Ingredients:
- 1 ¾ cups All-Purpose Flour
- ½ cup Granulated Sugar
- ½ cup packed Light Brown Sugar
- 1 ½ tsp Baking Powder
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- ½ tsp Fine Sea Salt
- 2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
- 1 tsp Ground Ginger
- ½ tsp Ground Nutmeg
- ¼ tsp Ground Cloves (or Allspice)
- 1 cup Pumpkin Purée (Unsweetened, not pie filling)
- ½ cup Neutral Oil (e.g., Canola or Vegetable)
- 2 Large Eggs (room temperature)
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to a high temperature (220°C / 425°F). Line the 12 muffin cups with paper liners.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and all spices thoroughly until uniformly blended and lump-free. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the pumpkin purée, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract until completely smooth and emulsified.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
- Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the mixture until just combined. Stop mixing when there are still a few streaks of flour visible to avoid overmixing and developing tough gluten.
- Using an ice cream scoop, divide the batter evenly among the 12 prepared muffin cups, filling them nearly full (about ¾ full) for high domes.
- Place the tin in the preheated 220°C (425°F) oven for exactly 5 minutes. This initial high heat blast is crucial for creating the domed top.
- After 5 minutes, without opening the oven door, reduce the oven temperature to 175°C (350°F).
- Continue baking for another 17–20 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre of a muffin comes out clean.
- Remove the tin from the oven. Let the muffins cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer them immediately to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.