Batch # 8 and counting . . .

Pumpkin & Raisin Mini Muffins

Our dishwasher has been broken for two weeks now, and so I get a “look” from my husband whenever I start baking. He likes to point out that cooking is my hobby, but doing dishes is not his. Although, he looks super cute with a towel over his shoulders at the sink, doesn’t he?

And, for the record, I help with the dishes too! Anyway, I know that by now you must think I have a bad case of muffin fever, since it seems like only yesterday that I posted my Apple and Dried Cherry Mini Muffins. But I really just had to share. The double-batch of these charming little pumpkin lovlies that I made this weekened is almost all gone . . . and that now makes for eight batches (and counting) in less than a month.

I love the fact that these are “skinny” muffins. Made with only two tablespoons of canola oil and just the egg whites, these muffins are sooooooo moist. Of course, I made them mini and nut-free so they are lunch-box friendly.

If you have a few pumpkins that you’d like to use up, see the directions for making pumpkin puree from Sawsan at Chef in Disguise here.

For the pumpkin muffin recipe, go to SkinnyTaste.com

But first, promise me that you won’t go and buy pumpkin pie spice! It is so easy to make and you likely have all the ingredients in your cupboard.

Pumpkin Pie Spice Recipe

  • 4 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon all spice
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon cloves

Mix all of the spices together in a bowl until well combined and there are no lumps; store in a spice jar. You can double or triple the recipe according to your baking needs.

Yield: The recipe above makes just under 3 tablespoons.

NOTES:

  • I replaced the pecans with raisins in the SkinnyTaste.com recipe and topped them with a sprinkling of raw pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds). I also used regular white sugar, rather than raw sugar.
  • I made mini muffins rather than regular size and baked them for 15 minutes at 350°; yield approx. 30 muffins.
  • In Canada, the pure pumpkin comes in a 796 ml size. It makes two batches perfectly, so a double-batch is a good way to make sure that you don’t throw the other half of puree out, isn’t it?

The ponytails and good friend Miss K (right) making short work of eating up batch #8 . . .

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69 Comments on “Batch # 8 and counting . . .”

  1. Saskia (1=2) says:

    Yum. These look fab Barb, and by the smiles on the ponytails faces I’d say they were very popular. Great you included a recipe for Pumpkin Pie Spice. I’ve often seen it called for in recipes, but we can’t buy it here. Your dog/pumpkin serviettes look super cute too! Happy Halloween.

    • Thanks Saskia! Honestly, these have been the most popular muffins with the girls ever. I can’t keep them in the house. I took a few to a friend who hosted a dinner party on Saturday and to a mom friend who just had a baby ….and that wiped out the first double match I made yesterday. I had to make another batch today so that I’d have some school snacks, as I have to head out of town on business… The serviettes are cute aren’t they — a friend gave them to me when they came for dinner last week.

      Glad the pumpkin pie spice recipe is helpful. Sometimes I forget to include the options for down under!

      • Saskia (1=2) says:

        Hi Barb. I finally made these muffins, today! They were fantastic! I only wish I’d popped some in the freezer sooner as we nearly polished off the lot in one sitting. This recipe is a keeper. Definitely making them again, and I’d better hurry before pumpkin season is well and truly over here.

  2. Kristy says:

    Your ponies are just too gorgeous Barb! And any hubby with a dish towel over the shoulder is a dear to me. 😉 Mike does that quite well too. These muffins look great and will be in my kiddos lunch boxes next week. Yay!

    • Thanks Kirsty. Spending time in the kitchen together does warm the heart doesn’t it? (Even if it is doing dishes together!) I really hesitated to post another muffin recipe, but honestly I can’t believe how much the girls like them. Hope they are a hit in the Eat, Play, Love household too!

  3. I love your pony’s.. they’re just the sweetest wee ones!! They clearly love your muffins.. going on eight batches!! I think it’s awesome that there are more low-fat and low-cal recipes going around these days.. then we can have more:)

  4. A_Boleyn says:

    Having such cute (and handsome) people to munch away on your goodies makes the baking and resultant washing up worth it all. 🙂 I wish I had such appreciative little munchers around to eat up the brittle I made this weekend. I had a craving for a nibble or two and ended up with much too much as I was curious what sesame seed brittle would taste like.

    I know it’s not the healthiest of stuff but every couple of years, I just get a craving for brittle.

    • It does make it all worthwhile Maria. They would have been delighted to help you eat your brittle — it looked really amazing. I wouldn’t have minded trying the version with the seeds…I guess that was the sesame seed brittle? I can see why you get cravings for it, as it really is delicious. Good for you for making it!

  5. Aww your ponytails look so happy eating these gorgeous muffins yet not doing the dishes 🙂

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

  6. mydearbakes says:

    Gosh, the muffins looked so lovely! Great job! =)

  7. First off, your ponytails are gorgeous!
    Thank you kindly for the shout out! I deeply appreciate it and thank you for the recipe!. I love it and may just give it a try today. it sounds like something too good to miss.

    P.S. your comment on the walnut lesson reminds me of my mum. She is exactly like your dad. She is hard and tough on the outside but on the inside she is rich and giving and a little fragile. Thank you for sharing your memories with me

    • Awww, thanks Sawsan. It was my pleasure to provide the link to your site. I am such a fan of your blog — you really are a fabulous cook, writer and photographer. I’m so glad to have found your site!

      Your mom sounds like someone I would really like. Hard to imagine that walnuts congure up memories of loved ones….but that is the wonderful thing about food — we are all connected to it in one way or another.

  8. Sissi says:

    Gorgeous muffin, Barb. I love the colour and the use of egg whites only. I always like to add some new egg white recipes to my list. Soft, tasty muffins must have disappeared in no time at all!

  9. petit4chocolatier says:

    Scrumptious muffins! Love the shelled pumpkin seeds!

  10. i wish i found this just before! i had heaps of pumpkin puree. i ended up eating it like baby food. glad to have found your blog. i’ll be back for sure x

  11. Ali says:

    I’ve never been a fan of pumpkin but I think I would like these (in the same way I don’t like bananas but like banana cake…put a bit of sugar with some things and they tend to shine!) And, I like that they are healthier than most muffins. What a shame about your dishwasher…hope you can get it fixed soon!

  12. Holy cow! If you need 8 batches for just your pony tails. How many batches will I need for growing teenage boys? Ponytails are just adorable and hubby is too. Take Care, BAM

  13. erika says:

    What beautiful looking muffins and what an ADORABLE FAMILY!!

  14. Eva Taylor says:

    We had them yesterday for breakfast so I can honestly comment that these muffins were delicious…thank you SO much Barbie. I can’t believe you’ve gone four weeks without a dishwasher (mechanical, that is)! That pic of Kevin is lovely, so cute! I’ve seen that look before on JT, so THAT’s what it means!!!
    The muffins were wonderful, and I am glad you posted the recipe because I was going to ask for it.

  15. Norma Chang says:

    Love your use of pumpkin seeds as garnish on top of the muffins. They sure look yummy. Since they are “skinny muffins” guess it is OK to have an extra for breakfast (will skip the bread).

  16. musingmar says:

    These muffins look so appealing with their adorable pepita garnish. And, I love how you’ve proved that “good” and “good for you” are not mutually exclusive!

  17. great photos and a great recipe! Love the topping with the pumpkin seeds too !!

  18. I just love the pumpkin seeds on top! So fitting. I have the seeds but not the pumpkins, think it’s time to get some. 😀 I don’t like doing dishes either but my boyfriend usually won’t do them and we don’t even have a dishwasher. 😦

  19. Vijitha says:

    Hello Barb,
    Halloween is around the corner and so are the dishes made with pumpkins. I am loving this muffin recipe and this will be part of my son’s lunch box soon. I am so glad that I found your blog. I will be back often to check your recipes. Let’s stay connected.

  20. Sarah says:

    Just found your blog via Promenade Plantings and was really pleased to see your recipe for pumpkin pie spice! I’ve been wondering what was in the spice when I saw it in other recipes – now I know, thank you!

  21. Love the whole pumpkin seeds on top!

  22. Tandy says:

    I do not enjoy doping dishes! I have to get an ice cream scoop for my batter – it really makes sense 🙂

  23. I love the pictures of the ponytails indulging! They look fab. You’re lucky to have a dishwasher though, I’ve never had one! =] Can’t wait to give these a tasty try

  24. cquek says:

    This is on my list of things to make next week

  25. I think that’s 1 type of fever we all enjoy having 😛 These look great 🙂

  26. Karista says:

    I burst into laughter when I saw the picture of your handsome honey with a towel over his shoulder, and that look on his face is priceless! LOL! Oh and the two ponytails are just completely adorable!! What cutie pies. I love the muffins. You can post as many muffin recipes as you like. I’m always on the lookout for muffin recipes. 🙂 Have a fabulous weekend Barb!

    • Thanks Karista! I will be sure to pass along the handsome comment to my husband. Good to know that I am not alone in the quest for good muffins. That reminds me that you had a pod carrot and pineapple muffin a while back. I need to go find it because my little ponytail is now requesting carrot muffins.

  27. Nami | Just One Cookbook says:

    I enjoyed reading about your family story and your ponytails are so beautiful (and you have handsome husband!)! I have the scooper but I have never used for transferring to muffin pan. No wonder my pan looks mess (and waste a lot of batter). I’m not much of a baker and I didn’t even think I can use that scooper for this. Thanks for the tip (although I know you didn’t mean to teach that.. haha). Delicious muffins!

    • Actually Nami I did put the photo with the scooper in for that very reason! I like to remind people that it is a great tool to make things easy and to make consistently sized muffins. I believe that one is 1.5 inches. Your just need one the right size for the muffins that you are making. I posted a picture with the scooper on my very first post and a bunch of my friends went out and bought the scoopers. Thanks for your lovely comments!

  28. daisyandthefox says:

    that looks like such a lovely snack recipe!! 🙂

  29. Charles says:

    Ooh, hubby makes a rare appearance too! 🙂 I just *love* that little muffin pan – that’s too cute, really! Damn, I just bought a whole load of new cake tins and now I see yet another thing I feel like I suddenly want – LOL! Sigh… I suppose I can “make do” with my standard size muffin tin – woe is me! (first-world problems anyone? :p).

    Love the look of these little bites Barb – I bet there were a real hit, judging by the picture of the ponytails wolfing them down! (And damn, I think I mentioned this to you before, but the ponytail in the bottom left in the last photo looks SO much like my sister when she was younger!!! It’s uncanny!)

    • Yes, definitely first world problems. I’m addicted to all things mini. In fact now I’m dreaming of a mini madeleine pan…since my youngest has become addicted to them from a local patisserie. I guess I should start using the regular-sized pan first, hey?

      The hubby has made a guest appearance and now he’s been featured on a second post! I think that is so cool that my oldest ponytail looks like your sister. You know she looks a lot like I did at that age too…according to my mom anyway.Where does your sister live?

      • Charles says:

        Hi Barb – my sister lives far away on the east coast of China these days… Sadly it means we don’t have so many “family gatherings”, but it’s extra special when we do 🙂

  30. You have such a good looking family, Barb! What pretty muffins…I can’t eat pumpkin, but I’m intrigued by the apple and dried cherry mini muffins, they sound terrific! I love mini muffins…mini cupcakes, mini cornbread, etc. You can’t feel too bad about eating them! 😉

  31. mmmarzipan says:

    Gorgeous post and beautiful blog! Will be following from now on 🙂

  32. Nicole says:

    oh lovely girls ❤


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