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: Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins - Allison Brown

Pumpkin muffins, gingerbread pancakes, apple bread pudding, and maple sausage, make the perfect holiday brunch for Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas.

The holidays bring memories of precious times and good food. Nothing says it is time for the holiday season like the smell of pumpkin and spices. These holiday treats can be turned in to a delightful brunch, an easy weeknight meal, or used as party food for a holiday gathering.

Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese

This is one of the easiest, most delicious pumpkin muffin and cream cheese recipes. It is easy and inexpensive to make.

Ingredients:

1 box pumpkin quick bread mix
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
12 ounce container of whipped cream cheese
1 6 ounce pouch of vanilla pudding
3 pinches of granulated sugar
Baking spray

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400?.
Mix pumpkin bread, milk, eggs, and oil in a large bowl. Fill 12 muffin cups, sprayed with baking spray, 3/4 full of pumpkin bread mix.
Soften cream cheese in a microwavable bowl (if needed) for 10 seconds (do not melt).
Stir cream cheese and vanilla pudding together until blended. Sprinkle in sugar and mix well.
Place 1-2 tablespoons of cream cheese mix into the middle of each muffin.
Bake for 18-20 minutes (until toothpick comes out clean).

Serve with milk sprinkled with cinnamon, or with pumpkin coffee or pumpkin spice latte. This is a must have recipe for anyone who loves pumpkin. It is by far one of the best and easiest cream cheese pumpkin muffin recipes.

Gingerbread Pancakes

One of the easiest and best tasting pancake ideas (for pumpkin or gingerbread) is to use a box bread mix and add regular milk or buttermilk and some sugar.

Ingredients:

1 box gingerbread mix
1-1 1/2 cups milk
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
4 tablespoons margarine
Molasses or maple syrup

Directions:

Mix gingerbread, milk, sugar, and eggs in a large bowl. The mix should be a little runny but not completely liquidated.
Melt 2 tablespoons butter on a griddle over two stove eyes, on medium (if using a pan, melt 1 tablespoon butter).
Using a ladle, pour by 1/4 cup full's. Cook for about 2 minutes on each side (or until bubbles appear). If needed, turn heat to medium low.
Stack 2 pancakes, top with 1 teaspoon butter and molasses or syrup.

These can be served with spoonfuls of apple pie filling on top, molasses, maple syrup, apple or pumpkin butter. Serve beside some coffee or hot cider and enjoy.

Maple Sausage Balls

This is a combination of Rachael Ray's "maple fennel country sausage" and Paula Deen's "sausage balls." It is easy, just takes some prep time, and will have mouths watering for more.

Ingredients:

1 pound sausage (maple sausage if available)
3 cups Bisquick
3 cups sharp cheddar
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
Cooking spray

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375? and spray baking sheet with cooking spray.
Mix all ingredients together. Spray hands with cooking spray (to prevent sticking), mix well, and roll into 1 inch balls.
Bake for 20 minutes or until brown and cooked.

Not only is this recipe extremely easy, it can be paired with gingerbread or pumpkin pancakes, or used as a good appetizer for any holiday party.

Apple Bread Pudding

A recipe inspired by Sandra Lee's Apple and Spice Bread in her fall 2011 magazine, Semi-Homemade. It is so moist and perfect for autumn or a Christmas brunch.

Ingredients:

1 loaf apple bread, sliced and cubed
1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup butter, melted

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350?.
Toss bread, cinnamon, and sugar in a large bowl.
Beat eggs, vanilla and milk together.
Melt butter in a 9x13 baking pan.
Place the bread and cinnamon sugar mix into the pan. Pour the liquid over the bread.
Bake 40 to 45 minutes, or until center is set.

Serve with whip cream, maple syrup, or by itself.

The cream cheese pumpkin muffins and apple bread pudding are perfect for fall parties or a Thanksgiving brunch. The maple sausage balls and gingerbread pancakes are great on a cold Christmas morning before opening the presents. No matter what, all of these recipes will make the holidays a bit sweeter.