Healthy Pumpkin Muffins

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 Tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 1/2 cups pumpkin purée
• 1/2 cup reduced fat buttermilk
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup chopped walnuts, pecans or chocolate chips, plus more for topping

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with baking cups.

2. 2

   In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt.

3. 3

   In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the pumpkin purée, buttermilk, eggs, olive oil and vanilla extract.

4. 4

   Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir just until combined.

5. 5

   Stir in the chopped nuts or chocolate chips (optional) then scoop the batter into the cups, filling each 3/4 full.

6. 6

   Bake the muffins until a toothpick inserted comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a rack to cool completely.