Pumpkin Cupcakes for a Quick Breakfast or Snack
With an active toddler and another baby on the way, it can be a challenge to find snacks or dessert items that are both healthy and fast. In addition, my daughter is becoming increasingly picky when it comes to food; her breakfast meal can be especially difficult. We like to get her day started with a somewhat nutritious meal as much as possible, preferably made at home with minimal ingredients, and have this fall discovered one food she just cant seem to get enough of: pumpkin.
My husband and I arent terribly fond of pumpkin ourselves. Sure, well eat pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving or a slice of pumpkin bread here or there, but it’s not something wed seek out. However, since discovering just how much our daughter loves the taste of the orange stuff, weve changed our habits to accommodate her and have begun to eat healthier ourselves in the mean time.
The best and easiest pumpkin recipe I have found is for pumpkin cupcakes. These are simply made with a box of spice cake mix and a can of pureed pumpkin mixed together and baked. Can’t get much easier than that, can we In fact, if your child is old enough, he or she can even help out with this one, by opening the box of cake mix, stirring the bowl or helping to fill the muffin tins.
To make, combine a box of spice cake mix with a 15 ounce can of pureed pumpkin in a large bowl. Stir until moistened, then use an electric mixer to beat for about 2 minutes on medium speed. Pour into a prepared cupcake tin and bake at 350 degrees for15-20 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pans on a wire racks for 10 minutes, then remove to wire racks to cool completely.
Serve with cream cheese frosting, or plain. The cupcakes bake up to a somewhat dense, cake-like consistency, and are a great toddler breakfast or snack.
brit says...
trader joe’s sells a really good pumpkin muffin cake mix too. yum yum!
Lindsey Murphy says...
Wow, great post, I’ll Digg this, and share it to my friend, thx!