea, in and on top!

Anonymous said...

wow, i really love that topping! so so good.

Kimberly Johnson said...

Thanks for the tips for making these muffins healthier! I really liked them and will be fooling around with these and making them again.

Anonymous said...

Your floors are beautiful! What a great way to lighten these up. I like your picture too.

Flourchild said...

Your healthy muffins look wonderful. I love your floors too..they are exactly like my hard wood floors in my kitchen. I sure do enjoy them!

Anne said...

I like all the changes you made- I'm going to make a note to try those next time. Great job!

I'm jealous of your new floors, too- beautiful!

Prudy said...

Hooray! You're back and the kitchen looks marvelous. I wish I had a crumb topping on my muffins-it looks so good and a great way to use up the four tablespoons of butter in a way that really counts! Yummy! Don't drop any crumbs on that gorgeous new floor now!

Peggy said...

Oh the floors are beautiful. My DH and I re-did our floors a couple of years ago and put in hardwoods. It was a hard job but we have really enjoyed them. Your muffins look great also! Love the crumb topping.

Sihan said...

i'm loving the oatmeal crumb topping. I thought of tt too. but thought the extra calories wldn't do any good for my waistline.

Still it looks soo good. Darn.. having regrets now.

Teanna DiMicco said...

Love your oats, love your cupcakes, and love your floor! They all look SO good!

chocolatechic said...

ooOOOooooooo Love the crumb topping.

Shari said...

Love your crumb topping idea!

Matt's Kitchen said...

Sorry that it's taken me so long to check in on your blog! Your crumb topping is the best adaptation I've seen yet! The muffins are as beautiful as your new floors!

I love having new things, but it always makes me want to update everything that surrounds them... a vicious cycle, but one that makes me feel that there's nothing better than being at home...