EMMY'S PUMPKIN-CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS

"Don't dismiss this as an improbable combination; the mellow, distinctive taste of pumpkin is a delightful counterpoint to the chocolate chips. But if you're still anxious about the medley, substitute cinnamon chips, which will give you a much more traditional taste. For a more complex taste, add 1/4 cup Toffee Flavored Bits to the muffins along with the chocolate chips; your family will be back for seconds, guaranteed!"

FOR THE MUFFINS:
1 2/3 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup chocolate chips (or cinnamon chips)
1/4 cup Toffee Flavored Bits (optional)
1/2 cup diced walnuts or pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup melted butter (OR melted vegetable shortening OR 1/3 cup vegetable oil)
2 large eggs
1 cup (half of a 15-ounce can) solid-pack pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
1/3 cup water
FOR THE GLAZE:
1 cup glazing or confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 tablespoon milk
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg. Stir in the chips and bits of your choice.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the vanilla, melted fat, eggs, pumpkin and water. Make a well in the dry ingredients, fill it with the liquid ingredients, and mix vigorously until everything is well-blended, scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl as you go.

Spoon the batter into the lightly greased or paper-lined cups of a 12-cup muffin pan. The muffin cups should be filled quite full, using a generously rounded 1/4-cup of batter for each muffin.

Bake the muffins in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Remove the muffins from the oven; let them cool for 5 minutes, then transfer them from the pan to a rack to cool completely. Store them in a plastic bag or other airtight container.

TO MAKE THE GLAZE:
Just before serving, stir together the glaze ingredients, and drizzle over the muffins.

Source: 12 muffins
Source: King Arthur Flour