Basic Muffins and Variations Recipe

Makes 12 muffins

Ingredients:

  • 2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • See also variations

    • Instructions:

    1. Grease 12 2 1/2-inch muffin cups. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
    2. Sift Flour, baking powder, sugar and salt into a medium-sized bowl. Stir to mix well.
    3. In a small bowl, beat egg with a fork.
    4. Add milk and oil.
    5. Add all at once to dry ingredients.
    6. Stir mixture only until dry ingredients are moistened. Batter will be lumpy.
    7. Drop batter from a tablespoon into prepared muffins pans, filling each cup half to two-thirds full.
    8. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
    9. Remove from pan and serve hot with butter, jam or marmalade.

    Ginger Muffins:
    Add 1/2 cup finely diced candied ginger to flour mixture before adding liquid.

    Banana-Pecan Muffins:
    1. Prepare muffin batter but use only 1/2 cup milk.
    2. Add 1/2 cup chopped pecans and 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg to sifted flour.
    3. Add 1 cup mashed, peeled banana with the egg, milk and oil.

    Blueberry Muffins:
    Toss 1 cup washed and well-drained fresh or frozen blueberries with sifted flour mixture before adding liquid.

    Orange Muffins:
    1. Cut 2 peeled navel oranges into sections.
    2. When batter is in the cups, place an orange section on top of each and sprinkle lightly with granulated sugar.

    Cheese Muffins:
    1. Fold 1/2 cup grated sharp yellow cheese into muffin mix with the last few strokes on batter.
    2. Serve hot with scrambled eggs and bacon for a special breakfast.

    Surprise Muffins:
    1. Fill muffin cups 1/3rd full of batter.
    2. Drop 1/2 tsp of your favorite jelly in center of batter.
    3. Add batter to fill cup 2/3rds full.
    4. Kids just love these as you will.

    Coconut Muffins:
    1. Add 1 cup shredded coconut with the last few strokes of mixing.
    2. For a snack have coconut muffins, butter and milk.

    Chive Muffins:
    1. Fold 1/4 cup chives into the batter during the last few strokes and serve at dinner.
    2. Great with a steak and salad.