Pumpkin Protein Muffins

I love muffins.  Seriously.  But they tend to have so many empty calories - white flour, sugar, butter... how can you really enjoy a muffin if it doesn't help you check off some of the healthy to-do's from your daily list?  Well, with a little inspiration from a clean eating blog and a few rounds of baking trials, I think I've found the solution.  This muffin recipe still includes a little sugar, but I use palm sugar which is less refined than white sugar.  I also include some wheat germ for an additional nutritional boost.  You can use any protein powder you like, but for nutrition calculation purposes my recipe uses Whey Factors 100% Natural Whey Protein - Double Chocolate flavor.  Enjoy!

Ingredients
- 2 1/2 c (~310g) whole wheat pastry flour
- 1 1/2 t baking soda
- 4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 3/4 tsp ground allspice
- 1 T ground ginger
- 2 T wheat germ
- 2 scoops protein powder
- 1/3 c palm sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 c canned pumpkin
- 1 1/2 c nonfat greek yogurt
- 30 g walnuts or pecans, chopped

1) Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350F.  Line 15 muffin tin cups with silicone muffin liners (or use paper if you prefer) and spritz the bottom of each liner with olive oil.  Set aside.

2) In a large bowl, whisk the first seven ingredients (through protein powder).  Make a well in the center of the ingredients.  Set aside.

3) In another bowl using a blender at high speed, beat the next four ingredients (sugar through yogurt) until frothy.  Pour this mixture into the well in the dry ingredients and stir just until combined.  Batter will be sticky.

4) Divide the batter equally among the prepared muffin cups.  Top muffins with chopped nuts.  

5) Bake ~18 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the middle of a muffin comes out clean.  Do not over-bake.  Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes before removing from the cups.  Serve warm (or reheat in a microwave) with your topping of choice.

Nutritional information per muffin (according to Sparkrecipes.com):  155 Calories; 2.8g fat (0.5g sat; 1.1g poly; 0.4g mono); 30mg Chol; 155 mg sodium; 105 mg potassium; 26.8g Carbs; 4.2g Fiber; 8.3g Sugar; 8.0g Protein.

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Ingredient Notes 

• Whole wheat pastry flour is a finely ground whole wheat flour that feels more like white flour in baked goods.  You should be able to find this in your local equivalent of a Giant or Safeway in the same general area the other Bob's Red Mill products.  If not, it can be ordered on Amazon or on Bob's Red Mill website. 
• Wheat germ is the most vitamin- and mineral- rich part of the wheat kernel.  Two tablespoons are about 50 calories and contain 2 grams of fiber, and 4 grams of protein, not to mention a handful of healthy vitamins and minerals.  You can find it at your local grocery store, on Amazon, or on Bob's Red Mill website.
• Palm sugar is a less refined sugar option that can be simply substituted for brown sugar on a one to one basis.  You can find it at a store like Whole Foods or Trader Joe's, or get it on Amazon.