Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Sarabeth's Maple Muffin's

For Christmas I received a wonderful cookbook called Sarabeth's Bakery ~ From My Hands to Yours. It is, without a doubt probably the most comprehensive cookbook on baking that I've ever received.  I honestly don't think I'll ever need another cookbook on baking - again!  Sarabeth is famous for her jams, and she talks about how she got her start, it's a very inspiring story, especially if you're dreaming of writing a cookbook.  I'd suggest you visit her wonderful website Sarabeth's Kitchen, you won't be disappointed!


I decided to make the Maple Muffins. Next I dug out my late mother-in-law's muffin tin. I decided that after reading the Forward and the Introduction, I thought that these muffins deserved to be baked in a proper muffin tin.  Just look at the design on the top of that tin, isn't it pretty?


 Here's a short stack, hmm, two of the muffins seem to have disappeared, I know hubby had one, I can't imagine who ate the other . . . Duke is too short to reach the counters!


Look at the wonderful walnuts, they were toasted prior to being folded into the recipe.  At first I wasn't going to toast the walnuts, because I didn't think it would make much difference - was I ever wrong,  what a nice flavor - hence it's always good to listen to the expert, they're the expert for a reason!






Here's a closer look at the muffin, your palate will thank you!  The recipe makes 12 muffins, and your home will smell aromatic with scents wafting throughout!

Below is the long awaited recipe!

According to Sarabeth, this recipe was literally forced upon her by a customer who said her family had made these muffins for more than a hundred years.  The customer promised they would be fantastic, and Sarabeth said she was right.  Sarabeth says, their rich, bold maple flavor and crunchy tops are simply irresistible - I agree!

Ingredients
Softened unsalted butter, for the pan
2 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 1/2 cups pure maple syrup, preferably Grade B*
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup whole milk
1 large egg plus 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted**

Directions
1. Position a rack in the center of he oven and preheat to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.  Brush the insides of 12 muffin cups with softened butter, then brush the top of the pan.

2. Whisk the unbleached flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl.  Whisk the maple syrup, melted butter, and milk together in another bowl, then whisk in the egg and yolk.  Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir just until smooth.  Stir in the walnuts. Let the batter stand so the dry ingredients can absorb the liquid, about 5 minutes.

3. Using a 2 1/2 inch-diameter ice-cream scoop, portion the batter, rounded side up, into the prepared muffin cups.

4. Bake for 10 minutes.  Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees and bake until the tops of the muffins are golden brown and a wire cake tester inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, about 15 minutes more.

5. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes.  Remove the muffins from the pan and cool completely.

* Grade B refers to the color & flavor, it's darker & stronger than Grade A.
** Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven on a half-sheet pan, stirring occasionally, until they are toasted and fragrant anywhere from 8-12 minutes.

Enjoy, and please let me know what you think of these wonderful muffins!  I think it's a keeper!

34 comments:

  1. I have a loaf pan with the same decoration. they sound yummy.
    cathy

    ReplyDelete
  2. ...i got so excited when i saw this...we must have been posting Sarabeth recipes at the SAME TIME..i just posted the oatmeal raisin cookies...but i didn't put up the recipe. should I ??? i LOVED reading the story about the lady pushing the muffins. i am dying to make them..they look wonderful and i LOVE maple syrup. I am loving this cookbook too and i ADORE your tin...it is PERFECT for maple syrup muffins :-)

    sending a hug to Duke

    love,
    kary and teddy

    ReplyDelete
  3. just been on angel cove puppy site...what darling little lambs of love...i wish i could have them all...teddy is on my lap right now

    :-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. The muffin tin is so unique. You have the best stories to go a long with so many of your things. The muffins look spectacular and I double clicked to get a real good look. Delicious looking. It we weren't in the middle of a storm I might be over.

    ReplyDelete
  5. My Grandma had a muffin tin just like that! Those muffins look delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  6. These look like they're right up my alley! I love maple sugar in anything and walnuts are a fave too!

    Excellent loft on those muffins!

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a gorgeous muffin tin! They made them so pretty back then compared to the plain boring ones now!!!
    The book sounds great - I've never heard of Sarabeth but will be checking out her website!
    Enjoy the muffins!

    ReplyDelete
  8. that muffin tin is beautiful and am sure it would cost a fortune if it were available today compared to the prices for the plain ones.
    Sounds like a super cookbook and I do love cookbooks. I also have a weakness for maple and because the ingredients are not difficult to come by, just may make them...thanks a bunch.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh the muffins look wonderful. I’ve heard from another blogger that this is the very best cookbook on baking too. I think it’s one I need to buy. I want a muffin right now though :(
    Happy Thursday, Amy

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oooh, I love maple flavoring. I'm so glad you got that book for Christmas! And, that you have been kind enough to share it! Thank you. Come visit when you can...


    Just posted on my other blog, Rockin' Chair Reflections, Are Bullies Any Different From Gossips? http://bit.ly/hWLEiN

    ReplyDelete
  11. Yum. Looks awesome. Will have to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thank you for this link. These muffins look amazing!

    -Rene

    ReplyDelete
  13. those look fantastic and i have a nice big fat gallon of grade B in the fridge from when we visited my relatives in vermont last year. my mom's people are/were all vermonters and i love maple syrup and cannot comprehend how anyone can eat anything else on pancakes! love that tin! so pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  14. how delicious! i often wondered about toasting the walnuts too so next time i will! i love to bake, so that cookbook looks like a must for me! stay warm! jill

    ReplyDelete
  15. The tin is sooo gorgeous..., even more fun to bake muffins!!! I just recently made banana muffins (whole wheat, no sugar added just a bit of maple syrup) and they were awesome..., next time I'll toast the walnuts too!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Ooooooooooo...Love them all...I soo adore muffins and chocolate and..anything that contains sugar...:)

    xxx

    Angie

    P.S:http://chasingkitesbyangie.blogspot.com/
    Don't bother to pass by..:P

    ReplyDelete
  17. Nice blog. I am your new follower, I am from Norway.
    I see you have a poodle - I have poodles too :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love Sarabeth's anything! I used to love having breakfast at her place when I lived in NYC. Everything was delicious. I'll have to get that book. Thank you for the recommendation!

    ReplyDelete
  19. ooh, I love recipes like this... and old muffin tins like that!! Your comments over at my blog were hysterical, thank you for the "neighborly" laugh... and guess what... the organic fertilizer we spread right after that complaint was chicken Sh*t, pardon the french. You are right... the smell is HORRIBLE!!!! Love your blog too... will follow along.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Was it here that I saw this cookbook or another blog? I think it was My Farmhouse Kitchen. You both have this book!
    Thanks for stopping by my place today. George says hello. Well, actually he's asleep now but if he were awake, he'd surely say hi.

    ReplyDelete
  21. OH MY GOODNESS! My Mom had the same muffin tin, with that same impressed design on top. In fact, her cake tins had the same design on their bottoms. Small world!

    The muffins look scrumptious. Thanks for finding That Old House; I'm signing on as one of your Followers!

    70 years old? We bought this house because our former one wasn't old enough; it was just 90 years old. :-)

    (Actually we bought because this one was twice the size!)

    Don't you just LOVE old houses? Yes, we are a special, slightly nuts, breed.

    Cass

    ReplyDelete
  22. My husband will love these. Thank you so much for posting this recipe!!

    Love,
    Susan and Bentley
    xxoo

    ReplyDelete
  23. I loveeee sarabeths! These muffins look delicious! thanks for the recipe!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Muffins look delicious!

    Another book to add to the wish list!!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Those muffins do look delicious! I'm a firm believing in toasting nuts so I can just imagine how wonderful they taste. I'm saving a copy! Thank you :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. These sound amazing, I think im going to have to make them for hubby and I :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. These look yummo!
    1 1/2 cups of maple syrup? WOW!
    Gotta try them!
    If I can remember, I'll let you know how they are :)
    You are so sweet to congratulate Terri for the giveaway on my blog!
    Blessings to you for the weekend!
    HUGS,
    ~me

    ReplyDelete
  28. Yum, they look delicious and it's so nice that you used your mother-in-law's tin! I am sure she was looking down from Heaven and smiling! (Maybe that's why they came out so good! LOL!)
    Best,
    Gloria

    ReplyDelete
  29. I make a lot of muffins and those look lovely! I immediately pulled up my county library website and put in my request. Can't wait to take a look at this book!

    ReplyDelete
  30. These look absolutely yummy! If I was not working so hard on this weigh loss I would probably make these today. But we have maple syrup from my hubs uncle woods from up north and I will print and file for one of the first recipes to bake or have when the grand children are here and I can only get a bite or two.

    ReplyDelete
  31. yum, drool, yum, drool, I hate to repeat myself but...yum, drool, yum drool.
    Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  32. These look really great. Will have to look into that cookbook. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  33. ... are you baking anything out of Sarabeth? i have some blueberries...thinking either a crisp or a streusel coffeecake...i don't remember seeing anything blueberry in Sarabeth except the jam...which i want to make this summer :-)

    stay cozy, my friend

    kary and teddy
    xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  34. Oh, maple muffins, I am so craving anything maple, channeling the sap running in Vermont? And the tin - we had one just like it, not sure if it was my grandmother's or my mom's, wish I still had it.

    ReplyDelete

I'm thrilled you've stopped by and I always enjoy your comments! Thank you!