Pumpkin Stout Raisin Muffins - #MuffinMonday

Pumpkin + Stout + Raisins = Huh?

Let me explain. Some time ago, I saw a Jamaican chef Andre Cooks post about a sweet potato ice cream with Guinness-rehydrated raisins that he used to sell. I immediately thought of reworking it with pumpkin into muffins. But life lifed and I never made them. He reposted it recently so the bug bit me again.  Then the extra push was given by another Jamaican chef, Morris Time Cooking, who posted a recipe for pumpkin punch. 

Jamaicans love to blend things up and then drink it. This Jamaican? Not so much. Pumpkin punch is pumpkin, spices, condensed milk, and Dragon Stout (a Jamaican stout similar to Guinness). There are two nopes on that ingredient list. I don't drink milky drinks and I don't like Dragon Stout nor Guinness. I'm a walking contradiction though because my favourite ice cream is a stout ice cream from a world-renowned ice cream shop here (Devon House). Ask National Geographic how good it is if you doubt me. 

So yes, put that all together and now you have these muffins. 

I'm not the only one with amazing muffins for you this Monday. Scroll down for more deliciousness!

Pumpkin Stout Raisin Muffins 

Yield: 18 muffins

Ingredients

3/4 cup raisins 

3/4 cup Dragon Stout (or a stout of your choice)

15 oz of pumpkin puree ( I made my own)

1/2 cup oil 

3 eggs

1 1/3 cup sugar 

295 grams flour 

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions

Soak the raisins in the Dragon Stout until plump. I soaked mine overnight. 

Grease a muffin pan. I used my standard and mini pans. The recipe makes about 18 standard-size ones. 

Preheat oven to 350 F. 

Whisk the pumpkin puree, oil, eggs, and sugar. 

In another bowl whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. 

Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet. 

Drain the raisins and then fold into the batter. 

Scoop into the muffin wells. You can almost fill the pans. 

Bake 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

• Cranberry Orange Muffins from Jolene's Recipe Journal
• Peach Jam Muffins from Food Lust People Love
• Pecan Butterscotch Muffins from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Pumpkin Stout Raisin Muffins from Passion Kneaded
• Sourdough Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins from Zesty South Indian Kitchen

#MuffinMonday is a group of muffin loving bakers who get together once a month to bake muffins. You can see all our of lovely muffins by following our Pinterest board. Updated links for all of our past events and more information about Muffin Monday, can be found on our home page.

Ginger Apple Pear Muffins - #MuffinMonday

Happy last Monday of the month! 

When do you usually start Christmas shopping? I feel so behind on everything that I think I probably need to start figuring out Christmas right now so I don't miss it. I've known what I wanted to order for my mother's birthday for months! Yet, somehow, her birthday is this week and I still haven't ordered it. Usually, I have a cake plan for her but I haven't even figured that out. This morning I thought of doing something with coconut. But just my luck, there were no dry coconuts on the trees today and I didn't have time to go to the supermarket.   I just can't seem to keep up with the speed of time. Hopefully, I get her birthday stuff done before Christmas. 

Anyway, you know the Muffin Monday drill. Delicious muffins await you below. Just scroll down!

Ginger Apple Pear Muffins

Yield: 12 muffins

Ingredients

2 cups flour 

3/4 cup sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 tablespoon ginger powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup milk 

1/2 cup oil 

1 egg

200 grams of chopped apples & pears (I did half and half)

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 F. 

Line a muffin tin with cupcake wrappers. 

Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, ginger, and salt. 

In a separate bowl, whisk milk, oil, and the egg. 

Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. 

Next, gently fold in the chopped fruit. 

Divide the batter evenly among the 12 muffin wells. 

Bake for 5 minutes then lower the oven to 375 F. Bake for another 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into a muffin comes out clean. 

Cool and enjoy!

Notes

I was tempted to add a streusel to these and I'm glad that I didn't. My brother said he enjoyed them because they were not super sweet. 

• Buttery Cinnamon Pumpkin Muffins from Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
• Ginger Apple Pear Muffins from Passion Kneaded
• Pizza Muffins from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Raspberry Yogurt Jam Muffins from Food Lust People Love

#MuffinMonday is a group of muffin loving bakers who get together once a month to bake muffins. You can see all our of lovely muffins by following our Pinterest board. Updated links for all of our past events and more information about Muffin Monday, can be found on our home page.

Zucchini Snickerdoodle Muffins - #MuffinMonday

*dusts off the cobwebs*

Goodness. It feels like it's been so long since I've been here but I just looked and I did do Muffin Monday in June. July and August were such overwhelming months work-wise and health-wise that it feels like it has been ages since I pulled out a baking pan. The day after the last Muffin Monday I had a follow-up at my dermatologist. It should have been an appointment filled with great news. The medication worked. My issue cleared. Let's celebrate! However, my dermatologist noticed that my blood pressure was extremely high even though I felt fine. I monitored it for a couple weeks and while it lowered, it still was pretty high. One Sunday it came down to bake bagels for Bread Bakers or go to the doctor. I reluctantly chose doctor. Long story short, I'm now medicated. Bleh. I had grand plans to exercise and do this and that to help but work won't let me great. 

ANYWAY, let's talk muffins. Someone in a vanilla group I'm in mentioned some zucchini snickerdoodle bread she made and I thought - "That's it! Those will be my muffins for July." Luckily my supermarket still had zucchinis. I ate so many of them that I had to skip dinner. They are pretty delicious. They aren't terribly sweet as I didn't use all the topping in the recipe below. 

More muffins for you below! Scroll down to see and visit them all. 

Zucchini Snickerdoodle Muffins 

Yield: ~18 muffins

Ingredients

3 eggs

1 1/4 cups sugar

1 cup oil 

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 cups flour 

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

2 cups grated zucchini

Topping

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon 

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 F and line a muffin pan. I used a 12-cup standard muffin pan plus 12 mini muffins. You can get about 18 standard muffins. 

Whisk together eggs, sugar, oil, and vanilla. In another bowl whisk flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, cream of tartar. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. The batter is THICK! Gently fold in the grated zucchini. 

In a small bowl, whisk together the ingredients for the topping.

Scoop batter into each muffin well until a bit less than half filled. I added about 2 tablespoons. Sprinkle in some of the topping. I didn't use too much here. Maybe about half a teaspoon but I definitely could use more. Top with additional batter then sprinkle with more of the topping mixture. Sprinkle as much or as little as you want. I didn't use a ton. 

Bake standard muffins for 15-20 minutes or until golden and a toothpick inserted inside comes out clean. Make sure you're not seeing melted sugar on the toothpick. 

Cool. Enjoy. 

• Carrot, Mango and Zucchini Muffins from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Muffins from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Orange Blueberry Zucchini Muffins from Jolene's Recipe Journal
• Orange Glazed Pecan Muffins from Food Lust People Love
• Vanilla Pudding Zucchini Bread Muffins from Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
• Zucchini Snickerdoodle Muffins from Passion Kneaded

#MuffinMonday is a group of muffin loving bakers who get together once a month to bake muffins. You can see all our of lovely muffins by following our Pinterest board. Updated links for all of our past events and more information about Muffin Monday, can be found on our home page.

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