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 StewartIngredients:
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:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare the standard muffin cups by lining the cups with cupcake liners.
- 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.
- 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.)
- 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).
- 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
PRIZE#3 TORANI
We believe in flavor for all and opportunity for all. In the beginning, Rinaldo and Ezilda Torre visited family in Lucca, Italy. They returned home to San Francisco with handwritten recipes, which they used to create authentic flavored syrups. Needless to say, the syrups we’re a hit. A lot has happened since then, but our belief has remained the same: Flavor for All, Opportunity for All. It means that not only are the products we make inclusive and approachable, but so is our success. We believe everything starts with people, and the only way to truly succeed is to succeed together. Today, you can use more than 100 of our naturally flavored syrups, sauces and beverage bases in coffees, sodas, teas, smoothies, cocktails and more.
PRIZE#4 TAYLOR & COLLEDGE
Taylor & Colledge is giving one winner a selection of their gourmet extract pastes, including Organic Vanilla Bean Baking Paste, Lavender Baking Paste, Almond Baking Paste, Coconut Baking Paste, Lemon Baking Paste, and Peppermint Baking Paste.
Taylor & Colledge has been making award winning Vanilla products since 1897. As a family owned business, Taylor & Colledge has always been committed to the fair, ethical and sustainable sourcing of Vanilla. Over the years they have pioneered a number of country specific programs to support growers, their families and to make the vanilla industry more sustainable. They have also taken this knowledge and expertise and applied it to their full range of baking pastes. Whether it’s sourcing the finest peppermint (mentha piperita) to make the best Peppermint Oil, or using only real Almond Milk and Oil of Bitter Almond for their natural Almond Extract Paste, Taylor & Colledge is committed to transform your baking with premium quality pastes, made with only the finest ingredients from around the world.
PRIZE#5 FLAHAVAN’S
Flahavan’s is giving one winner an oat prize package including a jar for overnight oats and a selection of Rolled Oats, Quick to Cook Oats, and Steel Cut Oats.
Ireland’s oldest family-owned food business is situated at the family mill in the Southeast of Ireland. Flahavan’s can trace its oat milling history back to 1785 and its expertise in producing naturally creamy oatmeal back over 230 years. A seven-generation family business, Flahavan’s is the bestselling oatmeal brand in Ireland, where people eat more oatmeal per capita than anywhere else in the world. Flahavan’s is a founding member of Origin Green, the first-ever national initiative to mandate 100% sustainability for food exports.
Thank you to #BacktoSchoolTreats Sponsors: Dixie Crystals, Sweets & Treats, Torani, Taylor & Colledge, and Flahavan’s for providing the prizes free of charge. These companies also provided the bloggers with samples and product to use for #BacktoSchoolTreats recipes. All opinions are my own. The #BacktoSchoolTreats giveaway is open to U.S. residents, age 18 & up. All entries for the winner will be checked and verified. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning.
Five (5) winners will be selected. The prize packages will be sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. Winners have 48 hours to respond once chosen, or they forfeit the prize and alternate winner(s) will be chosen. The #BacktoSchoolTreats Bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members in their household cannot enter or win the giveaway. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the #BacktoSchoolTreats posts or entry.
Check out these #BacktoSchoolTreats recipes from our Bloggers:
Back to School Snacks:
Chocolate Covered Honeycomb Candy from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
Funfetti Rice Krispies Treats from Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats
Mochi Donuts with Salted Caramel Glaze from Simply Healthyish
On the Go Granola Pouch from Jen Around the World
Back to School Desserts:
Back to School Sugar Cookies from Love and Confections
Mini Pearls of Wisdom Cookies from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Pumpkin Donut Muffins from The Nifty Foodie
Back to School Drinks:
Caramel Apple Iced Tea from Jolene’s Recipe Journal
Caramel Macchiato Iced Coffee Cubes from Nik Snacks
Oatmeal Mango Lassi from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures