Pumpkin Brownie Muffins by Elise

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup butter, melted

1 1/2 cups white sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 eggs

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Favorite frosting*

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8x8 inch baking pan or

or prep a cupcake pan

Stir the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl

In another bowl, stir together the melted butter, sugar, and vanilla extract; beat in the eggs one at a time with a spoon. 

Gradually add the flour mixture, and stir the batter until it's evenly moistened. 

Divide the batter in half in two separate bowls.

 In one bowl of batter, stir in the pumpkin puree, walnuts, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg mix and stir

In the other bowl of batter, add the cocoa powder and chocolate chips mix and stir.

Spread 1/2 of the chocolate batter into the bottom of the prepared baking pan, 

and follow with 1/2 of the pumpkin batter

 Repeat the layers, ending with a pumpkin layer, and drag a kitchen knife or small spatula gently through the layers in a swirling motion, to create a marbled appearance.  

Bake in the preheated oven until the brownies begin to pull away from the sides of the pan, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. 

Cool in the pan, *top with your favorite frosting, cut into squares, and serve.

Pumpkin season is always fun.  There's SO many things you can do with pumpkins.  We love baking with pumpkin puree especially when chocolate is added into the mix.  Ever had pumpkin and chocolate?  If not, this is the year to try it!!  Elise had bake these muffins for her co-workers (seems she's been doing that a lot lately ;)  )  But she did leave us some.  Obviously, they disappeared in no time, time to make some more!  Elise?!?