Ingredients:
- 1 cup (227g) Cottage Cheese (2% or 4%)
- 1 cup (245g) Pumpkin Purée (not pie filling)
- 2 large Eggs
- 1/2 cup (120ml) Maple Syrup
- 1/4 cup (60ml) Neutral Oil (Canola or Vegetable)
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 3/4 cups (210g) All-Purpose Flour
- 1/4 cup (50g) Brown Sugar (packed)
- 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 2 teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice Blend
- Coarse Turbinado Sugar (optional, for topping)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with paper or silicone liners.
- Place the cottage cheese, pumpkin purée, eggs, maple syrup, oil, and vanilla extract into a blender or food processor. Blend until completely smooth and creamy, ensuring no lumps remain.
- In a separate large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice blend.
- Pour the blended wet mixture into the bowl containing the dry ingredients.
- Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the ingredients together just until the dry streaks of flour disappear. Stop mixing immediately to avoid overdeveloping the gluten.
- Divide the batter evenly among the 12 prepared muffin cups, filling each cup about 2/3 to 3/4 full.
- If using, sprinkle the tops lightly with coarse turbinado sugar for texture.
- Bake for 20–24 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached.
- Allow the muffins to cool in the tin for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.