Pumpkin Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 1/3 cups (325 ml) all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp. (7 ml) baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. (10 ml) cinnamon

1/2 tsp. (2 ml) ground ginger

1/8 tsp. (1 ml) salt

2 large eggs

1 1/4 cups (300 ml) granulated sugar

1 1/4 cups cooked and cooled pumpkin puree

1/2 cup vegetable oil


Preparation:

  • Lightly grease muffin tin or place paper muffin cups in muffin tin.
  • Preheat oven to 350F (180C).
  • In a large bowl, whisk flour with spices, salt, baking powder and soda.
  • In another large bowl, whisk eggs with sugar, pumpkin puree and oil.
  • Combine mixtures and stir until just combined.
  • Fill muffin cups.
  • Bake 20-22 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean.
  • Remove from oven and set aside to cool for 5 minutes.
  • Remove muffins from tin and cool on a rack completely.

Tip: You can use prepared pumpkin pie filling instead of pumpkin puree.


Real Cooking
Did You Know?
The origin of pumpkins is not definitively known, although they are thought to have originated in North America. The oldest evidence, pumpkin-related seeds dating between 7000 and 5500 B.C., were found in Mexico.

Since some squash share the same botanical classifications as pumpkins, the names are frequently used interchangeably. In general, pumpkin stems are more rigid, prickly, and angular (with an approximate five-degree angle) than squash stems, which are generally softer, more rounded, and more flared where joined to the fruit.

Pumpkins generally weigh 9–18 lbs (4–8 kg) with the largest (of the species C. maxima) capable of reaching a weight of over 75 lbs (34 kg). The pumpkin varies greatly in shape, ranging from oblate through oblong. The rind is smooth and usually lightly ribbed. Although pumpkins are usually orange or yellow, some fruits are dark green, pale green, orange-yellow, white, red and gray.

Pumpkins are monoecious, having both male and female flowers on the same plant. The female flower is distinguished by the small ovary at the base of the petals. These bright and colorful flowers have extremely short life spans and may only open for as short a time as one day. The color of pumpkins is derived from the orange pigments abundant in them. The main nutrients are lutein and both alpha and beta carotene, the latter of which generates vitamin A in the body.