Apple Pumpkin Muffins

I love coffee.

Pumpkin Pie Spice Latte is not coffee in my book.

Pumpkin Pie Spice and pumpkin spice flavored things drive me crazy.

It reminds me of everything artificial in this world.
I also can not stand scented pumpkin spice candles.

I feel a migraine coming on......

Ok, now we know how strongly I feel about pumpkin pie spice things..........but I actually LOVE real pumpkin and any squash.

If you've ever roasted a whole pumpkin, and added some cinnamon and honey, it is delicious, as are the seeds!!

Pumpkins are not just for Halloween anymore.

Here is my fall pumpkin baking submission, once a year only, and while I would usually be a purist and use fresh roasted pumpkin, here, I used a can of Trader Joe's all natural pumpkin puree.

And regarding "pumpkin pie spice".....make your own.

It's cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves and allspice. Easy peasy.

Pumpkin Apple Muffins:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 small Macoun or Granny Smith apples, diced (I leave peels on, cause I am lazy) and 1 apple sliced for the tops (total of 3 small apples)
cinnamon sugar for the tops

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, spices, baking soda and salt.

Combine eggs, pumpkin and oil; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.
Fold in diced apples.

Using an ice-cream scoop, fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups 3/4 full.
Place a slice of apple on top of each muffin for decoration.

Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar (2 tbsp sugar, mixed w/ a tsp cinnamon).

Bake for 375F for 30-35 minutes.

Makes about 12 normal size muffins, but since I use those larger paper liners (I buy them in Home Goods), the recipe makes 8 bigger muffins.

These smell amazing! Nothing fake going on here!

;)