Monday Muffins from Shute Fruit and Produce

Monday Muffins

 

Lori tends to make these delicious muffins most Monday mornings as this is our one day not open at the Pick Your Own field.  They are infinitely variable, but here is one suggestion for using small amounts of berries.

 

Preheat oven to 180C/350 F/Gas mark 4.  Prepare a 12 cup deep muffin tin by greasing or lining the cups.

 

Prepare the batter by sifting together in a large bowl:

              250 g self raising flour

              1/2 tsp salt

              1 tsp cinnamon or other spice

Stir in:

100 g sugar

In the microwave or small pan on the stove top melt:

              80 g butter

Then add to it:

              2 eggs

              125 ml milk

Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.  Before they are thoroughly blended add:

              200 g fresh or frozen blackberries

               50 g chopped hazelnuts

Stir just until blended.  Do not over mix or the muffins will be tough.  Divide the batter evenly amongst the muffin cups.

In a small bowl rub together with your fingertips:

              40 g plain flour

              25 g butter

              20 g soft brown sugar

              Grating of nutmeg

              Pinch of salt

              ¼ tsp cinnamon

Sprinkle this evenly over all the muffin cups.  Bake for around 25 minutes or until the tops are nicely browned.  Best eaten on the day they are made whilst still warm, or they can be frozen for up to one month.

 

Variations

This recipe is great for using up small amounts of fruit, nuts or even dollops of jam.  It also can be made with frozen fruit outside of the season.  Lori suggests the following favourites

 

200 g fresh raspberries with 50 g white chocolate bits

200 g pureed pumpkin with 50 g pecan nuts, chopped

125 g grated courgette, 125 g grated or chopped apple

 

Jammy Surprise Muffins: omit the fruit and nuts.  Half fill the muffin cups; put a generous teaspoon of Shute Fruit jam in the cup, followed by the remaining muffin mixture.  Then proceed as normal.