1.29.2009

Whole-Grain Honey Muffins

Muffins, muffins, where to start with muffins? Well, this post is part of my special "every third week" lineup. I personally think that muffins are underrated and definitely not made enough. The proof of this is that there are barely any muffin books when compared to cookie and cupcake books. What I like about muffins is that they can be sweet or salty, as well as eaten at any time of day. They fit into a daily diet perfectly.

The muffin book that I'll first be trying out is 100 Magnificent Muffins & Scones by Felicity Barnum-Bobb. My mom found this book for me at Barnes & Noble for only $7.98, so I think it was a good steal.

The first recipe in this book was Whole-Grain Honey Muffins. After looking at the main ingredient (malt or multi-grain flour), I was kind of iffy about it, but I just decided to make my own flour since I wasn't able to find neither of the two.

In this bowl, I mixed the "Stephanie" multi-grain flour, baking powder, and brown sugar (but the picture is before the mixing).

In this other bowl, I mixed honey, sunflower oil, egg, lemon zest, and milk (but again, the picture is before the mixing).

Here are all the ingredients poured in together...

...and here they are after mixing everything until well combined.

Only 9 lucky muffins made it to the oven. =)

Some of them came out oddly shaped at the top, and I can't figure out why.

Maybe it was because they were still hot that some were cone-y?


These were different. By no means does that mean that they sucked, but they do take some getting used to if you're not a whole-grain eater. I'm not used to feeling all the grains from the flour in foods, because I usually eat white flour things (don't kill me!!). After getting used to it, the flavor came out. The honey mixes in really well and really doesn't let these muffins be too sweet. The lemon zest brings a hint of citrus, which is welcomed.

Whole-Grain Honey Muffins
*makes 9 muffins*

Ingredients:
1 1/3 cups malt or multi-grain flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1/8 cup dark brown sugar
3 tbsp honey
scant 1/2 cup sunflower oil
1 egg
finely grated zest of 1 small lemon
2/3 cup skim milk

Directions:
1) Heat the oven to 400F. Line a muffin pan with 9 muffin liners.
2) Tip the flour into a large bowl. Add the baking powder and sugar.
3) Mix together the honey, oil, egg, lemon zest, and milk and pour into the dry ingredients in the bowl. Use a large spoon to fold everything together.
4) Spoon equally into the paper muffin liners and bake for 15 minutes, or until the muffins are well risen, firm, and springy to the touch. Serve warm.



Recipe from 100 Magnificent Muffins & Scones by Felicity Barnum-Bobb

13 comments:

  1. They look nice, with some sultanas added they would make great breakfast muffins!

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  2. I just discovered your blog and I really like it. Good luck with the business too. These muffins look good and I like wholegrain :)

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  3. Jessy: I just had a culture-check moment. In Colombia, where I'm originally from, sultanas are a type of cookie. I was like... Why would you add cookies to the muffin?? But then I google'd sultanas, and they ended up being grapes. Thanks for the suggestion!

    Snooky: Thanks so much! I hope you enjoy following my blog =)

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  4. You should also come to my site and follow me, I am a working chef for almost thirty years now, and I cook organic, mostly sugar free (maple syrup), and low fat...I have a popular site now...I look forward to watching you too!

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  5. They certainly look yummy! Good job with the "Stephanie" flour. Lol :D

    Maybe they were cone-y because the oven temp was too high. That causes edges of them to set before the centers, making them cone-shaped... just a thought?

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  6. Looks great--I love whole grain baked goods! Nice site!

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  7. Chef E: Which one of your blogs should I start with first? =)

    HTEAC: LoL!! And thanks for the tip. It could've been that. I'll keep it in mind for the next ones.

    Tiffany: I'm glad you like!

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  8. Thanks for your comment Stephanie! Your site looks great and, yes, of course you can add a link to my site!

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  9. those look PHENOMENAL! i love honey a ridiculous amount. i bet these are so great.

    also, wanted to let you know i skipped a crucial step in the dip-making process: guacamole!
    it goes over the beans/salsa and under the sour cream/taco seasoning.
    whew.
    that was close.

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  10. this is as healthy as it can get! love it..

    first time here n must say u got a great place

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  11. kate: Will do right now!

    DomestiKatie: These were really nice, not too sweet not too plain. Thanks for updating me on that step! I'll be trying it this weekend =) Also, I'll be adding you to my BlogRoll, if you don't mind!

    Navita: Thanks so much =D Feel free to follow it. I update every Wednesday.

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  12. I want to give these a try - we really dig muffins around here!

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  13. Go for it!!!! They were really good, and they're perfect as breakfast muffins too =)

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