Collegiate Times

Spiced pumpkin muffins with savory cream cheese frosting are a fall must-have for those with a sweet tooth.

Embrace your fall season spirit and splurge on a sweet staple by whipping up a batch of Spiced Pumpkin Muffins topped with Cream Cheese Frosting. Pumpkins aren't just for carving anymore.

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Bake Time: 25-30 minutes

Ingredients:

For the Muffins:

4 eggs

1 cup vegetable oil

2 cups white sugar

1 (15 oz) can pureed pumpkin

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

For the frosting:

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese

1 stick butter

1 cup confection sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

For the muffins:

1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 12 to 15 cup muffin pan with paper baking cups.

2.  In a large bowl stir together eggs, vegetable oil, sugar and pumpkin. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Fold the second mixture into the pumpkin mixture and stir well.

3.  Pour the mixture into the paper lined muffin pan, filling each 3/4 of the way. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until an inserted knife comes out clean.

For the frosting:

1. While the muffins are baking, in a medium bowl, stir together the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Mix in the vanilla and add the confection sugar. Stir until the mixture is a smooth texture, then leave in the fridge until the muffins have cooled.

Spread the desired amount of frosting on each muffin and serve immediately or store covered in the fridge.

A version of this article appeared in the Oct 13 issue of the Collegiate Times.