Home Grown Blueberry Muffins
It has been a very hot and dry summer, not something you usually can say here in England. In fact, we have been warned that hosepipe bans may soon be announced so severe are the drought conditions. I have watered the the gardens almost every night but still the beans aren't producing and the lettuces are going to seed. The only plants that seem truly happy with the weather are the blueberries. We have a bumper crop!
Time to bake some Blueberry Muffins:
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter- room temperature OR 2 Tablespoons butter + 2 tablespoons oil
1/2 cup caster sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon cider vinegar* optional
1 cup blueberries
Preheat the oven to 375F or 190C. Place paper cupcake liners into a 6 hole muffin tin.
Beat together the butter (or butter and oil), egg, and sugar for about 2 minutes or until light and fluffy. I used a wire whisk but you can use an electric mixer if you like. Add the vanilla and stir to combine.
In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed butter mix, alternating with a bit of the milk. Stir until just combined.
Finally, add the blueberries and stir in gently.
Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin tin. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the muffins are a light golden brown. Leave the muffins to cool in the baking tin for at least 10 minutes.
* I often add a teaspoon of cider vinegar to the milk when making muffins. I think it results in a lighter crumb. It is purely optional and you can leave it out if you like.
Serve for breakfast or as a tea time treat. Be sure to store any left over muffins in an airtight container. We have lots of blueberries to come...perhaps there will be more baked berry treats to enjoy.
Time to bake some Blueberry Muffins:
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter- room temperature OR 2 Tablespoons butter + 2 tablespoons oil
1/2 cup caster sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon cider vinegar* optional
1 cup blueberries
Preheat the oven to 375F or 190C. Place paper cupcake liners into a 6 hole muffin tin.
Beat together the butter (or butter and oil), egg, and sugar for about 2 minutes or until light and fluffy. I used a wire whisk but you can use an electric mixer if you like. Add the vanilla and stir to combine.
In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed butter mix, alternating with a bit of the milk. Stir until just combined.
Finally, add the blueberries and stir in gently.
Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin tin. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the muffins are a light golden brown. Leave the muffins to cool in the baking tin for at least 10 minutes.
* I often add a teaspoon of cider vinegar to the milk when making muffins. I think it results in a lighter crumb. It is purely optional and you can leave it out if you like.
Serve for breakfast or as a tea time treat. Be sure to store any left over muffins in an airtight container. We have lots of blueberries to come...perhaps there will be more baked berry treats to enjoy.
How wonderful to have bumper crops of blueberries, maybe one day I should try to grow some.
ReplyDeleteYou really should! They are easy to grow in big pots. The fruit is delicious and in autumn they have the most beautiful coloured foliage.
DeleteI didn't realise they do well in big pots, I have 2 giant pots I can use so I will look out for some.
DeleteThe trick is to plant them in ericaceous compost, keep them well watered and feed them with a bit of azalea food now and again. They are thirsty plants and need acidic conditions. They say you should have two plants because it helps them to pollinate and make lots of berries.
DeleteWe have two new blueberry plants in our garden. This year there were not so many berries, and we had to share them with the birds. ;-)
ReplyDeleteOur blueberry plants are still producing berries. Just last night I had to tie up some of the branches with bamboo canes and twine. The heavy berries were bending the branches down to the ground. Perhaps I will have to share some of my berries with the birds, too. I am sure they would love them. ; D
Delete