Sunday, September 11, 2011

Granola Muffins

It was a real bummer missing Muffin Monday last week, especially when I woke up Monday morning to delicious posts about cheese cake muffins! Seriously? I had to miss those? All I could hope for was that An, of Baker Street, would supply back to back awesome recipes to her Monday Bakers!


Well, she certainly didn't disappoint! As soon as I opened her email and saw Granola, I knew I was gonna like it.  I love granola, but since I never make or buy it for some unknown reason, this was a great chance to buy a little extra to snack on.  In her email, An billed this as a healthy muffin to balance last weeks more indulgent recipe. I grinned to myself as I thought; 'not when I get finished
with it' :)  Unless you're new to Cooke'd With Luv, you've probably figured out by now that I like my muffins on the sweeter side.


I didn't make any big changes, but I did tailor it slightly towards my family's tastes. I used; whole milk instead of that cloudy water they call low fat milk, dark raisins because I already had them, and honey flavored yogurt to enhance the honey already in the recipe. Lastly, because I've received overwhelming support and kudo's for my judicial use of it in baked goods, I topped them with a sinful mound of streusel!  My kind of healthy muffins!


I left two muffins plain, just so I could show pictures of the originals. They were delicious and moist, but the unanimous consensus was that streusel makes everything better!



With and without streusel. And, my handmade honey dipper :)

Be sure to visit Baker Street, and see what all the talented bakers have done with their Granola Muffins this week!

The recipe is by Martha Rose Shulman. It was posted on the NY Times site a couple of years ago.

Granola Muffins

Ingredients:
1 cup granola
1/2 cup low-fat milk
1 cup golden raisins
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large or extra large eggs
1/4 cup mild honey, such as clover
1/2 cup buttermilk or plain low-fat yogurt
1/4 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:- Preheat the oven to 375ºF with a rack in the middle. Grease 12 muffin cups.
- In a bowl combine the granola and milk in a bowl and let sit for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, cover the   raisins with hot water and soak for 15 minutes. Drain and dry on paper towels.
- Sift together whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In medium bowl, beat together the eggs, honey, buttermilk or yogurt, canola oil and vanilla. Quickly whisk in the flour, then fold in the granola and raisins. Combine well
- Spoon into muffin cups, filling each about 3/4 full.
- Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool in the tins for 10 minutes, then unmold and cool on a rack.
Yield: 12 muffins

On a personal note: I only soak the raisins for about 5 mins. which is fine to 'condition' them, but doesn't leach the sugars out.



Muffin Monday is an initiative by Baker Street. A culinary journey of sharing a wickedly delicious muffin recipe every week. Drop in a quick line to join her on her journey to make the world smile and beat glum Monday mornings week after week.

20 comments:

  1. Low fat milk? When I do commit that sin, I try to balance with bacon or some sort of fat. Seriously, it's cloudy dirty water. What's the point? And FYI...whole milk isn't THAT much fattier..prob. 3-4% more..don't know the exact %. On to other things, like, yes to streusel! Gorgeous! Again with the cool looking disposable pans. Worry not, I will get some myself soon ;) Loved these Alan, and loved your variations!

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  2. I want that handmade honey dipper! So cute :) my muffins are healthy but they are still delicious, you know? Tho I must admit the ones with streusel topping look tempting. It seems we both missed the cheesecake muffins :( feels good to be back baking with An, huh?

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  3. Ummmm....yeah....of course streusel! Seriously, I am not good at getting a fun streusel, I need to work on it:-) Your muffins look fantastic:-) Hugs, Terra

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  4. Streusel does make everything better. Even bacon. :) I agree on the low-fat milk, by the way, and also used whole milk in mine. Nice job!

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  5. amazing! next time i do my muffins, i'l not be too obedient and use full cream milk :)

    great muffins you got there!

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  6. Homemade honey dipper! Yummmm Alan! I would pick the streusel any day over the other. Glad to have you back this week.


    Cheers!
    A

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  7. Why didn't I think of streusel? I did the predictable and sprinkled extra granola over the top of the muffins, well, they did look a bit like streusel in a faux sort of way! Love all your tweaks, especially the extra honey :-).

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  8. Great tip re soaking raisins for only 5min! And seriously, a homemade honey dipper???:) I'm still in shock that we loved these as much as we did, we like muffins, like you, usually on the sweeter side:)

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  9. Hahaha... I love the way your mind works! Streusel DOES make everything better and I am an ardent non-supporter of that cloudy milk water, as you know! I also love your honey-flavoured yogurt idea.

    Who has a homemade honey dipper and when can I expect mine in the mail? Skills!

    Will be back baking alongside you next week :)

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  10. These look great! Thanks for stopping by my site so i could find yours

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  11. Did YOU make that honey dipper?!! LOVE :)
    Oh, and the muffins look pretty good too. LOL

    --shelley

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  12. Ha-ha, Alan! I like the way you think. I didn't go low fat on mine either, but resisted our favorite streusel [NOT EVER AGAIN].

    Here's to whole milk! [Clink]

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  13. I went for whole fat milk too but didn't mention in the post. Hmm.

    both your versions are gorgeous.

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  14. Streusel is quickly becoming your trademark my friend! Love the idea of adding honey flavoured yogurt...was it Greek yogurt? Must have made the muffins nice and moist. Oh and I think those of us who missed the cream cheese muffins should just go ahead and make them anyway :)

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  15. Oh this looks awesome, Alan ! The streusel is just the most sinfully-delicious of it all. Glad to bake along with you this week, my friend!

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  16. My family only drink whole milk, they really make a difference in baking as well. Streusel is a great idea, why didn't I think of that? Someone commented bacon so now wondering you going to make bacon streusel?!

    Your handmade honey dipper looks great!

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  17. These look amazing Alan. I could eat that crumbly topping all day long!

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  18. The streusel looks like a great idea. So, since this is "granola" I feel it's healthy and I can eat more than I normally would =D

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  19. Yeah, throw streusel on anything and I'm a happy girl!! I adore muffins, and these look amazing!

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  20. Alan, great muffins, I would make them with streusel. Love the ruffled muffin cups!

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Thanks for visiting. I appreciate your comments and suggestions. :-)