How to Make Buttermilk Muffins

Choose any type of berry, or use a combination of fruit for muffins.

Buttermilk provides a distinctive flavor to baked goods and pairs nicely with additional fruits in a baked dishes. Berries complement the buttermilk flavor, but you can substitute other fruits you have on hand in the basic recipe. The easy recipe makes for a breakfast accompaniment or a treat anytime of the day, and is a great way to use up extra buttermilk you have left over from other recipes. If you do not have buttermilk on hand, it is an easy ingredient to make a substitution. Add 1 tbsp. white vinegar to a measuring cup. Fill with milk up to the 1-cup line, and you will have a suitable replacement.

Things You'll Need

• Cooking spray
• Muffin pan
• 2 large bowls
• 1 egg, beaten
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 1 stick melted butter
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. orange zest
• Spatula
• 2 cups fresh or frozen berries
• Toothpick (See Reference 1)
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 stick melted butter
• 2 bowls

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray the muffin pan with cooking spray to prevent sticking.

2. Combine egg, buttermilk, butter and vanilla extract in a large bowl until blended. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and orange zest in a separate bowl until close to uniform in texture.

3. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients with the spatula. Gently combine ingredients.

4. Stir berries into the mixture, gently, until well distributed. Pour mixture into the prepared muffin pan, and bake 20 to 25 minutes. Test the muffins with a toothpick; when it comes out clean, the muffins are baked.

5. Combine the sugar and cinnamon in one bowl and add the melted butter to the other. Dip the top of a muffin in the melted butter, and then in the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Repeat with remaining muffins.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with fruits you have on hand. Try a single berry, or a mixture of blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries. Add pieces of banana, apple or peach instead.

• If using frozen berries, add a few minutes to the baking time.

References

• Joy of Baking; Buttermilk Berry Muffins Tested Recipe; March 2008
• The Food Channel; Cinnamon-Buttermilk Muffins; March 2008
• Joy of Baking: Baking Ingredient Substitution Table