Pumpkin Muffins

Serves 12

Ingredients:

Muffins:

• 1 1/2 cups pumpkin, chopped

• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

• 1/2 cup rice malt syrup

• 2 eggs

• 1/4 cup milk (any type)

• 1 1/2 cup wholemeal spelt flour (or GF flour)

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1/2 tsp ground ginger

• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

• 2 tsp ground cinnamon

Icing:

• 3/4 cup reduced-fat cream cheese

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 1 tbsp icing sugar

• 1/3 cup walnuts, roughly chopped

Method:

1. Preheat an oven to 180c.

2. Add the pumpkin to a pan of water and bring to the boil. Boil for 5-7 minutes or until the pumpkin is very soft. Once soft, drain the water, mash the pumpkin and set it aside

3. In a large bowl whisk together the olive oil, rice malt syrup, eggs, and milk. Then add the flour, baking powder, ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon and mix until just combined

4. Mix in the mashed pumpkin

5. Spoon the mixture into 12 lined of greased muffin tins and bake for 15 minutes. Allow to cool in the tin.

6. Once the muffins are cool, mix together the icing ingredients (except walnuts) in a bowl using an electric beater. Beat the icing until smooth and spread over the muffins

7. Sprinkle the chopped walnuts over the top and enjoy