I love seasons. maybe it’s part of growing up & recognizing how fast time flies or maybe it’s part of my personal gratitude journey – but I have been working this year to better embrace the beauty in every season. An amazing podcast episode sticks with me still ( @emilypfreeman + #thenextrightthingpodcast). it discussed how we can transform our space during the season without a million decorations screaming “it’s fall, y’all !” (although those are totally fine).
this year I have been noticing how my body + soul craves change with the seasons. change in scents, scenery, music, activities and foods & have been intentionally creating a seasonal tone in our spaces.
here are a few ways I am looking to fulfill this craving without spending millions at hobby lobby or target $1 section:
- seek out & enjoy seasonal foods– including produce in-season, but also reserving our favorite seasonal treats for their intended season to make them extra special. I am also finding/creating seasonal recipes that will be our go-to’s
- music to set the mood – this is was a great suggestions from the podcast – I have been filing songs into seasonal spotify playlists to bring an atmosphere into my home/car that collides with the season.
- building traditions – while my humans are small, we are trying to choose fun seasonal traditions for them to grow up doing, and build up these experiences to make fun year round. we try to make these experience outdoors when possible to truly enjoy the changes in temperature + scenery.
- seasonal scents – this is still a work in progress. I have big candle-making goals – but I want to embrace essential oils/candles that coincide with seasons. This can also look like baking bread or spiced cider simmering on the stove.
these + a few meaningful decorations (porch mums, cozy burnt orange blanket and a few decorative pumpkins) are our fall winners!
the recipe can be easily tweaked to include different blends of fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds. oats would be another delicious addition! sweetener is per your preference -if you follow the recipe as-is, the muffins are very lightly sweetened. adding more honey, monk fruit extract or sugar could lend additional sweetness if desired.
pumpkin, apple + cranberry mini muffins
Equipment
- mini muffin tin
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup pumpkin puree *not pumpkin pie filling
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 each banana, mashed
- 1 each egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 drizzle honey optional
- 1 cup whole wheat flour *GF flour if needed
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup ground flax seed
- 1 cup diced apple 1 medium sweet apple, unpeeled
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries reduced-sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Coat a mini muffin tin with cooking spray or insert mini muffin liners.
- Using a standing or hand mixer on medium speed, cream together pumpkin, applesauce and banana.
- Turn mixer to low speed and add in egg, vanilla and drizzle of honey if desired.
- Add in dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt and flax seed – and mix on low until fully incorporated.
- Mix in apples and cranberries with a spoon or spatula.
- Fill muffin cups about 3/4 full – makes ~36 mini muffins
- Bake for 10 minutes
- Allow muffins to cool. Can keep 1-2 days on counter, a week refrigerated or frozen up to 3 months.