Pocono Pabulum for Mind & Body: Pumpkin Cupcakes

Pumpkin Cupcakes

Happy (belated) Halloween! This time of year, pumpkin spice is everywhere. Grocery store shelves are filled with pumpkin coffee cakes, pumpkin coffee, pumpkin cookies, even Cheerios are now made in pumpkin spice flavor. So of course I have to post yet another pumpkin recipe. These are cupcakes I made for a Halloween party last year, and are very similar to my recipe for Maple and Chia Pumpkin Bars. They use a whole can of pumpkin, so they are very moist, full of real pumpkin flavor, and super simple to mix together. They are great in donut form as well, eaten without frosting as a healthy morning meal, or decorated for Halloween festivities. If you are like me and have a lot of left over candy corn now that Halloween is passed, they will make a fantastic treat to surprise your kids with even after the sweetest of holidays has passed. Maybe I'll even make them today, since it is officially my half birthday, and I should at least eat (half) a cupcake!

Pumpkin Cupcakes

wet ingredients

1 (15 oz.) can organic pumpkin

2/3 C. organic canola oil

2/3 C. soaked chia seeds *

2 organic eggs

2/3 C. organic brown sugar

1/2 C. organic white sugar

2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1 1/3 C. organic whole wheat pastry flour

2 T. ground flax seed

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. ground nutmeg

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

1/2 tsp. ginger

1/2 tsp. salt

cream cheese frosting, optional

* you can substitute 2 additional eggs instead of the soaked chia mixture if desired.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin, canola oil, soaked chia seeds, eggs, brown sugar, white sugar, and vanilla. Beat on low for 2 minutes. In a medium bowl, sift together the remaining ingredients, and then add slowly to the wet mixture, beating for an additional 2 minutes, until fully combined. Pour batter into a paper lined muffin tin and bake at 350F for about 25 minutes. Makes 18 muffins/ cupcakes. If desired, frost with cream cheese icing when cooled and decorate with candy corns.