A Cozy & Collected Cottage in North Carolina

We’re in Raleigh, North Carolina, visiting the charming cottage of content creator Chizoba Uwakwe. Her home is filled with secondhand treasures, nature-inspired hues, and meaningful family mementos.

Known for her love of baking and her cozy at-home moments, Chizoba has created a true retreat—not just for herself and her fiancé, but for everyone who steps through the door.

Today, she invites us inside her beautiful home and shares a simple yet delicious recipe perfect for fall baking.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins 

• 2 3/4 cups flour


• 2 tsp baking powder


• 1 tsp baking soda


• 1/2 tsp salt


• 1 tbsp cinnamon


• 1 tbsp pumpkin spice


• 1/2 tsp clove


• 1 cup pumpkin purée


• 3/4 cup vegetable oil


• 3 eggs


• 1/2 cup milk


• 1 cup brown sugar


• 1/2 cup granulated sugar


• 1 tbsp vanilla extract


• 1 tbsp maple syrup extract


• 1 cup chocolate chips

• 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds


• 1/3 cup chocolate chips


• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

1.  Whisk together the dry ingredients in a large bowl and set aside until ready to use.


2. In a separate bowl, combine the wet ingredients: pumpkin purée, vegetable oil, eggs, milk, brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and maple extract.


3. Once the wet ingredients are fully mixed, pour them into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Gently fold the mixtures together until just combined. Avoid overmixing. Gradually stir in the chocolate chips until evenly distributed.


4. Once your batter is combined, let it rest for about 1 hour to allow the flavors to deepen.


5. Preheat oven to 425°F


6. After 1 hour, fill the liners to the top with muffin batter while the oven finishes preheating.


7. Sprinkle each muffin with pumpkin seeds, chocolate chips, and sugar before baking.


8. Bake muffins at 425°F for 5 minutes. Then, without opening the oven, reduce the temperature to 350°F and continue baking for 15–20 minutes.


9. Once baked, a toothpick comes out clean. Let the muffins cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.