How to Make Perfect Muffins

     

     If you follow my blog (and if not, you really should hit the subscribe button!) you definitely noticed that I have a "thing" for muffins. I just love them! I love baking them, experience with them, and of course eating them! What I love most about muffins is that you can have them whenever you want: for breakfast, brunch, dinner, on a road trip or they can even be a great snack for kids at school. I want to share with you a couple of tips on how to make perfect muffins. I am no expert, but baking as much as I do, I have learned some things over the years. Once you know how to make a basic muffin, you can make anything you want with them!



     Follow the recipe

   My first tip is to always follow the recipe. Especially if you are a beginner in baking, and you don't want to make experiments in your kitchen. I know that this tip might be considered dumb. In the same time, I know that we often tend to substitute or change some of the ingredients, like putting less or more sugar. I've been there and done that! You don't want to change the recipe unless you are an experienced baker, and you know what you are doing. All the ingredients in a recipe have their own purpose.
   Also, make sure that you choose your recipe from a trustworthy source. Don't pick the first recipe that you find, and make sure to read the reviews and the comments section.
   Here is my recipe for Easy Simple Muffins.

     Mix wet and dry ingredients separately

   A good muffin recipe usually requires that you mix wet and dry ingredients separately. This is called the "quick bread" method. Check out these delicious Pomegranate Muffins.

     Don't overmix the ingredients

     Blend your ingredients gently, by hand (don't use the mixer), using a silicone spatula or a wooden spoon. If you are a beginner in the kitchen, here is an article that will help you pick out the 16 kitchen tools every baker needs.
   Once you add the wet ingredients to the dry ones, make sure you don't overmix or undermix your batter. All you have to do is to blend the ingredients all together. There will be some small lumps left, but that is ok. To make it easier, you can count to 10-12 while blending the ingredients.

     Add the flavor last

   Spices should be added with the dry ingredients. But fruits, nuts, chocolate or any other flavor should be the last ingredient added to your batter. 
   Tip for when you use fresh fruits: toss them in a little bit of flour before adding them to the batter. In this way, the fruits will not sink to the bottom of the muffin.
     Check out these delicious Strawberry Muffins.

     Use an ice-cream scoop

   Put the batter in the muffin tray by using an ice-cream scoop. In this way, all your muffins will have the same size and will bake evenly. Also, an ice-cream scoop guarantees a cleaner countertop and a cleaner muffin tray.

     Don't overfill the tray

   How much we should fill the muffins tray is something that can be easily overlooked. If you overfill or underfill, your muffins can sink after rising or overflowing will appear. Most recipes don't tell you how much batter to put in the tray. I recommend filling the cup 3/4 to get those beautiful round muffins.

     Cool your muffins

   After your muffins are done take them out of the oven and let them cool for 3-5 minutes. Only after that, remove them from the tray. This will help your muffins stay in one piece, and not to fall apart.

     Bake them right

   Don't overbake or underbake your muffins. Follow the recipe instructions about the oven temperature and about the time the muffins need to be done. Always check for doneness by inserting a skewer into the center of a muffin; if it comes out clean, your muffins are done. 
   Make sure you check out my delicious homemade Savoury Muffins.

     Once you learned how to make perfect muffins, you can start experiencing and trying out new and different recipes. If you like them as much as I do, you will definitely try out as many as you can. 
   Do you have any other tips on how to make perfect muffins? Let me know in the comments section, and don't forget to share with your family and friends!