Oat bran, raspberry, banana and chocolate chip muffins

Interesting combination of flavours, sweet and sour with dark chocolate bits. Additionally packed with bran. Delicious, prefect for breakfast...

The idea comes from this website.

Ingredients for 12 muffins:

• 285g flour
• 25g oat bran
• 1 tsp soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 60 ml honey
• 65g brown sugar
• 260g mashed bananas
• 65g natural yogurts
• 1 egg
• 175 ml milk
• 90g chocolate chip
• 230g frozen raspberries

Preheat the oven to 190C. Line muffin tin with paper cases.

In a big bowl mix the flour, bran, soda, salt, cinnamon and set aside.

In a separate bowl stir sugar and honey together until most of lumps are gone. Add mashed bananas, yogurt and egg. Sir them well. 

Pour wet ingredients into w bowl with dry ingredients add the milk and mix them until just combined. At last, but not at least, gently fold in the chocolate chips and raspberries. 

Spoon the batter into paper cases filling them up to top. Bake the muffins for 20 minutes.

Enjoy !

Recipe in Polish

Kitchen sink muffins

There is good few variations about kitchen sink muffins. This time I have tested Anna Olson recipe. They were delicious I truly recommend them.

Ingredients for 12 -14 muffins:

• 150g sugar
• 125 ml oil
• 2 eggs
• 165g grated apple
• 100g grated carrot
• 100g chopped pineapple
• 2 tsp lemon zest
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 160g wholemeal flour (I used spelt flour)
• 60g porridge oats + some to sprinkle
• 2 and 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 70g raisins
• 65g sunflower seeds
• 40g dessicated coconut

Preheat the oven to 190C. Line muffin tin with paper cases.

The flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, raisins, sunflower seeds and coconut place in  a bowl, mix well and set aside. 

In a separate bowl mix the sugar, eggs and oil. Stir well. Grate the apple, carrot and add them into the wet ingredients mixture. Then chop the pineapple and stir into the mixture. Then add freshly gated lemon zest (only yellow part) and juice. mix all ingredients. 

Add dry ingredients to the wet ones and mix until just combined. Spoon the batter into paper cases about 3/4 full. Sprinkle with porridge oats. 

Bake for  about 30 minutes.

  Enjoy !

Recipe in Polish

Mini barnbrack

I have nearly forgotten I have this recipe to publish. I have baked those muffins during Halloween time. If you try to make them  I promise you will enjoy them even now. Barnbrack is traditional Irish Halloween cake usually baked with some hidden surprises so people who find coin, ring etc..could foreseen their future. Anyway it's very tasty. Packed with dried fruits and spices served with butter... yum. The recipe comes form this website . 

 Ingredients for 12 barnbracks:

• 225g dried fruits (raisins and cranberries)
• 2 cups strong tea
• 55 ml warm milk
• 2 tsp dried yeast
• 2 tsp sugar
• 350g flour
• 80g sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp cloves
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1 egg
• 35g soft butter
• 1 tsp salt

 Fruits place in a bowl and cover with tea. Leave them to soak overnight or at least one hour.

Pour milk into a cup add yeast and sugar stir well and set aside for 10 minutes.

In a meantime put the flour, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg into an electric mixer bowl and mix them until combined. Then make a well in the middle and pour in the yeast mixture add egg, butter and salt. Knead with hook attachment for about 10 minutes. After that time dough should be smooth. 

Drain the fruits, chop them into smaller chunks. Add to the dough and knead until fruits are well incorporated. 

Transfer the dough into a bowl, cover with cling film and set aside for minimum an hour to rise. 

Grease muffin tin holes or round baking tin.

Transfer the dough on the worktop and knead it for a few minutes. Then divide into 12 pieces and place each dough ball into muffin tin hole. You can easily place whole piece of dough into round cake tin. Set aside to prove for 30 to 60 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 200C. Bake for 20 - 30 minutes for muffins or 35 - 45 minutes for cake.

Serve sliced with butter and hot tea.

Enjoy !

Recipe in Polish

Apple muffins with Karmi beer

Karmi beer is an non alcoholic caramel beer, dark sweet rich in flavour. This time instead of drinking it I used it to bake muffins.  Have to say it was good experiment. Moist, dark, sweet muffins wit chunks of apples had an interesting taste.

Ingredients for 12 muffins:

• 3 medium size apples
• 20g butter
• 1 stick or 1 tsp cinnamon
•  3 tbsp sugar
• 3 tbsp oats
• 1 cup of plain flour
• 1 cup of wholegrain flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2  tsp soda
• 2 eggs
• 10 ml canola oil
• 400 ml Karmi beer

Slice the apples. Heat up the frying pan. Add the butter, sugar, cinnamon. Then add the apples and stir from time to time. When apples soften add the oats. Set aside to pan and let the ingredients to cool down.

Preheat the oven to 200C. Line muffin tin with paper cases. 

In one bowl whisk together the flours, baking powder and soda. In separate bowl whisk the eggs with oil. Pour the wet ingredients into a dry ones add the Karmi beer and stir until just combined. The fold in the cooked apples (remove cinnamon stick).

Spoon the batter into paper cases, sprinkle with sugar and oats. 

Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes. 

 Enjoy!

Recipe in Polish

  

Nuttella stuffed cinnamon muffins

Moist, fluffy cake with crunchy cinnamon sugar coating filled with nutella just yum :). They were perfect, especially for the day when too much sugar is not enough sugar. We really enjoyed them. The recipe comes form this web site.

Ingredients for 8 muffins:

• 75g butter
• 100g sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 120 ml milk
• 190g flour
• 1 and 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 8 tsp nutella

Grease or line with paper cases the muffin tin. Preheat the oven to 220C.

Into a big bowl put the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and mix them well. 

In separate jug mix the egg, milk and vanilla.

Using hand or free standing mixer beat the butter and sugar together until smooth and creamy. Pour in the wet ingredients and mix them in. Then stir in the dry ingredients. Do not over mix the mixture.

 Spoon the batter into paper cases, 1 table spoon each. Then add 1 teaspoon of nutella and cover with batter. You may fill the muffin holes up to the top they won't overflow.

Insert into an oven. Bake in 220C for first 5 minutes then reduce the temperature to 175C and bake for another 15 minutes. When baked transfer to the wire rack to cool down.

While the muffins are cooling down prepare the cinnamon sugar topping.

Cinnamon sugar topping:

• 50g sugar
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 45g butter

Melt the butter and set aside. In a small bowl mix the sugar and cinnamon together. Take one muffin and dip it in melted butter then dip it again in cinnamon - sugar. Press a bit so all top would be evenly coated with sugar. Repeat with remaining muffins. 

Enjoy !

Recipe in Polish

Kiribath and pol pani

Kiribath ( milk rice) is a traditional Sinhalese dish served at almost all festivals, ceremonies and special occasions. Milk rice is creamy, has delicious richness from being cooked in coconut milk. It's usually served with sweet or sour additions. I am rather on the sweet side so prepared mine with pol pani, which is mixture of honey and coconut with plenty spices.  As this rice cooked in coconut milk it becomes creamy and sticky. It is easy to form it in different shapes. Traditionally is served cut into diamonds or squares. I put mine into silicone muffin cases, filled with pol pani and really enjoyed it. The kiribath recipe comes form my Sri Lankan friend Shiromi and pol pani she found for me on this web site.

While I am writing a tiny bit about Sri Lankan cuisine I would love to recommend you Bree Hutchins 'Hidden Kitchens of Sri Lanka' book. There are interesting stories about Sri Lankan regions, people who live there and type of food they eat. The book is packed with beautiful pictures and very interesting recipes. 

   

Ingredients for kiribath to fill 8 muffin cases:

• 200g basmati rice
• 350g water + 50 g to add later
• 250 ml coconut milk
• salt

 Wash the rice and place in a sauce pan. Pour in 350g water add some salt and cook stiring from time to time until the rice absorbs all the water. Taste the rice if you think it need more cooking or salt add additional 50g water and cook for few minutes longer. When cooked pour in the coconut milk. Cook longer stiring from time to time until the rice absorbs all the coconut milk. The rice should be moist and sticky.  

Here is the movie how to make kiribath.

While the rice is being cooked prepare pol pani.

Ingredients for pol pani:

• 150g golden syrup or honey
• 1 cardamon pod
• 1 clove
• 1/4 cinnamon stick
• 50g dessicated cococnut
• 1/2 vanilla stick
• 25g palm sugar

 Pour the golden syrup into a sauce pan. Add the cardamon, clove, cinnamon, sugar  and cook until sugar dissolves. Do not overcook as mixture will caramelize. Add the coconut and vanilla beans. Stir all well an set aside to cool down.

When the rice is cooked spoon the rice into silicone muffin cases. Press well to the bottom and make a well in the middle. Fill the well with pol pani and cover with remaining rice. Leave for a few minutes to set. Then turn upside down on the plate.  

Recipe in Polish.

Enjoy !

Apple crumble

 This is the easiest home made dessert. Just bake together the stewed apples with some crumble on top, serve with cream, creme fraiche and you have beautiful treat. I made mine in individual ramekins as I think it looks pretty but you can easily bake it in big heat proof dish. 

Preheat the oven to 200C. Prepare 4 ramekins.

Ingredients for 4 portions of apple crumble. 

Fruits:

• 25g butter
• 450g cooking apples
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 50g frozen blueberries ( optional)

Peel off, core and chop apples. Heat up the butter on frying pan. When is melted and hot add the apples, cinnamon and sugar. Stir well while cooking. Stop when apples become soft. Remove pan from the heat. If you would like to add blueberries stir them in now. 

Crumble:

• 50g porridge oats
• 40g butter
• 50g flour
• 30g brown sugar + some to sprinkle

Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix them with your fingers until resemble bread crumbs. Set aside.

 

Divide the fruits among all ramekins, then cover with crumble, sprinkle with small amount of sugar on top this will give crumble the extra crunch. If you want to serve the crumble immediately put the ramekins into an oven for 25 - 30 minutes. For later just keep in the fridge.

Serve warm apple crumble with some ice cream, cream or creme fraiche.

 Enjoy!

Recipe in Polish

Date and bran muffins

Moist, dense, packed with fibre, sweet muffins. The batter has to be prepared day ahead. So in the morning you can easily bake them, without preparation mess. Easy to make, healthy ... what else to say.. juts give them a try.

Recipe comes form "The Australian Women's Weekly. Muffins"

Ingredients for 12 muffins:

• 185g flour
• 1 tsp soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon  
• 110g caster sugar
• 105g wheat bran
• 120g chopped dates
• 125 ml oil
• 375 ml buttermilk
• 1 egg

Put all ingredients into a bowl, stir them until all combined. Cover the bowl with cling film and refrigerate overnight.

Next morning. Preheat the oven to 200C.

Line with paper cases or slightly grease the muffin.

Spoon the batter into prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes. When ready remove form the oven set aside for a few minutes to cool the muffins down and enjoy !

Recipe in Polish

Mars muffins

Today I would like to present the Mars muffins. I wanted to bake them some time ago but every time I bought Mars bars they were disappearing form cupboard. Finally I have baked them yesterday. I wasn't fully happy with result. The cake was a little bit dry and crumbly, and the places where Mars chunks were baked turned into empty holes :(. Honestly those muffins itself without addition would be much nicer. Anyway children really enjoyed them... maybe its me getting old :(. So ether it's me getting more demanding with age or with every muffin I bake I found my taste. Unfortunately they weren't my favourite.  The recipe comes form this website.

Ingredients for 12 muffins:

• 300g flour
• 110g sugar
• 4 tbsp cocoa powder
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• dash of cinnamon
• 250ml milk
• 125 ml oil
• 1 egg
• 2 Mars bars (30g each)
• 50g chocolate for decoration
• 1 Mars bar for decoration

 Preheat the oven to 200C. Line muffin tin with paper cases.

Into a big bowl sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, soda, cinnamon. Then add the sugar and salt. Whisk them together. 

In separate bowl whisk the egg, milk and oil. Pour the wet ingredients into a dry ones. Stir them until just moist.

Chop the Mars bars into small chunks (try as small as possible to avoid holes in baked cake). Gently fold into the batter the Mars chunks.

Spoon the batter into paper cases about 3/4 full. Bake 20 - 25 minutes until skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.  Transfer to the wire rack to cool down.

Melt the chocolate and cut the Mars bar into small pieces. Drizzle the chocolate over each muffin top and decorate with Mars chunks.

Enjoy ! 

Recipe in Polish

 

Oatmeal muffins with apple, banana, cranberries, cashews and pinch of cinnamon

This is perfect meal to go. If you like a warm, dense, rich in goodness porridge for a breakfast and you don't have a time to prepare one for yourself this is perfect solution. Those muffins are dense, chewy, moist .... just delicious. Oatmeal muffins are made with wholegrain flour and porridge oats packed with fruits, nuts .. everything your body need in the morning The recipe comes from Eat Good 4 Life.  

Ingredients for 12 - 14 muffins:

• 2 ripe bananas
• 1 egg
• 60 ml canola oil
• 75 ml milk
• 165g sugar
• 2 apples
• 130g wholegrain flour
• 170g oats
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 45g cashews (used those one instead of walnuts)
• 45g dried cranberries
• pinch of cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 200C. Line muffin tin with paper cases.

Peel  the apples remove cores. Cut the apples into a small chunks and set aside. Chop the nuts into smaller chunks and set aside.

Place peeled  bananas in a bowl and mash them. Add the egg, canola oil, milk and mix them together.

In separate bowl put sugar, flour, oats, baking powder, cinnamon and mix them. Pour in the mixture of wet ingredients and stir until just combined. Then fold in the apples, nuts and cranberries. 

Spoon the batter into prepared earlier muffin tin paper cups about 3/4 full. Bake them in preheated oven 25 - 30 minutes until skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean.   

For recipe in Polish please have a look here.

Enjoy !

Gingerbread rolls with plum jam

This is lovely combination of flavours. Spicy, chewy dough filled with sweet and sour plum jam sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. Yes, they were chewy and dense not as regular yeast dough would be. The sugar gave them a nice crunch. We all enjoy them, even children. For those who willing to try recipe below.

Ingredients for 12 rolls:

• 250g bread flour (or plain one)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 70g sugar
• 130ml warm milk
• 1 tsp dry yeast
• 20g melted butter
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp allspice
• 30g dark chocolate chips
• jar of plum jam
• cinnamon sugar to sprinkle (2tbsp sugar + 1 tsp cinnamon)

Put the flour, yeast, sugar, cinnamon and allspice in an electric mixer bowl. Stir all ingredients together. 

Melt the butter. Warm up the milk. Pour warm milk into the dry ingredients mixture and start mixing with dough hook. Pour in the melted butter. Knead the dough for a while then add salt. Knead a few more minutes and add the chocolate chips. Continue kneading for 5 minutes. 

Then transfer the dough the bowl cover with cling film and leave it to rise in warm place for 1 hour.

Then with a rolling pin roll the dough into relatively thin rectangular. Spread with plum jam and roll along the longer side. Then with a sharp knife cut into 12 slices.  Place each slice in a muffin tin (you can slightly grease the tin before). 

Set aside in a warm place. Cover with kitchen towel and let the rolls prove.

Preheat the oven to 200C. Mix the sugar and cinnamon. 

Sprinkle the rolls with cinnamon sugar and insert into hot oven. Bake for 30  minutes. When ready remove form the oven, set aside to cool down and enjoy !

For recipe in Polish look there.

Cinnamon, courgette, carrot and cranberry muffins

I have recently came across this interesting recipe. And because I had all necessary ingredients home I gave it a try immediately. I was especially happy to use frozen cranberries as I had a pack of them in my freezer for ages. Muffins were very tasty. Soft, moist, not too sweet a little bit sour  with lovely crust. I think one of my favourite. What more important my children eat them despite the fact they were packed with vegetables.

Ingredients for 12 big or 24 smaller muffins:

• 320g flour
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp soda
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp cinnamon
• pinch of nutmeg
• 220g sugar
• 230 ml canola oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 medium size carrot about 80 g
• 1 medium size courgette 180g
• 1 and 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 120g frozen cranberries

Preheat the oven to 180C. Line muffin tin with paper cases.

Finely grate the carrot and courgette.

Place the flour, baking powder, soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg ans sugar in a big bowl and mix all ingredients together. 

In separate bowl whisk the eggs, oil and vanilla. Pour this mixture in a  bowl with grated veggies add frozen cranberries and mix. Add everything into a dry ingredients. Mix everything until just combined.

Spoon the batter into paper cases, about 3/4 full. 

Bake 25 - 30 minutes. When ready remove form the oven. Let the muffin cool for a few minutes in baking tin then transfer to the wire rack to cool down completely.  

Repeat with remaining batter.

Enjoy ! 

For recipe in Polish look here.