Blueberry Muffins - the world's most popular muffin
How long have we been making muffins in New Zealand? 40 years? Not very long. Now they take the place of sponge cakes and scones as the mark of an enthusiastic home baker. They’re quick and easy to prepare, and easy to transport in school lunches, to meetings, or to a morning tea or lunch. And let’s not count the number of muffins made for school fairs and other fundraising activities.
I recall making bran muffins about 1982. My husband thought they were awful and tasted like cardboard. The first muffin recipe book I owned was put out by a support group at National Women’s Hospital in Greenlane, Auckland, which was fundraising for equipment. Lemon and sugar muffins came from that (he thought they tasted like marmalade – not one of his passions) then blueberry muffins – and that was it.
This Blueberry Muffin recipe tastes great and is quick and easy to make. It works well with all varieties of blueberries.
Make these Blueberry Muffins with Orchard Gold Blueberries. |
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Ingredients: 2 eggs 1½ cups milk 1 cup sugar 125g melted butter 3 cups plain flour 4 teaspoons baking powder 2 cups Orchard Gold blueberries |
Method: Preheat oven to 200ºC. Beat eggs, milk sugar and melted butter together in a bowl. Sift the flour and baking powder into egg mixture. Lightly mix. Add blueberries and stir to just combine. Grease or spray muffin tins, or line with muffin liners and spray. Spoon in the muffin mixture, filling to about ¾ full. Bake 18-20 minutes for regular size muffins. Test with a toothpick to check they are cooked. Remove from the oven and wait 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool. Dust with icing sugar before serving. |
Muffins are best eaten the same day they’re cooked, but are still great the day after – try them split, lightly toasted with a little butter, or warmed in the microwave.
I’ve been amazed to learn how many different varieties of blueberries there are – think apple varieties and you’ll appreciate how different they are, in size, colour, juice, taste, and texture. Some are small and pulpy, other varieties are large and juicy, some have a bloom (the waxy coating like on plums and grapes), other’s don’t. Did you know that Blueberry Muffins are the official muffin of Minnesota, USA? I think they should be the official muffin of the Waikato, New Zealand’s largest blueberry growing region.
Have you got a blueberry muffin story? Do you put any other ingredients into your blueberry muffins? Do you prefer muffins made with butter or oil? Jumbo or Mini muffins?
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