Whole Wheat Pumpkin Spice Muffins with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Glaze

Saturday I met up with some sorority sisters for a brunch. I wanted something that would be delicious and everyone would like, but I also wanted it to be healthy. These are a perfect muffin recipe for this time of year because they are made with pumpkin, which reminds me of fall weather. These are very easy to make and they will stay stored for several days. I doubt they will last that long in your household though.

Original Recipe is from: http://mihow.com/articles/2009/09/21/mom-it-down-whole-wheat-pumpkin-spice-muffins-super-healthy/

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Spice Muffins
Serves 8 large muffins or 12 smaller muffins

Ingredients:
-1 3/4 cup King Arthur White Whole Wheat Flour
-3 tablespoons brown sugar or brown sugar substitute (2 tablespoons Splenda Brown Sugar Blend)
-2 teaspoons baking powder
-1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
-1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
-1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
-1/4 teaspoon baking soda
-1/8 teaspoon salt
-1 beaten egg or 1/4 cup Eggbeaters
-3/4 cup milk (I use skim milk)
-2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
-1/2 cup Libby's Canned Pure Pumpkin
*Optional Add Ins: 1/2 cup raisins, 1/2 chopped walnuts, 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
(I added the ground flaxseed for added nutrition)

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 375 degrees
-Lightly grease and flour muffin tin pan or use cupcake liners
-In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and baking soda.
-In a separate smaller bowl, mix milk, egg, applesauce, and pumpkin with an electric mixer until blended completely.
-Combine the wet and dry ingredients together and mix with electric mixer until the mixture is combined completely.
-Add your raisins, walnuts, or flaxseed and combine with the mixture, only if you wish to add these.
-Pour batter into your muffin tin cups and bake 15-18 minutes.
-You will know when the muffins are done when you stick a toothpick into the center of one and it comes out clean.

*Modifications:
- use 2 tablespoons light margarine melted if you don't have unsweetened applesauce
- add 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla for added flavor

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Glaze
*Disclaimer: let the muffins cool completely before adding the glaze

Ingredients:
1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup softened cream cheese (reduced fat cream cheese)
-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
-milk for thinning out glaze

Directions:
-Combine powdered sugar, cream cheese, and cinnamon together with an electric mixer.
-Add a splash of milk to the mixture and keep stirring until the mixture is at the consistency you want for drizzling over the muffins.
-I used 2 tablespoons of milk for my glaze
-Drizzle glaze over the muffins

Enjoy! :)