These Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins capture the essence of doughnuts with their cakelike interior and sugar-coated exterior. Flavored with pumpkin puree, they take on the feel of fall.
Ingredients
For the batter10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
3 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for pan
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 1/4 cups pure pumpkin puree (from a 15-ounce can)
3/4 cup light brown sugar
2 large egg
For the sugar coating3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
Method* Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour 12 standard muffin cups.
* Make batter: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and allspice.
* In a small bowl, whisk together buttermilk and pumpkin puree. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
* Beat in eggs, one at a time, scraping down bowl as needed. With mixer on low, add flour mixture in three additions, alternating with two additions pumpkin mixture, and beat to combine.
* Spoon 1/3 cup batter into each muffin cup and bake until a toothpick inserted in center of a muffin comes out clean, 30 minutes.
* Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine granulated sugar and cinnamon. Let muffins cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack.
* Working with one at a time, remove muffins from pan, brush all over with butter, then toss to coat in sugar mixture.
* Let muffins cool completely on a wire rack.