We have just taken down all of our Christmas decorations and cleaned our house from top to bottom to start the New Year off fresh. When I was growing up, my mother always encouraged me to start the New Year with an organized room to set the path for the upcoming year, and I still like to embrace that idea. Although I do have a few unorganized cupboards, especially after the frantic pace of cooking and baking over the holidays, January is the perfect time to clen things out. I will keep busy this month getting my house organized to start 2020 off right.

With the entire family here this past week, we managed to devour most of the remaining cookies, and I sent the last container home with my grandkids. Three of my grandchildren live just down the road from us now, and I do like to have something sweet to offer them when they stop by. After cleaning out after the holidays, however, my refrigerator and cookie jars are empty. I decided to make a batch of muffins to offer the kids as they are quick and easy to make, and the kids love them. These muffins are moist and delicious, with a light chocolate flavor that allows the pumpkin to shine through. I like to add dark chocolate chips to the muffins to give them more chocolatey goodness. I also have made these muffins with either whole grain pastry flour or all-purpose flour with excellent results. Do use canned or fresh pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling as the pie filling has already been sweetened. In place of the chocolate chips, you could use chopped walnuts or pecans instead if you prefer.

Buon Appetito!
Deborah Mele 2020

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Chcolate Pumpkin Muffins

Yield: Makes 12 Muffins

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 16 minutes

Total Time: 31 minutes

Moist pumpkin muffins with just a hint of chocolate.

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Ingredients

• 1 Cup Pumpkin Puree
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1 Large Egg At Room Temperature
• 1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil
• 1/3 Cup Milk
• 2/3 Cup Light Brown Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Unsweetened Dark Cocoa Powder
• Pinch of Sea Salt
• 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1 2/3 Cups All-purpose Flour (See Notes Above)
• 2/3 Cup Dark Chocolate Chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. and line a 12-cup muffin tin with papers or grease well with baking spray.
2. In one bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, vanilla, and egg until smooth.
3. Add the oil and milk and whisk until blended, then whisk in the sugar.
4. In another bowl, stir together the cocoa, salt, soda, and flour until mixed.
5. Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet, gently mixing with a wooden spoon or spatula.
6. Stir in the chocolate chips.
7. Divide the batter evenly into the muffin cups, filling them 3/4 full.
8. Bake 8 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 and continue to bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean.
9. Cool in muffin tin for 10 minutes, then remove and enjoy warm or at room temperature.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 254Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 132mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 2gSugar: 15gProtein: 3g

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