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S’more Muffins

July 3, 2012 ·

These S’more Muffins are everything you love about a s’more baked up in a tasty little breakfast treat.  These are made with graham cracker crumbs, chocolate chips and lots of miniature marshmallows.  The marshmallows in the actual muffin melt into the muffin, while the marshmallows on top get sticky and gooey.  The buttermilk lends a moist crumb to these muffins and a bit of brown sugar deepens the flavor.

I recommend not using muffin liners with these, as these muffins live up to the reputation of the campfire treat and can be sticky.  I just used baking spray (the cooking spray that has flour) and let the muffins cool in the pan long enough.  They came out perfectly.  These S’more Muffins are moist and delicious and a fun way to start any morning!

Sâ??more Muffins
 
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Yields: 12 muffins
Ingredients
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup graham cracker crumbs (about 4 sheets)
  • ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg
  • 1½ cups buttermilk
  • ¼ cup canola oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips (I used mini)
  • 1¼ cups miniature marshmallows, divided
  • Cooking spray
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray and set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk flour, cracker crumbs, sugar, baking soda and salt.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg, buttermilk, oil and vanilla until combined.
  4. Add buttermilk mixture into flour mixture, stirring gently until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips and 1 cup marshmallows.
  5. Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups. Top with remaining marshmallows (2-3 marshmallows per muffin).
  6. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before gently removing from pan. Move to a wire rack to cool completely.

Adaped from Taste of Home: Cupcakes & Muffins

Filed Under: bread, breakfast, kid-friendly, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Herbed Goat Cheese Muffins

May 17, 2012 ·
Herbed Goat Cheese Muffins are a savory, herb-y muffin stuffed with goat cheese.  The muffins are almost biscuit-like in texture, and the goat cheese center is a delightful contrast with the green onions and herbs.  These are very quick and easy to make and go well with your favorite salad or grilled chicken (or any grillable for that matter!).
Speaking of herbs, do you usually plant an herb garden?  That is my plan for this weekend!  It’s always a tough decision, but I usually plant rosemary, basil, oregano, thyme, and then whatever else looks good.  What’s in your herb garden?

Herbed Goat Cheese Muffins
 
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Yields: 12 muffins
Ingredients
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (4 ounces) goat cheese, crumbled
  • 1 cup skim milk, divided
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup green onions, chopped
  • ¼ cup fresh chives, chopped
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • Cooking spray
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray and set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt until combined. Make a well in center of mixture.
  3. Combine goat cheese and 2 tablespoons milk in a small bowl, stirring until blended.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the remaining milk, butter, oil, , egg, green onions, chives and parsley until combined. Add to flour mixture, folding until just moistened.
  5. Spoon half of batter evenly into 12 muffin cups. Top each with goat cheese filling (about 2 teaspoons). Spoon remaining batter over filling.
  6. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 5 minutes. Remove from pan and cool in a wire rack.
Source:  Cooking Light way to bake
Filed Under: bread, healthy, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , ,

Banana Cornbread Muffins

April 20, 2012 ·

These  Banana Cornbread Muffins were whipped together as a result of a request from my little Adam.  For weeks, he had been asking me to make cornbread ~ specifically rosemary cornbread.   Since I did not have any fresh rosemary on hand (and let’s be honest…it’s just not the same with dried), I decided to come up with something new.  I spotted an overripe banana, got out a pen and a yellow sticky note and started jotting down what became this recipe.

The result is a muffin with a nice balance of banana and cornbread.  They are light and fluffy, like any good muffin should be (so more muffin-y than cornbread-y).  I made half with a banana slice on top and half without.  They look nicer with a slice, but the banana turns brown after a day or so.  It still tastes good, but just not as pretty.

Banana Cornbread Muffins
Yields 12 muffins

Ingredients
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 ripe banana, mashed (about 1 cup)
1 1/2 cups low fat buttermilk
1/4 cup canola oil
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
thin banana slices (optional, for topping)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line muffin pan with 12 paper liners (or spray with cooking spray).  Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk the banana, buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla until blended.
  4. Add the banana mixture to the cornmeal mixture and fold until combined.
  5. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.  Place a slice of banana on top of each muffin.  Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Filed Under: bread, breakfast, healthy, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Raisin Bran Muffins

February 21, 2012 ·

These Raisin Bran Muffins come from a cookbook called Kids Cooking: A Very Slightly Messy Manual, by Klutz Press.  I received this book as a gift when I was about 10 years old.  The book is obviously geared toward kids with recipes using basic ingredients ~ some with silly names or  interesting concepts (for example Tuna Cones, i.e. tuna in an ice cream cone.  Hmm…)

Anyway, these Raisin Bran Muffins were always a favorite and probably the most made recipe from that book.  They taste just like you would expect – raisin bran in muffin form.  I thought they would be a fun treat to make for Adam, only this time I decided to enhance the recipe with some vanilla, cinnamon and extra raisins.  I had no idea how much he would love them!  Adam is lukewarm about raisins alone, but the raisins in these muffins he loves.  Go figure.

Raisin Bran Muffins
Yields 12 muffins

2 cups raisin bran cereal
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white whole wheat flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup raisins
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.  Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, stir raisin brain cereal, flours, sugar, raisins, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
  3. Mix egg, buttermilk, oil and vanilla until combined.  Add to the dry ingredients and fold gently until combined (do not over mix).
  4. Divide batter evenly among the muffin cups.  Bake for 18-23 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Put muffins on a wire rack to cool completely.

Adapted from Kids Cooking: A Very Slightly Messy Manual by Klutz Press

Filed Under: bread, breakfast, healthy, kid-friendly, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Double Chocolate Chip Muffins

February 6, 2012 ·

In anticipation of Valentine’s Day, I will be featuring a few chocolate recipes this week.   Of course a little breakfast chocolate is the perfect way to start off any week.  These muffins are more than just a little breakfast chocolate though.  They are chocolate on chocolate.  A chocolate muffin studded with chocolate chips topped with chocolate chips.  What could be better?  Well, they come in under 200 calories and are low fat – a true breakfast treat! 

The original recipe uses red wine vinegar and water, which I thought was intriguing.  Red wine vinegar in baked goods?  I had to try it!  I did, and it was good.  BUT…I have since revised the recipe to replace the vinegar/water with buttermilk.  Nothing compares to the flavor and texture that buttermilk gives to baked goods, and in these muffins that is no exception.  I also replaced some of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat in order to bump up the nutrition level a bit.

For a little variety, it is fun to change up the chips with different flavors (peanut butter chips anyone?) but I always find myself coming back to the mini chocolate chips.  Mini chips give the illusion of more chocolate per bite since there are more bits throughout.  A little more for less kind of thing. 

Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Muffins
Yields 12 muffins

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup semi-sweet mini chocolate chips, divided

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners (or spray muffin tin with cooking spray).
  2. In a large bowl, mix flours, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. 
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, oil, vanilla and egg.  Stir in 1/4 cup chocolate chips.
  4. Add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture, gently folding until just combined.
  5. Divide batter evenly among 12 muffin cups.  Sprinkle tops with remaning 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips.  Bake for 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Let cool in pan for 5 minutes and then move to a wire rack to cool completely.

Adapted from Cooking Light

Filed Under: breakfast, healthy, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Lemon Ricotta Muffins

January 10, 2012 ·
Bring on citrus season!  When life gives me a bowl of lemons, you better believe I’m going to make some muffins!  And perhaps some lemonade to wash them down, but that’s another post all together.  For now it’s all about muffins, as these Lemon Ricotta Muffins definitely deserve the spotlight.  They are bright, perfectly sweet and bonus – they’re low in fat, though you would never know it.  The ricotta cheese gives the muffins a moist, soft texture, and the flavor goes perfectly with the lemon.  The taste is reminiscent of delicious lemon ricotta pancakes, only a bit more portable.

With the wonderful citrus bounty upon us, over the next few weeks I will be sharing several recipes using citrus fruits.  In the meantime, grab those lemons and give these muffins a try!

Lemon Ricotta Muffins
 
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Yields: 12 muffins
Ingredients
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup whole wheat pastry flour
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 2½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoons salt (optional)
  • ¾ cup low fat ricotta cheese
  • ½ cup water
  • ¼ cup canola oil
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons turbinado sugar
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare 12 muffin cups with paper liners or cooking spray. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Make a well in the center.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk the ricotta, water, oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, egg, and vanilla until blended.
  4. Fold the ricotta mixture into the flour mixture until just blended.
  5. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups. Sprinkle turbinado sugar over the tops of the muffins.
  6. Bake for 16 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let muffins sit in pan for 5 minutes and then remove to wire rack to cool completely.

Adapted from Cooking Light

Filed Under: bread, breakfast, healthy, kid-friendly, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Chocolate Malt Muffins

January 2, 2012 ·
chocolate malt muffins with chocolate malted milk powder

I had a lot of leftover malt powder after making Triple Chocolate Malted Cookies.  While I’m sure Mike would love if I used it up making several batches of his favorite cookie, I had other ideas.  One of them, of course, being muffins!  These muffins were a fun change from our usual breakfast.  The malt flavor was not overwhelming, and the chocolate chips gave a little extra interest.  A little chocolate for breakfast can’t be a bad thing, right?  Definitely not if that means enjoying these muffins!

Chocolate Malt Muffins
 
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Yields: 12 muffins
Ingredients
  • 1¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup chocolate malt powder (plus 2 teaspoons for topping)
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar (plus 2 teaspoons for topping)
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ⅓ cup canola oil
  • ¾ cup buttermilk
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ⅓ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare muffins tin (line cups or spray with cooking spray). In a small bowl, mix 2 teaspoons malt powder and 2 teaspoons granulated sugar. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, malt powder, sugar and baking powder until combined.
  3. In a separate bowl, mix the oil, buttermilk, egg and vanilla.
  4. Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture and fold gently until just combined; gently fold in chocolate chips.
  5. Divide batter evenly among 12 muffin cups. Sprinkle with malt powder/sugar mixture.
  6. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 5 minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool completely.

Adapted from weewelcome

Filed Under: bread, breakfast, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Coconut Cranberry Muffins

December 27, 2011 ·

I had been craving something with coconut for some time, and it occurred to me that coconut paired with cranberries would be a lovely combination.  Cranberries are so wonderful in the wintertime. They add beautiful, seasonal color, as well as a delightful zing to any dish.  Of course, my next thought was…let’s make muffins! 

The sweetness of the coconut was the perfect counterbalance to the tangy cranberries.  The whole family loved these, especially Adam (though at first, the cranberries were a bit too surprising).  Adam asked for coconut cranberry muffins every day for weeks.  Quite frankly, an almost 2 year old saying ‘coconut cranberry’ anything is quite possibly the cutest thing ever.  As if you didn’t need another reason to make these…they are just plain good!


Coconut Cranberry Muffins
Yields 18 muffins

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 1/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup cranberries, chopped
1/4 cup sweetened flaked coconut, for topping

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Prepare 18 muffin cups with liners or cooking spray.  Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, stir flours, sugar, coconut, baking powder, baking soda and salt, until combined.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, oil and vanilla.
  4. Add buttermilk mixture to flour, gently folding until combined.  Fold in cranberries.
  5. Divide batter evenly among muffin pan.  Sprinkle with remaining coconut.  Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

Adapted from Food.com

Linked to Sweet as Sugar Cookies: Sweets for Saturday #50

Filed Under: bread, breakfast, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , ,

Banana Graham Muffins

December 12, 2011 ·
Banana Graham Cracker Muffins

One of the reasons I often make muffins or quick breads is so that Mike can take breakfast on-the-go.  With this lastest muffin creation, I wanted to make something that Adam would love as well.  It definitely did not take me long to come up with this one.  It is no secret that toddlers love bananas and toddlers love graham crackers.  So why not put the two together in a muffin to create the ultimate toddler treat!

Banana Graham Cracker Muffins

I must confess that Adam is not the only banana and graham cracker lover in this house ~ yours truly is a huge fan as well.  These muffins definitely did not disappoint!  The crushed graham crackers definitely add a tasty spin on an otherwise simple banana muffin recipe.  In fact, they ended up being a nice combination of the two flavors.  They were not overly graham cracker-y but also not like banana bread.  I added some cinnamon, which ended up very subtle in this recipe.  That amount could be doubled if you’re looking for something cinnamony to go with your banana and graham.

So did Adam love them?  He sure did!  In fact, we all did, and I hope you do too!

Banana Graham Muffins
 
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Yields: 12 muffins
Ingredients
  • 1 cup crushed graham crackers
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 3 medium overripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
  • ¼ cup buttermilk
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • ¼ cup canola oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tin with paper liners (or spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the graham crackers, flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and sugar.
  3. In a separate bowl, combined the mashed bananas, oil milk, egg anv vanilla.
  4. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the wet ingredients, folding gently until combined (be careful not to over mix).
  5. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Adapted from Baking Vintage

Filed Under: bread, breakfast, kid-friendly, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Peanut Butter Surprise Muffins

November 10, 2011 ·

It has been far too long since I have made something with peanut butter.  I thought these Peanut Butter Surprise Muffins would be a good way to curb any peanut butter withdrawal.  You know anything with ‘surprise’ in the title is going to be something special (good or bad I suppose, but I promise only good things for you).

First you have a peanut butter muffin, which by itself would be quite delicious.  Add a surprise in the middle (in the form of a mini peanut butter cup), and you have something that is just plain fun and tasty too!

Peanut Butter Surprise Muffins

Yields 12 muffins

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
3 teaspoons baking powder
pinch salt (optional)
2 eggs
2/3 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup natural peanut butter (chunky or creamy)
2 tablespoons butter, melted
12 miniature peanut butter cups 
1/4 cup chopped peanuts (optional, for topping)
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Prepare a 12-cup standard muffin tin with paper liners or cooking spray.
  2. In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt until combined.
  3. In a separate bowl, which together eggs, buttermilk and vanilla.  Stir into flour mixture until just moistened.
  4. Combine butter and peanut butter.  Fold into batter (do not over mix).
  5. Fill each muffin cup 1/4 full with batter.  Place a mini peanut butter cup on top of each.  Cover with remaining batter.  Sprinkle tops with chopped peanuts, if using.
  6. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into muffin comes out clean.  Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to wire rack to cool completely.

Adapted from Taste of Home

Filed Under: breakfast, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , ,