Carrot Raisin Muffins (红萝卜葡萄干小松饼）

INTRODUCTION

This is another simple, common muffin recipe to share with all.  It is the first muffin that I have tried making when I started my baking adventures ages ago long before I have the blog. Then, I remember telling my friends that selling muffins should be one of the most lucrative business because ingredients are easy to obtain and preparation is simple… Prices are not cheap either..

Yes, all muffin preparation shall be simple mix and bake. One important thing about preparing good muffins is it should not be over mixed. The mixing shall be light and fast to prevent development of gluten and to incorporate air to the batter. Lumpy batter in fact is encouraged. I mix my muffins using fork or knife and please do not mix using a hand whisk..

For those who are keen to know how to make a good muffin and differences between cupcakes and muffins, you may want to take a look at this article: TIPS TO PREPARING A GOOD MUFFIN. In the article, and for those who have encounter prepared some flat-top muffins,  it was mentioned that :

“If muffin cups are filled more than 3/4 full the muffins will have flat, “flying saucer” tops. If sufficient room is not allowed for muffins to expand before reaching the top of the cup the muffin will flatten on top.”

If you are unsure how the muffin tastes like, it tastes exactly like the traditional carrot cake possibly with a denser texture. If you do not like raisins, you can always used walnuts instead.

Seeing most of my readers trying my recipes are using cupcake cups instead of muffin cups, therefore, for this recipe, I have used cupcake cups to illustrate as well. Cupcakes cups are shorter and much easier to get cooked as compared to muffin cups. The timing of baking is faster too.

 

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WHAT IS REQUIRED

Servings: Prepare about 12 cupcake size muffins or about 6-8 muffin cup size muffins

• 150 grams of melted butter or cooking cooking oil
• 150 grams of carrots (shredded)
• 150 grams of castor sugar or brown sugar
• 200 grams of self raising flour
• 100 grams of raisin or chopped walnuts
• 50 grams of fresh milk
• 1 teaspoon of baking baking soda
• 1 teaspoon of mixed spice or cinnamon powder (optional)
• 3 eggs

 

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STEPS OF PREPARATION

• Pre-heat the oven to 180 degree Celsius and get ready the cupcake cups or muffin cups.

• In the big mixing bowl. place the sugar, shredded carrots, self raising flour, sifted baking soda, raising and cinnamon powder. Stir until it resemble crumble like mixture. In another bowl, put all the wet ingredients (melted butter or cooking oil, milk and lightly beaten eggs), stir until well mix. Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour the wet ingredients (in 3 stages), use a knife or spoon or fork to lightly mix it until the flour absorb the moisture. Mixing should be light and fast and lumpy batter is encouraged.

• Transfer the batter to the cupcakes cups with about 3/4 full. Bake in the pre-heated oven of 180 degree Celsius for 20-25 minutes or until the top turn golden brown and when a skewer inserted comes out clean. If you are using muffin cups, it will be about 5-10 minutes more and the skewer test is still the final test.

 

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CONCLUSION

This is the fifth in the new series of muffin recipes. It is my hope that by the end of the 10th recipes, readers will be able to design and prepare your own muffins based on the principles as conveyed in my post. Remember, it is a denser carrot cake and if you like, you can always serve your muffins with the cream cheese frosting. Overnight muffin are much tastier and moister than when it is just baked.

Hope you like the post today. Cheers and have a nice day.

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Updated post on 7-5-2014  

As some readers are saying that they do not have any oven, as such, I have tried to steam the muffins under heat in a cake tin .. It works very well. The cake is very moist.

Exactly the same recipe. As for the steaming time, it is about 20-30 minutes depending on the size of the cake.. A final skewer test inserts into the centre of the cake comes out clean is still necessary.