Triforce Pumpkin Muffins | "A Link Between Worlds"

          B and I are totally loving the new "Zelda" game, "A Link Between Worlds", for Nintendo 3DS. It is beautifully crafted and a real joy to play. We each have our own game, digital for B and a cartridge for me, and we've had so much fun playing it and discussing it and ragging on each other about where we're at in the story and with inventory and little maiamais, etc. It's Thanksgiving and among the many awesome things I'm thankful for like my little family and a home and the ability and opportunity to be creative, I'm also totally thankful for the "Legend of Zelda" games. I've had Link and his amazing theme music in my head since the original "Zelda" on the NES that I played with my sister, and in more recent years "Twilight Princess", "Skyward Sword", "WindWaker HD", and now "A Link Between Worlds", that I've played with my husband on the Wii, WiiU, and 3DS. So much nostalgia, so many memories. Even 3 year-old Smalls loves "The Legend of Zelda" and runs around the house with her blue bubble sword slicing through the air, commanding us to sing the (traditional) "Zelda" theme song.
           So today B, Smalls, and I are going to eat lots of food, including these Hyrule and Lorule pumpkin muffins, and then play "Zelda" for the rest of the day on our 3DSs and with a bubble sword. Thank you Nintendo and "The Legend of Zelda" creative teams throughout the years for being so wonderfully awesome.

"A Link Between Worlds" game guide & framed lithograph from Prima Games.

Hyrule & Lorule Triforce Pumpkin Muffins

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Ingredients:
1 1/2 Cup Flour
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1 Cup Pumpkin Puree, plain, solid packed
1/3 Cup Canola Oil
2 Large Eggs, beaten
1 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 tsp. Salt
Powdered Sugar (for the top decorations)

Important Items:
Regular, 12 Cup Muffin Tray
Sifter or Fine Mesh Strainer
Triforce Sugar Templates
(print, preferably on card stock, & cut out)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a small bowl whisk together the flour & baking powder. In a large bowl whisk together all of the other ingredients, except for the powdered sugar, until they are fully incorporated & smooth. Pour the flour mixture into the pumpkin mixture & stir until just combined.
2. Spray your muffin tin with non-stick spray & scoop the batter into each muffin cup equally until no batter remains. Swirl the tops of the batter in the muffin pan with a clean index finger so that the muffins all uniform & no longer lumpy. Place the pan in the oven on the center rack & bake for about 20 mins or so, or until the muffins are nicely puffed up & golden brown & a toothpick inserted in the center of one of the muffins comes out clean. Remove from the oven, let cool for a few minutes, & then gently twist & lift each muffin out of the pan & place it on a wire rack to cool completely.
3. Print & cut out these Triforce templates. One by one, place a muffin on a plate or cutting board & then place one of the triforce templates on top of the muffin in the center. Hold a sifter or a fine mesh strainer directly over the muffin with template & spoon in a little bit of powdered sugar. Tap the sifter so the sugar falls down, evenly coating the top of the muffin. Carefully remove the template from the muffin & place the decorated muffin on a serving tray or plate. Blow or tap the powdered sugar off of the templates after each use. Make 6 Lorule muffins (using the circle & upside down triforce) & 6 Hyrule using the regular triforce. If you need to fix any of the powdered sugar designs, use a toothpick. Important note: If you store the muffins in a plastic container, they'll get moist & the designs will disappear (if you already put the designs on). Let the muffins sit out for a little while before applying (or reapplying) the powdered sugar.

* Try my "Skyward Sword" Pumpkin Soup! *