Sunday, February 14, 2010

Valentine's Blueberry Muffins

These blueberry muffins with a streusel topping were the perfect Valentine's Day breakfast for my wife! It is a modified recipe from Allrecipes.com and has been adjusted for high altitude.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 - 2 cups fresh blueberries, or frozen and thawed
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened but not melted
  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • zest of 1 large orange
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 5 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3 tablespoons cold butter, diced

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease or butter 12 muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.
  2. Combine 2 cups flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in medium bowl. In a small bowl, sprinkle 1 to 2 tablespoons flour over blueberries, and set aside. (This simple trick will keep you from having "purple" batter)
  3. In a large bowl, beat 1/2 cup of softened butter with 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, and stir in vanilla and orange zest. Fold in dry ingredients alternately with milk in 3 parts (1/3 of the flour and 1/4 cup milk each part). Fold in blueberries. Remember, fold gently, don't stir. Spoon batter into prepared cups.
  4. Combine 2 tablespoons flour, 5 tablespoons sugar ,and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl. Cut in 3 tablespoons cold butter with fork or pastry blender until mixture resembles course crumbs. Sprinkle over batter in muffin cups.
  5. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center of a muffin comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire rack. These muffins freeze really well, and re-heat in the microwave successfully. Hope you enjoy!!