Step 1

Prep the oven and pans. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 400°F. Line four cavities of a muffin pan with paper liners.

Step 2

Whisk the dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, cloves, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Step 3

Whisk the wet ingredients. In another medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, pumpkin, oil, egg, egg yolk, and vanilla.

Step 4

Make the muffin batter. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined.

Step 5

Assemble the muffins. Use a cookie dough scoop to fill each cavity with 6 Tablespoons of the batter. Sprinkle the top of each muffin, aiming for the batter and avoiding the pan, with 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar. Pour warm water into the empty cavities of the muffin pan, filling them at least ⅔-rds of the way up.

Step 6

Bake the muffins. Bake for 22 to 24 minutes, or until the muffins are domed and a skewer inserted into the center of a muffin comes out with a few crumbs attached. Cool in the muffin pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then turn the muffins out onto the rack to cool slightly.

Step 7

Serve and store. Serve warm or at room temperature. The muffins can be wrapped individually in plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container or under a cake dome at room temperature for up to 2 days.