Sweet Muffins

  • 12

Ingredients

  • Flavor options:
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 stick plus 2 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups plain yogurt
  • Lemon-Poppy Seed: Add 3 T. poppy seed and
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest to the dry ingredients. Dipping
  • a spoon in water as necessary, make a well in each
  • cup of batter (just half of batter). Using a generous
  • 1/4 cup of store-bought lemon curd, drop a heaping
  • teaspoon in each well (1/4 t. in mini muffins). Top with
  • remaining batter.
  • Date-Walnut: Add 1 cup each of chopped dates and
  • toasted walnuts to dry ingredients, and add 2 tsp.
  • vanilla to the eggs.
  • Chocolate Chip-Cherry Muffins: Add 1 cup each of
  • coarsely chopped dried cherries and miniature
  • chocolate chips to the dry ingredients, and add 1/2
  • tsp. almond extract to the eggs.

Preparation

Step 1

Adjust rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees (or 450 for mini-muffins, which need the higher heat to brown perfectly).

Prepare your preferred flavoring from the list (w/ingredients). Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.

Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, then alternating 1/3 at a time, beat in the flour mixture, then the yogurt, until a smooth, thick batter just forms.

Spray a 12-cup muffin tin or 4 12-cup mini muffin tins with vegetable cooking spray, or use paper liners. Divide batter evenly among the cups. A spring-action regular or mini ice cream scoop works well. The muffin tins will be full.

Bake until muffins are golden brown, about 12 minutes for the mini-muffins and about 25 for the regular ones. Set pan on a wire rack to cool slightly. Remove muffins and continue to cool, or serve.