Cranberry Apple Muffins

Today's idea came from my husband, who asked me for Cranberry Apple Muffins. I adapted a Raspberry Apple muffin recipe in my Mostly Muffins Company's Coming cookbook. They turned out really good. He was happy.

Here's the recipe I made for 24 muffins:

Cranberry Apple Muffin Recipe
3 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon (optional)
1/2 tsp. salt

3 large eggs
3/4 cup sour cream (or 1/2 cup sour cream and 1/4 cup yogurt)
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup milk

1 1/2 cups chopped cranberries, fresh or frozen
1 1/4 cups diced, peeled cooking apple

Topping:
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 Tbsp. cinnamon

Measure flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt into a large bowl. Stir. Make a well in centre.

Combine eggs, sour cream, butter and milk in a medium bowl. Add to well.

Add cranberries and apples. Stir just until moistened. Fill 24 lined or greased muffin cups full.

Topping:

Combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle about 1/2 tsp. over each muffin.

Bake in 375 degree oven for about 25 minutes, or until wooded pick inserted in centre of muffin comes out clean. Let stand in pan for 5 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool. Makes 24 muffins.

Cranberry Cinnamon-Nut Bread

The newest edition of the Better Homes and Gardens new CookBook (15th) found its way under my tree this year, and to mark the occassion, I made the Cinnamon nut Bread from page 123 with the Cranberry variation. It was so awesome, I gained 2 pounds yesterday!

Doesn't it look fabulous?  It tasted fabulous too!
Tonight I will be making Olliebollen - a drop-donut type thing that is a Dutch tradition to ring in the new year. Come back tomorrow to see it!

Happy New Years Eve!

Fall Cranberry Pumpkin Muffins

I was out of muffins and had those jack-o-lanterns still looking at me and the last of the cranberries I picked at Thanksgiving were finally ripe so I figured I'd try something new to me: Cranberry Pumpkin Muffins. They turned out beautiful! Somebody had 3 and it wasn't me!

Well, I looked up recipes on line. I modified them a little and came up with this:

Fall Cranberry Pumpkin Muffin Recipe

1 cup white flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
dash cloves
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup melted butter
1 egg
1 cup pumpkin puree (canned or fresh)
1 cup chopped fresh cranberries
1 soft apple, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line 18 muffin cups with papers or grease them.
In a small bowl, combine sugar and chopped cranberries and apple. Set aside.
In another bowl, combine flours, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt. Make a well in the center.
In a third bowl, combine the butter, egg and pumpkin. Pour into the dry ingredients. Mix until almost combined. Fold in the berries & apple. Mix until all the flour is incorporated. Spoon batter into muffin tins to 3/4 full. Sprinkle lightly with a little sugar to get the glazed look. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until muffin tops spring back when pressed lightly with a finger.

Happy Fall!