Healthy Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

• nonstick cooking spray
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree
• 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger root
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/3 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 1/2 cup minced crystallized ginger

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray 12 muffin tins with nonstick spray.

2. Place the butter in a mixing bowl and beat at high speed with an electric mixer for 30 seconds. Gradually add the sugar and continue to beat until the mixture is very fluffy.

3. Add the egg and mix on low speed to combine. Add the pumpkin puree and grated ginger root and mix again.

4. Sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice together.

5. Fold in half of the flour mixture. Stir in the buttermilk. Fold in the remaining flour mixture and the crystallized ginger. The batter should be smooth, but be careful to not overmix.

6. Fill the prepared tins halfway with the batter. Bake until the muffins are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, about 25 minutes.

7. Transfer the muffin tins to a wire rack and cool for 10 minutes before removing the muffins.

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 muffin
Amount Per Serving
Calories 137
Total Fat 4 g
Saturated Fat 3 g
Protein 2 g
Total Carbohydrate 23 g
Dietary Fiber 1 g
Sodium 126 mg
Percent Calories from Fat 28%
Percent Calories from Protein 6%
Percent Calories from Carbohydrate 67%

Comments

• 
  

• Tip of the Month

  January 2012

  Smart Starbucks and Steakhouse Choices

  Starbucks Choices
  • Peppermint Choc Mocha- 520cals, 20g fat
  • Pumpkin Frappuccino- 420cals, 13g fat
  • Flavored Latte- 360clas, 16g fat
  • Latte- 220cals, 15g fat
  • Coffee w/cream and sugar 180 calories
  • Cappuccino- 120cals, 4g fat
  • Coffee w/sugar 90 calories
  • Coffee w/cream 90 calories
  • Coffee w/whole milk 60 calories
  • Coffee w/skim milk 30-50 calories

  Order a coffee with cream and sugar every work day?  Add 900 calories per week to your diet.  That is over 13 pounds in one year.

  Enjoy a cappuccino every day instead, and you save 300 calories per week, and cut 4 pounds per year from the above diet.

  Go to coffee with skim milk and Splenda?  Now you are only adding 250 calories per week, and under 4 pounds per year in coffee weight.

  Enjoy a flavored frappucino or latte once per week?  That could add up to 26,000 calories, and another 7.5 pounds per year.

  Just your coffee could account for 20 pounds of caloric intake annually!

  Steakhouse Choices
  • Caesars Salad- 800cals
  • Chopped Salad, 320cals
  • Spinach Salad, 170cals click here for more »

  click here to read past tips

• Recipe of the Month

  January 2012

  Drink alcohol a little more wisely!

  Drink Choices
  • Eggnog, 350cals
  • White Russian, 260cals
  • Riesling, 160-200cals
  • Shot of liquor, 70-125cals
  • Tonic or Soda, 100cals
  • Winter Beer, 150-200cals
  • Beer, 150cals
  • Bloody Mary, 130cals
  • Wine, 120cals
  • Light Beer, 55-85cals
  • Champagne, 85cals
  Enjoy a small glass of eggnog and two gin and tonics, and you have drank 750 worthless calories.
  Or, start with some champagne, and enjoy two glasses of wine and you only have drank 330 calories, less than half of your first choices.