I know we are barely into the Halloween season, but I am thinking about my holiday baking. Each year I create gift baskets for family and friends with goodies I make with love. I take time and care to make sure each basket suits the recipient’s favorites as well as any health issues.  Some are diabetic. Some are gluten and lactose intolerant. Another is allergic to walnuts. Today’s treats are Pumpkin Spice Muffins and Thick and Chewy Pumpkin Spice Cookies.

This year I begin my baking adventure with a trip through some favorite online blogs and recipe sites. I make the rounds of Smitten Kitchen, Taste Spotting, Steamy Kitchen and Food Gawker. But today, I found this over the top easy 2 ingredient cookie and muffin recipe I just had to try. That’s right…two ingredients. Of course, I doctored it up a bit as I always do and made it three ingredients. I found this quick and easy recipe on All Recipies dot com.

I have searched for the perfect soft cookie recipe for years. I make a wonderful fruit cake cookie that I love, but it has probably 20 ingredients. So finding a two ingredient cookie/muffin recipe seems almost like cheating. So I am off to Walmart to peruse the entire holiday baking supply selection (focusing on Christmas, of course). See the entire shopping trip video below!!! It’s just 3 minutes of viewing pleasure and the music will make you smile!!!

Hubby loves to clip and use coupons…me not so much. I do however,  go online and search the Walmart website for any promotional items. I love the fact that I can view my local circular online.

I purchased 2 Duncan Hines Spice cake mixes and some other holiday baking items, as well as canned pumpkin (I usually make my own but I am in a hurry today), mini chocolate chips and Craisins. I love those holiday muffin cups and the Duncan Hines Cream Cheese frosting (for my hubby).

Thick, Chewy Pumpkin Spice Cookies

This recipe is almost too easy. Just dump the cake mix and pumpkin in a bowl and stir. It is low fat and amazingly yummy!!! Anyone…yes ANYONE…can make these cookies. I did decide that I would like more flavor so I added some pumpkin pie spice to the two ingredients.

Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Same recipe…great fall muffins!!!

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the cake mix and pumpkin. Mix just until blended.
3. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. The batter is very thick and does not settle easily, so drop the muffin pan gently a few times and smooth the tops with a damp spatula.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F for 18-20 minutes or until muffins test done.
5. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

 

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias.  All opinions are my own.