New Carrot Cake Muffins with a Streusel Crunch Topping

When you operate a Bed and Breakfast like we did for so many years, you do get and use, many recipes for muffins. Here is a nice one and I am sure it will become a favourite.

 

  • 2 tbsp. flour
  • 1 tbsp. dark brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp. melted butter
  • 1 3/4 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp. baking power
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. grated fresh ginger
  • 1/4 tsp. allspice
  • pinch of salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 2/3 cup Crisco oil
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed
  • 2 cups grated Heritage carrots
  • 2 tbsp. dried and salted pumpkin seeds

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 12 cup muffin pan with Pam or equivalent.

To make the streusel, combine the flour and brown sugar in a small bowl. Add the butter and mix with a fork until crumbly. Set aside.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, allspice and salt into a large bowl.

Beat together the eggs,oil, buttermilk, brown and white sugar and vanilla in a medium size bowl until well mixed. Slowly add the flour mixture until just combined and then add the grated carrots.

Divide equally into the 12 cup tin and sprinkle the tops with the streusel. Bake for approximately 20 minutes and then cool in the pan for about 8-10 minutes. Remove and serve warm with butter and a cup of freshly made coffee. You can even call a friend to come over IF you want to share.

If you want, you could add a cream cheese icing. It truly is not necessary for this muffin.

 

 

Cinnamon Toffee Muffins

Aha! Another muffin recipe and this is a yummy one. What is better than cinnamon and toffee? okay, I know…chocolate but that’s another story.

 

  • 7 tbsp. room temperature butter
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1  1/2 cups flour
  • 1  1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • pinch of salt
  • 4 oz. cinnamon chips (new on market here)
  • 4 oz. English toffee bits
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1  1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (this is a lower temperature than most muffins are baked in). Prepare muffin tins with nonstick spray and set aside.

Combine the butter and sugar and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat until pale in colour and smooth in texture.

Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add to the butter mixture in two additions alternating with the buttermilk and vanilla. Stir until just moistened and fill the muffin tins about 2/3 full. The batter, of course, will be lumpy.

Streusel Topping

  • 2 tbsp. flour
  • 1/3 cup dark brown sugar, packed
  • pinch of ground cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp. softened butter

Cut the butter into the above ingredients until it resembles coarse cornmeal. Place a generous tablespoon on top of each muffin and gently press to adhere.

Bake for about 20 minutes (check for doneness) and let stand for about 5 minutes before unmolding on a wire rack to cool.

Apple Streusel Muffins

This recipe is in my cookbook “The B & B Cookbook” (order from Amazon or your local library) and it is truly a great morning ‘waker-upper’.

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • pinch of salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup melted butter
  • 1  1/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1  1/2 cups chopped, peeled Granny Smith apples

In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Add the sugar and stir to combine.

In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, butter, vanilla and stir into the dry ingredients just until moistened (batter will be stiff). Fold in the chopped apples.

Grease muffin tins and fill them 3/4 full.

Streusel Topping

1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar

1 tbsp. flour

1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tbsp. cold butter

Combine the ingredients and cut in the butter until very crumbly.   Sprinkle evenly over all the muffins and gently press to adhere.

Bake in a 375 degree oven for 20 minutes. Check with a toothpick and if it comes out clean…done

Cool for five minutes before removing to a rack. One more thing….

Glaze

1  1/2 cups sifted icing sugar

1-2 tbsp. cream (not milk)

1 tsp. melted butter

1/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract

pinch of salt

Mix together until combined and smooth. Drizzle over the muffins. Need I say – OMG these are good.

Coffee any one?