Pumpkin Gingerbread Stuffing

Ingredients

• ["Make and then dry out the muffins:", "1 1/2 cups all purpose flour", "1/2 teaspoon salt", "1/2 teaspoon baking soda", "2 teaspoons baking powder", "1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon", "1 teaspoon ground ginger", "6 tablespoons butter", "1 tablespoon molasses", "1 egg", "1/2 cup pumpkin puree", "1/2 cup applesauce", "Make the stuffing", "4 tablespoons butter", "2 onions, peeled and chopped", "1 apple, peeled and chopped", "4 cups peeled and cubed cooking pumpkin or sweet potato", "2 stalks celery, chopped", "1 bulb fennel, trimmed and chopped", "1 cup apple cider", "1 1/2 tablespoons fresh ginger, peeled and minced", "2 teaspoons coarse sea salt", "6 cups cubed (\"stale\"" or toasted) pumpkin gingerbread muffins""