Before making the dough, be sure
all the ingredients are at room temperature. This insures that all the
ingredients mix together evenly.
The number one rule when making
muffins is not to over mix the batter, which changes the texture and can keep
them from rising the way they should. It also can make them dry and not soft
the way you want them to be. The best way to prevent this is to mix the dry and
wet ingredients in separate bowls, and then gently stir the wet ingredients
into the dry, mixing just enough so everything is moist. This should only take
a few seconds. One way to be sure it blends together without too much mixing is
to make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and pour the wet
ingredients into it, mixing as little as possible. Don't try to get rid of
small lumps - they are normal.
Now is the time to add almost
anything you want to give your muffins a special flavor, both sweet and savory.
Cut up canned fruits into the wet ingredients, or add diced bacon, chocolate
chips, nuts, or cut up fresh fruits after stirring the wet and dry ingredients
together. One more gentle stir and the batter is ready.
Lightly spray the pan with
cooking spray and put liners in the cups. Spraying the whole top pf the pan
will make it easier to get the muffins out if there is any spillage. Place the
rack in the middle of the oven. It's usually best to fill the cups just
two-thirds full unless you want to make them larger. If you do, you may not
have enough batter to fill all the cups. Be sure to put a small amount of water
in the empty cups so the pan doesn't burn and keep the muffins from cooking
evenly. Another trick that makes for the best distribution of heat is to leave
the cups in the middle of the pan empty when you are not filling all of them.
Let the muffins cool for a few minutes before you take them out of the pan.
They will stay fresh at room
temperature up to three days, or in the refrigerator for a week, if they are
kept in an airtight container. After that they can be frozen in plastic freezer
wrap for up to three months.
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