Pumpkin Pie Muffins

Description
Makes 12 muffins

Ingredients

 * 2 cups flour
 * ¾ cups packed brown sugar
 * 1½ teaspoons baking powder
 * ¼ teaspoon baking soda
 * ½ teaspoon salt
 * 1 teaspoon cinnamon
 * ½ teaspoon ginger
 * ¼ teaspoon cloves
 * ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
 * ¾ cup canned pumpkin
 * ½ cup butter, melted and cooled
 * ¼ cup buttermilk
 * 2 eggs, lightly beaten
 * 3 tablespoons molasses
 * 1 teaspoon vanilla
 * ¾ cup coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts
 * ¾ cup chopped dates (optional)

Directions

 * 1) Preheat oven to 400°F.
 * 2) Grease twelve muffin cups.
 * 3) In a large bowl, stir together 9 ingredients.
 * 4) In another bowl, stir together pumpkin, butter, buttermilk, eggs, molasses and vanilla until blended.
 * 5) Make a well in center of dry ingredients; add pumpkin mixture and stir just to combine.
 * 6) Stir in pecans and dates.
 * 7) Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups; bake 20 to 25 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in center of one muffin comes out clean.
 * 8) Remove to wire rack.
 * 9) Cool 5 minutes before removing muffins from cups; finish cooling on rack.