PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS

I absolutely love pumpkin!  Pumpkin cake, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin/pecan pie, pumpkin biscuits, etc . . . I think you get the picture!  I was so sad when I found out about the pumpkin shortage.  I went from store to store searching for canned pumpkin, but all I found was empty shelves, until yesterday.  Costco finally got some pumpkin in!  Hallelujah!!!  Costco was also giving away samples of some pumpkin bread/muffin mix you can buy in a box.  They made it into mini muffins and I thought they were really cute, so I had to make my own.     

I found this recipe over at Mel's Kitchen Cafe.  It is under her section titled "The Best Recipes", where she includes her very favorite recipes.  So, I knew they had to be good.  She also included how to make your own pumpkin pie spice.  I already had a store bought jar of pumpkin pie spice, but when it runs out, I will try her recipe.  I think pumpkin and chocolate go so well together.  I cut the recipe in half and got exactly 24 mini muffins.  These are really good and I love that they are mini, so you can just pop them in your mouth with no mess whatsoever.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

adapted from: here

(Printable Recipe)

1 2/3 c. flour

1 c. sugar

1 Tbl. pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 c. canned pumpkin

1/2 c. butter, soft

1 c. chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients and then add chocolate chips.  Divide evenly into greased muffin tin.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes (or 11-12 minutes for mini muffins).  Do not overbake or they will be dry.  Yield: about 24 muffins (or 48 mini muffins).

Pumpkin Pie Spice (yield: 1 tsp.) (3 tsp. = 1 Tbl.)

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

1/8 tsp. nutmeg

1/8 tsp. ground cloves