Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins for Baking Partners # 3 and Halloween

Theme for this month's Baking Partner's Challenge was Muffins or Cupcakes with Pumpkin as star ingredient. Reshmi of Easy Cook, Priya of Cook Like Priya and Julie of Erivum Puliyumm suggested three recipes of muffins and cupcakes. I baked Pumpkin chocolate chips Muffin suggested by Reshmi from Joy of baking. They tasted way too good, very soft, moist and delicious. Kids here loved it. Try out these cupcakes to make the Halloween fun filled and interesting for your kids :-)

Ingredients Used:-

1. 1½ cups (195 grams) all purpose flour
2. 1 teaspoon baking soda
3. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4. ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
5. ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
6. ¼ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
7. ½ teaspoon salt
8. ½ cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
9. 1 cup (200 grams) granulated white sugar
10. 2 large eggs
11. 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
12. ¾ cup (180 ml) solid packed, canned pumpkin puree
13. 1 cup (175 grams) semisweet chocolate chips

How I made It:-

• Preheat oven to 350 degree F (177 degrees C).
• Place rack in the middle of the oven. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners or spray each cup with a non stick vegetable spray.
• In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, ground spices, and salt.
• In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. 
• With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and pumpkin puree, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Fold in the chocolate chips.
• Fill the muffin cups evenly with the batter using two spoons or an ice cream scoop. Place in the oven and bake for about 18 - 20 minutes, or until firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted in the center of one of the muffins comes out clean. 
• Take out and place on a wire rack to cool.
• Makes 12 regular-sized muffins.

Note: The batter can be baked in a 9-inch (23 cm) loaf pan. Butter or spray the loaf pan with a non stick vegetable spray. Bake the loaf in a 350 degree F (177 degree C) oven for about 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean.