Pumpkin Apple Spice Muffins

I love this combo of flavors. And I love muffins. A lot.

I had one can of pumpkin left from Christmas and decided to put it to good use.

These are full of soft, sweet apple bits and beautiful paired with pumpkin pie spices. These are especially delicious when paired with a hot cup of tea or coffee.


Pumpkin Apple Spice Muffins
Adapted from: Mels Kitchen Cafe

Ingredients

1 2/3 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice**
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 Granny Smith apple, peeled and finely chopped

Topping:
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice**
3 tablespoons sugar


Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture. Combine pumpkin, butter, and eggs in another bowl and add to dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened. Fold in chopped apple and spoon into greased muffin pans, filling two-thirds full.

Combine 3 tablespoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice; sprinkle evenly over muffins.

Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans immediately, and cool on wire racks.

**Tip: If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice, use the following combination: 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ginger and 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg and 1/8 teaspoon cloves. Mix together and voila - you have the equivalent of 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice.

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