Carrie Fehr

Super moist and bursting with fall flavor, these butternut pumpkin muffins are inspired by Tartine Bakery in San Francisco, a beloved local gem known for its artisanal pastry, cakes, and breads. This recipe has become a family favorite, enjoyed not only as muffins but as a travel cake when baked in a loaf pan. It’s perfect with tea, at breakfast, or as a dessert. 

Butternut Pumpkin Muffins

Adapted from Tartine, by Elizabeth Prueitt.

To make the travel cake variation of this Butternut Pumpkin muffin recipe, lightly butter a 9×5-inch loaf pan. Prepare the recipe steps for Butternut Pumpkin muffins and scoop the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake at 325˚F for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool in pan for 20 minutes.

Ingredients:

1 2/3 cups unbleached flour

1 ½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp baking soda

1 tbsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp ground ginger, ¼ tsp allspice

1 cup + 2 tbsp butternut squash puree, see recipe below for butternut squash purée

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 large eggs

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds for topping

Preheat oven to 350˚F and line a 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake paper liners.

Directions:

Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, allspice into a mixing bowl.

In a separate bowl beat together butternut squash puree, oil, sugar, maple syrup, and salt until well mixed.  Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

Add the flour mixture to the butternut squash and mix until smooth.  Do not over mix.

Spoon batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each 3/4 full.  Sprinkle pumpkin seeds over the top of the muffins.

Bake about 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the muffins to cool in the pan before removing.

Butternut Squash Purée

2 pounds butternut squash

1/4 cup water

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Cut the butternut squash into sixths.  Put the butternut squash and water in a roasting pan and cover the pan with aluminum foil.  Bake about 1 hour, it should be soft.  Remove the seeds and skin, and purée in a blender until creamy.