Pumpkin Gingerbread Muffins

Instructions

1. Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly coat a standard 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick spray.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, white whole wheat flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. In a separate, larger mixing bowl, stir together the pumpkin puree, maple syrup, molasses, melted butter, and eggs until well blended.
3. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, then by hand with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, stir very gently to combine; stop as soon as the flour disappears. The batter will seem loose and a little lumpy.
4. Divide the batter among the muffin cups, filling them no more than 3/4 of the way to the top. Sprinkle the tops of each muffin with 1/2 teaspoon sparkling sugar.
5. Bake the muffins for 20 to 22 minutes, until the tops spring back lightly when touched and a tester inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Place the muffin pan on a wire rack and let the muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Carefully remove the muffins from the pan and transfer to the rack to cool completely. These taste even better as they rest. Enjoy!