Happy Memorial Day weekend! I hope everyone is enjoying the three-day weekend as much as we are around here. The holiday-free stretch between the middle of February and the end of May is just way too long for me. This week’s Sweet Melissa Sunday selection is Coconut Custard Pie, selected by Ruby of I Dream of Baking; the recipe can be found here on her site and you can stop by the Sweet Melissa blogroll for more pie. I apologize for not baking along with the group this week, but Tuesdays With Dorie also involved coconut and there’s only so much I can handle. Instead, I’m rewinding back to the Orange Blueberry Muffins with Pecan Crumble, chosen by Chaya of Sweet & Savory three weeks ago; the recipe can be found here. I actually baked, photographed, and consumed these muffins the week they were “assigned,” but then didn’t get around to posting them and if I don’t do it now I probably never will!
The group has made several of the muffin variations in The Sweet Melissa Baking Book, and it has been well-documented amongst the group that although the flavor combinations are superb, the actual muffin base leaves a little to be desired. The words dense and dry have been thrown around a lot, which certainly aren’t the most inspiring adjectives for a muffin recipe. With just a few minor adjustments (namely more liquid), the muffins’ texture is fluffier and moister. I have mentioned many times that I often substitute nonfat (European style) yogurt for some of the butter in muffins and quick bread. I subbed a couple tablespoons in this half batch, and then added a couple more, plus some extra milk. I typically substitute small amounts of yogurt for butter when I feel that it will decrease the fat a bit, without sacrificing flavor or texture. However, I actually recently learned from Cook’s Illustrated magazine that yogurt assists in yielding attractive muffin tops.
We thought the blueberry orange combination was delicious, and what’s not to like about a crumble topping? I don’t know if this recipe will ever reach the top of my make-again pile, but they were a delightful spring breakfast treat. We rated the muffins a 7.5 for Deliciousness and I gave them a 3 for Effort, for an EDR of 2.5.
Nice post. I have attempted Melissa's muffins one other time and they were very dense. Unfortunately I didn't get around to baking on the week this was assigned, but I really want to try them out...since everyone raved about the crumble. By the way, your crumble looks amazing! Thanks for the tips on subs.
ReplyDeleteHm I'll take that into account next time I make muffins. Yogurt!
ReplyDeleteLooks great!
Happy Memorial Day to you guys! I agree about the holiday free stretch for the first half of the year - it's brutal!
ReplyDeleteYour muffins look awesome - these were a huge hit at my house. Fun tip about yogurt in muffins, I didn't know that. Less fat and nicer muffin tops - double win :)
They look perfectly moist so your tweaks definitely worked! I think I added extra butter but FF yogurt is a much better way to go.
ReplyDeleteThese muffins look so good - I would love one with my morning coffee.
ReplyDeleteGreat looking muffins! I have used unsweetened applesauce before as a substitute for butter in quick breads but never muffins. Thanks for sharing the tip - I'll try that swap next time.
ReplyDeleteThese look wonderful. I've subbed yogurt for butter in quick breads and muffins with great success.
ReplyDeleteHi Margot!
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a lovely Memorial Day weekend- the extra day off made the week go by so much faster, don't you think? Sunday is right around the corner again (I just put my thumbprint dough in the fridge so we'll see how that goes!)
Beautiful job on your muffins- and I love the info about how yogurt contributes to an attractive muffin top (funnily enough, when I made these muffins, I abandoned Melissa's recipe due to the reasons you mentioned- I guess I went a bit rogue that week!- but instead made CI's Best Blueberry Muffins, still utilizing the SMS pecan crumble topping... they were killer! The recipe is up on my site if you're interested.)
I also wanted to let you know that in my latest post for the coconut custard pie, I have a picture of Bella checking out the results. I thought of you and your adorable Eloise (I hope she's doing well) so I wanted to be sure to stop by and say hello.
Have a great rest of your week and I hope to hear from you soon :)
<3,
Joy
I'm such a sucker for anything with a crumble topping. They looks way to tasty.
ReplyDeleteMimi