If someone were to ask me what fuels my passion for baking, at the top of my list would be that baking for others fills my soul. When I bake something to share with family and friends it makes my heart full. A freshly baked pie can show a person they are special, a batch of cookies can acknowledge a job well done, or a batch of muffins can cheer a person who is going through a challenging time.
When someone in your life is going through a very challenging time in their life or is feeling down, baking them a treat can let them know how much you care!
These butter pecan muffins I made for my sister, who happens to be going through a challenging and scary time, did just that! I mean, lying flat on your back for 7 days in an effort to avoid surgery would drive anyone bonkers.
But when the 7 days is almost up and you know in your gut it didn’t work, that would make me want to eat an entire pan of muffins! 
She has recently been diagnosed with a CSF leak (in layman’s terms, brain fluid is leaking out her nose via her sinuses through a small tear in the membrane surrounding the brain). She is handling it so very well. Way better than I would. Me, I would be in a heap on the floor!
She deserves some muffins, don’t you think! And, if baking something yummy for her takes her mind off her situation, even for a few minutes it was entirely worth the effort! 
I had planned to give her a half dozen, but like anything I bake at my house, it starts to disappear before I can even take it out of the pan!
So, she got two!!
We all know someone who would appreciate something baked special just for them.
Why not get into the kitchen and bake up a batch of these butter pecan muffins to give away today! A co-worker maybe, your Mom, a homeless shelter, or even just for your family if it something you don’t usually do for them! It will do your heart good!
Who would you be baking for?
Or have you ever had anyone bake something special for you just because?
I would love to hear about it. Your comments are always appreciated. On July 31st I will randomly choose one commenter to receive a dozen cookies just for them! Lets make the world a better place, one sweet treat at a time!
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 cup lightly packed brown sugar + extra for sprinkling
- 1 cup chopped pecans + 12 whole pecan half
- 1 egg, slightly beaten
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 12 muffin tins with non-stick spray.
- In a large bowl sift together dry ingredients (flour through sugar).
- Add chopped nuts, stirring to combine.
- In a separate bowl combine egg, buttermilk and melted butter beating well with a whisk.
- Add wet ingredients to flour mixture, stirring just until moistened.
- Spoon into 12 muffin tins filling each 3/4 full, sprinkle each with brown sugar, and top each with a pecan half.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean.
- Cool in pan for a few minutes before turning out onto cooling rack.
- Enjoy warm with fresh butter
JELA says
Maureen – Thanks for sharing this recipe…it looks so delicious yet easy to make. I may have to take a crack at these. My stepdad is the baker in the family and pies are his specialty. Every year, rather than getting a birthday cake, I dig up a recipe of a pie I would like him to make for my birthday. From coconut cream made from scratch, to an apple cheesecake, and even low carb…he hasn’t failed me yet and the pie disappears in one sitting. And honestly, I think he looks forward to the challenge every year because he goes through so much care to bake these for me. I definitely feel the love!
Maureen says
Pie is my downfall!! I don’t eat a lot of my own baking, but when it comes to pies…back off people, I get first dibs!! It is awesome that you have your stepdad to bake for you. I wish I could get Tim to bake, but so far a no-go!
Patti says
I’m in….prayers for your sister!
megan says
I think i’ve gained a kilo just by drooling over all these photos. LOL!
Barb in Lee, NY says
These look simply yummy. I just added buttermilk to my shopping list, so I can give them a try.
I’m thinking my son would like these. I’ll have to have some handy next time he comes home on leave – he always eats like a ravenous teenager (don’t they feed those guys in the Army?).
Karyn says
Wow! Those look amazing! I cook/bake for our set-up crew at church and these will be on the next rotation!
Tiana Mortimer says
Those butter pecan muffins sound delish! Of course, cookies sound good too. Great blog … I will be printing out that recipe for my personal cookbook.
CanadianSaver says
These look absolutely delicious… I’m going to get some pecans from Costco too, the price is definitely appealing!
I would make these and offer them to my coworkers during our coffee break!
Maureen says
I was shocked when I saw the price of the pecans! They alone made it worth the trip!
Jen says
This looked amazing but didn’t turn out for me at all! The batter was so thick, I couldn’t even finish mixing it without adding more buttermilk. I had to add about an extra 1/2 cup before I could get them mixed. Then they baked up beautifully but had almost no taste and were so heavy they felt like they had stones in them 🙁 I tried again thinking it had to be a mistake I had made but same result…I’m so sad!
Maureen says
Oh Jen, I am so sorry it didn’t work for you. I will make them again myself to see what results, and I will let you know if I had to make any changes.