Pumpkin Donut Muffins #ad #backtoschooltreats

Disclosure: I received product samples from sponsor companies to aid in the creation of the #BacktoSchoolTreats week recipes. All opinions are mine alone.

Since it’s almost Fall, I am just ITCHING to use pumpkin again in recipes. When I think “Back to School”, I think about Fall. These donut muffins were all the rage a few years back in the blogging world, so I thought I would share donut muffins with some pumpkin flair. (I hope you don’t mind – just let me stay in my happy “it’s almost FALL” bubble.)

I decided to tweak this recipe a little with Taylor & Colledge’s almond paste to give it more of a “bakery” flavor – I love adding a small amount of almond to most baking recipes. It’s not TOO almond-y, but it gives it a slightly different taste that makes it feel like it came from a bakery. I also used Dixie Crystals granulated sugar & brown sugar in this recipe!

I thought it would be fun to add a few Sweets & Treats sprinkles (just to highlight that these are donut muffins – the Donut Sprinkles are sprinkled around the donuts and Chunky Sugar Crystals are sprinkled in the cinnamon sugar mixture. I love that they offer a huge variety of sprinkles & mixes, and they are also insanely reasonable (almost the same prices as some cake decorating stores).

Pumpkin Donut Muffins
Source: adapted from Martha Stewart

Ingredients:
For the batter:

• 10 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened to room temperature (1 1/4 sticks)
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. coarse salt
• 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp. ground allspice
• 1/3 cup buttermilk
• 1 1/4 cups pumpkin puree
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar (lightly packed)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp. almond extract paste (or 1/4 tsp. almond extract)

For the sugar mixture:

• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 4 tbsp. unsalted butter (1/2 stick), melted
• 2 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• Optional: chunky sugar or sprinkles

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare the standard muffin cups by lining the cups with cupcake liners.
2. Prepare the dry mixture by whisking together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg and allspice in a medium-sized bowl. In a small bowl, whisk the buttermilk and pumpkin puree together.
3. In a separate large bowl, beat the softened butter and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Scrape down the bowl as necessary, and add in the vanilla extract & almond extract paste (or extract). With the mixer on low, add in 1/3 of the flour mixture, then 1/2 of the pumpkin mixture. Repeat this, alternating the two mixtures, until all ingredients are just combined. (Be careful not to over-mix.)
4. Scoop 1/3 cup of muffin batter into each muffin cup, and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffin comes out clean (25 – 30 minutes).
5. Allow the muffins to cool in the pan on a wire rack (until the muffins and pan are still warm, but not too hot to the touch). While the muffins are cooling, combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Working with one muffin at a time, brush the melted butter on the top of the muffins and coat the tops of the muffins in the sugar mixture. Allow the muffins to completely cool on a wire rack after. Enjoy!

 

Summer is winding down, and we are celebrating with #BacktoSchoolTreats hosted by Terri from Love and Confections and Christie from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures. All week-long 30 bloggers will be sharing 100+ fantastic recipes for both parents and kids, with breakfasts, snacks, desserts, and drinks to get you back in the school routine. Thank you sponsors for providing the prize packages. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway below!

PRIZE #1 DIXIE CRYSTALS

Dixie Crystals is giving one winner a Keurig K-Select Single-Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker.

Since 1917, Dixie Crystals® has been the South’s choice for high-quality sugar and sweeteners. For generations, Dixie Crystals has been at the heart of family traditions and celebrations. Our pure cane, non-GMO sugar products guarantee that treasured family recipes will turn out right every time. Bake with love and Dixie Crystals.

PRIZE#2 SWEETS & TREATS