Blueberry Oat Muffins

Blueberry Oat Muffin for the weekend. Photos by SDeluz

A muffin is an American English name for a type of bread that is baked in small portions. Many forms are somewhat like small cakes or cupcakes in shape, although they usually are not as sweet as cupcakes and generally lack frosting. Savory varieties, such as cornbread muffins, also exist. They generally fit in the palm of an adult hand, and are intended to be consumed by an individual in a single sitting.

Outside the United States of America, muffin can also refer to a disk-shaped muffin, usually called an English Muffinoutside of England. As American-style muffins are also sold in Commonwealth countries, the term muffin can refer to either product, with the context usually making clear which is meant.

There are many varieties and flavors of muffins made with a specific ingredient such as blueberries, chocolate chips,cucumbers, raspberry, cinnamon, pumpkin, date, nut, lemon, banana, orange, peach, strawberry, boysenberry,almond, and carrot, baked into the muffin. Muffins are often eaten for breakfast; alternatively, they may be served for teaor at other meals.

A friend of mine is travelling for the holidays and gave me most of the stuff in her fridge. One of these is a jar of blueberry. Good thing it's a weekend and I have all the time to bake. Made my first batch of blueberry muffins and I love it! I know there are other revisions of this recipe without oats that might be good to try and share as well. We don't close our doors for new recipes. The more, the better! 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup oats 

1/2 cup orange juice 

1 egg 

1/2 cup vegetable oil 

1/2 cup sugar 

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 

1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder 

1/2 teaspoon salt 

1/4 teaspoon baking soda 

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries* 

TOPPING: 

4 tablespoons sugar 

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
                       10 gms butter

Procedure:

1. In a large bowl, combine oats and orange juice; let stand for 5 minutes. 

2. Beat the egg, oil and sugar until blended. Add the oats mixture.

3. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Mix into oat mixture.

4. Fold in blueberries. 

5. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full or 2 tbsp each. 

6. Bake at 400 degrees F (or 200deg C) for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. 


7. While baking, prepare topping mixture. Add all topping mixture in a bowl and microwave for 50 secs 800 watts. Mix and brush on top of each muffin right after taking out from the oven. 


8. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack.

* If using frozen blueberries, do not thaw before mixing with batter.

This yielded 15 muffins for me. Don't be scared to substitute orange juice to any available juice in your fridge. This is a soft and moist treat for the weekend get-away. Healthier as well with the addition of oats! 

9 Tips for Making Muffins

Image via Wikipedia

A muffin is an American English name for a type of bread that is baked in small portions. Many forms are somewhat like smallcakes or cupcakes in shape, although they usually are not as sweet as cupcakes and generally lack frosting. Savory varieties, such as cornbread muffins, also exist. They generally fit in the palm of an adult hand, and are intended to be consumed by an individual in a single sitting.

Outside the United States of America, muffin can also refer to a disk-shaped muffin, usually called an English Muffin outside of England. As American-style muffins are also sold in Commonwealth countries, the term muffin can refer to either product, with the context usually making clear which is meant.

There are many varieties and flavors of muffins made with a specific ingredient such as blueberries, chocolate chips,cucumbers, raspberry, cinnamon, pumpkin, date, nut, lemon, banana, orange, peach, strawberry, boysenberry, almond, andcarrot, baked into the muffin. Muffins are often eaten for breakfast; alternatively, they may be served for tea or at other meals.

Many muffin batters can be made ahead of time. If you have room in the fridge, you can even scoop the batter into muffin tins so the muffins are ready to go in the oven first thing in the morning.

Here are 9 Easy to Follow Tip on How to Make a Perfect Muffin:

1. The number one rule of muffin-making is don't over mix the batter unless you want hockey pucks instead of muffins.

2. If you're wondering which recipe to choose, note that less butter and sugar in a recipe results in a bread-like muffin, while more butter and sugar produces something closer to cake.

3. Have all ingredients at room temperature. Mix the dry ingredients, whisk the wet ingredients, then use a spatula or wooden spoon to gently stir the two together until everything is slightly moistened. Yes, there will be lumps. Small lumps are fine.

4. Add fruit, nuts, etc. after lightly combining the wet and dry ingredients. Then give the batter one more light-handed stir and you're done. Is the batter still thick and lumpy? That's exactly what you want.

5. That thick, lumpy batter is best portioned out with a ladle or a small ice cream scoop.

6. Some say muffin tops are the best part. To get yours, bake the batter in shallow muffin tins or overfill regular muffin tins. Even if you use paper liners, a quick spritz of vegetable cooking spray on the top of the muffin tin will make muffin removal much easier.

7. Position your oven rack in the middle of the oven for even heat distribution.

8. Let muffins cool for a few minutes before turning them out of the pan.

9. Muffins are best when freshly made, but for muffins anytime you want them, wrap cooled muffins in plastic and freeze for up to two months. Thaw, still wrapped, at room temperature.

Easy right? If you love what you're doing, then everything else will follow. Have a muffin filled aroma weekend!