Perfect Butternut Squash Muffins

Ingredients

• 1 small butternut squash
• 3 eggs
• 0.5 cups water
• 0.5 cups vegetable oil
• 0.5 cups white sugar
• 0.5 cups brown sugar
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1.5 teaspoons baking powder
• 1.5 teaspoons baking soda
• 1.5 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 0.5 teaspoons salt
• 0.5 teaspoons nutmeg
• 0.5 teaspoons ground cloves
• 0.5 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 0.25 cups raisins , Optional
• 0.25 cups chopped walnuts , Optional

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease 20 muffin cups.

2. 2

   Cut a 1/2-inch hole into the larger part of the squash and cover with a damp paper towel.

3. 3

   Cook squash in a microwave oven in 3-minute increments, turning slightly after each increment, until squash can be easily pierced with a fork, 9 to 12 minutes. Set aside until cool to the touch, about 20 minutes.

4. 4

   Halve squash lengthwise and scoop out seeds. Measure 1 1/2 cups squash into a large bowl. Mash eggs, water, vegetable oil, white sugar, and brown sugar into the squash. Whisk whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, cloves, and pumpkin pie spice into the squash mixture until you have a smooth batter. Fold raisins and walnuts into the batter.

5. 5

   Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups to about 1/2 to 2/3 full.

6. 6

   Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.