January 23, 2014

'Best of two worlds' Blueberry Muffins with Orange Topping


This is my first recipe this year and I really hope you enjoy it as much as we did. In past posts I have expressed my family's love for blueberries, whether fresh or in baked goods (like in a bread, muffin , pie) or in pancakes or as jelly.





You might be curious as to why these muffins are termed "best of two worlds" ...right? Here is the answer. A couple of months ago I read a baking related article in which an enterprising young baker performed some experiments using different kinds of fats like oil, butter, shortening and margarine on her cake recipe to compare the outcomes. Her results proved that oil-based cakes were really moist and butter-based cakes tasted great. Who doesnt like the taste of butter right???? But when we start counting those buttery calories it does sometimes make us shy away from these delectable goodies. 
So I thought to myself, why not just shave some of those calories off by utilizing a little bit of both oil and butter, thereby utilizing the "best of both worlds". I topped it with a zesty orange topping with made it taste even better. After a few trials, here is the outcome that I think worked, being both moist and tasty and surely worth trying.







Yields : 12 Muffins
Ingredients
2 Cups - All purpose flour
3/4 Teaspoon - Salt
1 Tablespoon- Baking powder
1 Cup- Sugar
3 Tablespoon- Butter, at room temperature
1/4 Cup - Oil
3 - Eggs
1/2 Cup - Milk
1 Teaspoon - Vanilla
2 Cups - Blueberry

Orange Topping
3 Teaspoon - Orange zest
3 Tablespoon - Whole Oats
1 Tablespoon -Sugar
1 Tablespoon - Flour

Directions
  • Preheat the oven to 350F
  • Place liners in muffin pan
  • Sift salt, flour and baking powder and keep it aside
  • Beat the sugar, butter and oil together.
  • Add egg one at a time and beat until the mixture is incorporated.
  • Mix in the milk and vanilla.
  • Now add the dry ingredients(in 3 batches ) to the wet and whisk
  • Fold in the blueberries
  • Scoop the batter into the muffin tray
  • Mix all the ingredients mentioned under orange topping and sprinkle this over the muffins
  • Bake for 15-18 minutes or until the inserted toothpick comes out clean
Notes and Tips
  • Please note that this recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of baking powder and not 1 teaspoon.
  • Sift the flour before you add it to the batter. Sifting incorporates air to the flour and makes your baked good more fluffy, so don't skip this step.
  • Lemon zest will also work as a great topping.


15 comments:

  1. I just admire your muffins, my never have a top like that! Yours are very popped up!!))) perfect flavor combination, just love it!!

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  2. oohhh...love those soft and spongy muffins...drooling here...love that tagline "bets of two worlds" :)

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  3. I think blueberry and orange combo is made in heaven, my whole family devour the greek yogurt version of these muffins like ultimate super delicious muffins and they disappear fast. Addition of oats topping with orange zest gives a nice texture to the toppings. Nice recipe Shema!!!

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  4. First time here.You have an amazing blog.Loved the name of your blog and the muffins just looks so perfect.Following.

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  5. Perfect and yummy muffins...very tempting...

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  6. Topping is great Shema, can imagine the freshness it would bring! Also when it includes both oil and butter then why not?

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  7. Yummy muffins .. !! great pictures..!!

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  8. Love the breakfast scene and the lighting ..love those muffins. Must say the pics here look so much better than fb ones.

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  9. this looks delicious... love the pics, makes me feel like grabbing a couple of them...

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  10. These muffins are everything that I want for breakfast and also for an afternoon snack...By the way, what a great food styling!!!!

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  11. This is definitely a fabulous combination and it looks moist with full of texture and flavor.
    Lovely bright pictures.

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  12. That's an amazing combination. It looks so moist and good.
    Really like your bright and cheery pictures.

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  13. I will definitely give this a go, as we love muffins for breakfast! Like your idea of combining butter and oil..and the pictures are just breathtaking Shema :-)

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  14. I love the topping idea! Definitely something I'd love to add (A LOT of it)... Blueberry muffins are my favorite, and you made such a beautiful one!

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First of all thanks a lot for stopping by my space. I would be very happy to hear from you and would love to see your comments and feedback :)
Thanks a bunch,
Shema