6/21/10

Light and Fluffy Blueberry Muffins




From AllRecipes.com

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe-Tools/Print/Recipe.aspx?RecipeID=6805&origin=detail&servings=12

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes
Ready In: 30 Minutes
Servings: 12

"The secret to great texture in these delectable, simple muffins is a gentle hand when it comes to mixing."

Ingredients:

1 cup milk
1 egg
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup fresh blueberries OR
(Replace them with Chocolate Chips)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.

In a large bowl, stir together milk, egg, and oil. Add flour, baking powder, sugar, and blueberries; gently mix the batter with only a few strokes. Spoon batter into cups.

Bake for 20 minutes. Serve hot

Real Strawberry Cupcakes

Recipe from: allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

8 large fresh strawberries, or as needed
2 eggs
1 cup white sugar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons instant vanilla pudding mix
(optional)
1 drop red food coloring, or as needed
(optional)
3/4 cup cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large fresh strawberries, sliced

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 F (165 degrees C). Spray cupcake cups with cooking spray, or line with cupcake liners.

Place 8 strawberries into a blender, and blend until smooth. Pour the puree through a strainer to remove seeds. Puree should equal about 3/4 cup. Set the puree aside.

In a large bowl, beat together the eggs, white sugar, vegetable oil, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, lemon zest, and strawberry puree until well combined. Stir in the flour, baking powder, salt, vanilla pudding mix (for a moister cupcake), and red food coloring to reach a desired shade of pink. Spoon the batter into the prepared cupcake cups, filling each about 2/3 full.

Bake in the preheated oven until the cupcakes have risen and a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, about 23 minutes. Allow the cupcakes to cool at least 10 minutes before frosting.

To make frosting, beat cream cheese and butter together in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer until smooth, and mix in confectioners' sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract to make a lump-free icing. Frost each cupcake with about 2 tablespoons of icing, and top each cupcake with a strawberry slice