Hungry Happy Halloween

Ingredient of the Week: The California Pumpkin

The pumpkin originated from North America. The pumpkin comes from the squash family. You could say it's a very large squash that has a very unique color and taste of it's own. Pumpkins can be used for many purposes especially during Halloween. Pumpkins can be used to make various meals ranging from deliciously sweet pie to heart warming soup. This week we will focus on producing a couple of perfect meals for a scary Halloween night.

Creamy Orangy Scarecakes

A list of starting ingredients that you will need:

1. 2 cups all-purpose flour
2. 1 teaspoon baking soda
3. 1 teaspoon baking powder
4. 1 teaspoon coarse salt
5. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6. 1 teaspoon ground ginger
7. 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
8. 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
9. 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
10. 1 cup granulated sugar
11. 1 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
12. 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
13. 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
14. 1 can of Orange Cream Frosting
15. 1/2 cup of chocolate chips
    

Steps to cooking it:

1. First, preheat the oven to a moderate 350 degrees F. Place cupcake pans with paper liners; set this aside for later. In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice; set this aside and let it sit for a bit.
2. In a large bowl we will then whisk together, brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, and eggs. Slowly add the dry ingredients, and whisk until it becomes a smooth cream. Then whisk in pumpkin puree.
3. Divide the batter evenly among liners, filling each about halfway. Then bake until tops spring back when touched, and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes, rotate the pans once if needed. Transfer to a wire rack; let it cool completely.
4. After the Cupcakes have cooled down take the orange frosting and cover the top of each cake. Then place chocolate chips unto the cakes in a way desired to look like a scary face.

This will serve 18 cupcakes. If you enjoyed the cupcakes, tune in Sunday for another pumpkin recipe.

By: John Nguyen