Raspberry-Muffin Morning

I had two little containers of gorgeous raspberries, so I thought I'd make some muffins. I love a good muffin. I think most coffee shops really need to work on their muffins. Or maybe it's just that muffins are best right out of the oven, not shrouded in cling-wrap and three days on.

Anyway, I should know better than to open a Barefoot Contessa cookbook with no butter in the fridge, so off to the store (in my apron and pajama culottes [people at my Safeway wear a lot weirder outfits than that, I assure you] ) I went.

For all muffins lately I've used the recipe for Ina's Blueberry Coffee-Cake Muffins from Barefoot Contessa Family Style. It makes heavy, beautifully yellow muffins. I don't like a muffin that shreds into upholstery stuffing when I open it; I want my muffins loamy and moist. Just substitute anything you want for the blueberries. Never was there a better excuse for some fancy Demerara sugar than the tops of these.

Of course, I could not find the Demerara sugar I was sure I'd just bought, so I used a bit of cinnamon-sugar. Not much can't be made better with a fine layer of cinnamon-sugar. I used the jumbo muffin tin (to find one, just Google it), too, so I stuffed the all the batter into these six craters (and it was still a little too much batter). Bake an extra 8-10 minutes.

Good muffins. The tart berries add just the right amount of sourness to that dense, vanilla-y handful. Yummy hot, and even, weirdly, better the next day.

Comments

[kerrie]

i made raspberry muffins last week, we love them. I always have to make banana muffins at the same time so we have a muffin feast for a couple of days, lovely!

[lainakay]

Yummy! I want some of those! I'm with you on the upholstery stuffing, disappointing... "loamy and moist" all the way!

[Beth]

those look wonderful! I was eyeing that recipe this weekend myself. I ended up doing the grilled lemon thyme chicken and the roasted parmesan asaragus. YUUMMMY. I found out several things with this 1-Emma does not like lemony chicken 2-Emma does not like asparagus (yeah, more for me). So she had homeade chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. The latter should be made with buttermilk.. wow, so much better.

BTW -- where did you get the large tin muffin cups? I cannot find them anywhere around here! Really makes me mad!

I bought plenty of lemons and I may try chicken piccata and the lemon yogurt cake.

[Lilli]

You're killing me here! Where am I going to find fresh raspberry muffins, now that you've whet my appetite? You've moved in so close with the camera that I can practically see the individual quarks of flour, sugar, and butter. The only way this could be worse would be if you had smell-o-vision!

I'm sure you mean well :)

[BellaKarma]

I'm going to walk up to the grocery store in my pajamas. If the women around here don't mind having JUICY written across their butts, I shouldn't worry about having Tinker Bell flying across mine!

[Pam]

Gosh your pictures are wonderful.I'd want to enjoy the vingnette .. over coffee.

[Heather]

Those look great, I have that cook book too, I must try these!!

[Kristy]

I love raspberries and will have to try this but doubt they'll make it into the mixing bowl!
I bet they would be nice with white chocolate in them too xxx

[Amy]

I couldn't agree more about coffee shop muffins and most coffee shop baked goods for that matter. And woe to those who heartily dig into a CHAIN coffee shop baked delight. They are pretty to look at, but alas, are all show. Maybe your next business venture will be a little place that serves iced Vietnamese coffee and fabulous baked goods. You could sell your Posie stuff at the same place. Now THAT would be a great destination!

[Michael]

Ina has some good recipes, doesn't she? Between her and Paula Deen, the butter goes fast, that's for sure! Those muffins look great. (Enjoyed your comment re: what people wear at the grocery store. HA! ) Beautiful pics too.

[dani]

I JUST watched the Barefoot Contessa where she made these muffins and the batter looked so good! I think this is a sign that I need to try them out.

[hannah]

i had raspberries and plans for some baked goodie, but they all mysteriously made their way to the top of my various dishes of chocolate ice cream last week.

[kristen]

Gosh I hope this isn't creepy of me... but I love your blog,I think I check it out everyday! I read about it in Romantic Homes Magazine on their article on you. When I need to get inspired that's where I go. As a kid I imagined my self living in Oregon when I grew up(it's soooo beautiful there), I'm almost 40(that hurt to even type)with 4 kids...I don't think it's gonna happen- so for now I'll just live thru you :) Thanks!

[Mama Urchin]

Too early for raspberries here but your muffins look fabulous.

[Amber]

Where did you get those cute dishes? I love them.

[erica]

I so agree with you about coffee shop muffins. But the best ones i've ever had were the blueberry passionfruit ones I had at Stumptown when I was in Portland the other weekend. Along with amazing coffee. Yummmmmm!!!

[cece marie]

Just wanted to say, "thank you!" for as always bestoying us all with your delightful "eye candy." What a nice addition to my day your blog is.
It is nice to know I am not the only one who runs out the door in their house clothes!
Merci! Cece

[Kim]

I just LOVE a recipe that tastes better on the second day. I have a cake recipe that I swear is better on the third and fourth day (if it makes lasts that long) than it does on day one. Scrumptious looking muffings, by the way.

[erica]

I so agree with you about coffee shop muffins. But the best ones i've ever had were the blueberry passionfruit ones I had at Stumptown when I was in Portland the other weekend. Along with amazing coffee. Yummmmmm!!!

[Briana]

Yum. I posted about the blackberry-zucchini bread I made on Friday... maybe I should make muffins next.

[Abbey]

Have you tried BC's Tri-Berry Muffins?? By far THE BEST muffin EVER!

I've made them several times for people and they all RAVE! You gotta try them...

[suzanne]

WRITE A BOOK, Alicia. I mean a big, dense memoir or novel or collection of journal/blog entries . . . you write like the wind. Write, write, write.

ps I know you're write, write, writing, here. But write there, out there, in the bookshops, too. Write everywhere! Carry spray paint and graffiti stuff! Write! Yay!

[Flibbertygibbet]

There were some left for the next day?? That kind of restraint just doesn't exist in my house.

[Tracey]

""Anyway, I should know better than to open a Barefoot Contessa cookbook with no butter in the fridge"

That line made me laugh right out loud. Those muffins look awesome. I need to get that cookbook, it sounds much more my speed than her French one I bought. :/

[Anina]

Ok, now I'm starving! Your photos are beautiful.