Fruitcake Muffins Recipes

BASIC MUFFIN RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Line 2 muffin trays with paper muffin cases. In a large bowl beat 2 medium eggs lightly with a handheld electric mixer for 1 min.
• Add 125ml vegetable oil and 250ml semi-skimmed milk and beat until just combined then add 250g golden caster sugar and whisk until you have a smooth batter.
• Sift in 400g self-raising flour and 1 tsp salt (or 400g plain flour and 3 tsp baking powder if using) then mix until just smooth. Be careful not to over-mix the batter as this will make the muffins tough.
• Stir in 100g chocolate chips or dried fruit if using.
• Fill muffin cases two-thirds full and bake for 20-25 mins, until risen, firm to the touch and a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. If the trays will not fit on 1 shelf, swap the shelves around after 15 mins of cooking.
• Leave the muffins in the tin to cool for a few mins and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

FRUITBURST MUFFINS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200C/gas 6/ fan 180C and very lightly butter a 12-hole muffin tin. Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl. In another bowl, lightly beat the eggs, then stir in the melted butter, milk and honey. Add to the flour with the remaining ingredients. Combine quickly without overworking (it's fine if there are some lumps left - you want it gloopy rather than fluid). Spoon the mixture into the muffin tin. Bake for 20-25 minutes until well risen and pale golden on top.
• Leave in the tin for a few minutes before turning out. When cool, they'll keep in an airtight tin for two days. (Can be frozen for up to 1 month.)

MINIATURE CHRISTMAS FRUITCAKES

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine molasses and water; add raisins. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in candied fruit and vanilla. Cool., Meanwhile, in a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add 1 eggs at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the flour, baking soda and spices; add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Add fruit mixture, mixing well. Fold in nuts., Fill paper-lined miniature muffin cups almost full. Bake at 325° for 22-24 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Store in airtight containers.

FRUIT MUFFINS

Steps:

• Mix dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
• Mix together melted butter, egg and milk and add to dry ingredients.
• Stir just until mixed and then fold in fruit cocktail.
• Fill paper lined muffin cups 2/3 full and bake at 400° for about 25 minutes.

FRUITCAKE MUFFINS

Steps:

• Position the rack in the center of the oven, and preheat the oven to 400°F To prepare the muffin pans, spray the holes and the rims with nonstick spray, or put the paper muffin cups into the holes. If using the silicon pans, spray as directed, then place on cookie sheet.
• Combine the cherries,currants, apricots, and brandy in a small bowl and set aside for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, ginger, and allspice in a medium bowl until mixed well. Set aside.
• Place the egg whites in a seperate medium bowl, that is clean and dry. Beat with an electric mixture at high speed until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes. Set aside as well.
• In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks just until lightly beaten, then add the sugar and continue whisking until the mixture is thick and sunny yellow, about 3 minutes. Whisk in the buttermilk, melted butter, honey and vanilla extract until smooth.
• Using a wooden spoon, stir in the fruit and any remaining brandy into the egg yolk mixture, then stir in the pecans until well mixed. Stir in the flour mixture until incorporated. Then gently fold in the beaten egg whites until no streaks of white are visible.
• Fill the prepared pans three quarters full. Use additional greased pans or small, oven proof ramekins for any leftover batter or reserve the batter for a second batch. Bake for 20 minutes or until the muffins are light brown, with firm,rounded tops. A toothpick inserted into one of the muffins should come out clean.
• Set the pan on a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes. Gently rock the muffins back and forth to release them. Remove them from the pan and let cool on the rack for 5 more minutes. To freeze, let cool completely, then store in airtight containers or freezer proof bags. The muffins will stay fresh for up to 2 days at room temperature or up to 3 months in the freezer.

SUMMER FRUIT CRUMBLE MUFFINS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases. Beat 100g of the butter and the caster sugar together using an electric whisk until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, beat for 1 min, then mix in the yogurt, vanilla and milk. Combine 250g of the flour with the baking powder and bicarb in a bowl with ¼ tsp salt, then stir this into the wet ingredients.
• Spoon 2 tbsp of the batter into each paper case. Gently push two raspberries each into four of the cases, two or three blackberries into another four and a large spoonful of chopped peaches into the final four. Divide the rest of the batter between the cases, spooning it over the fruit, then top with more berries or peaches, to match the filling.
• Mix the remaining 50g flour and 25g butter together with your fingers until the mixture clumps together in small chunks, then stir in the demerara sugar. Sprinkle a little of the crumble mixture over each muffin, then bake for 22-25 mins until risen, golden and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
• Leave to cool in the tin for 10 mins, then carefully lift out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Will keep for three days in an airtight container.