Muffins tick all the boxes—they’re loved by kids and adults alike, they can be sweet or savoury but always provide a satisfying snack, they come in handy individual portions, and they provide a truly endless variety of recipe possibilities. They’re simple to make, and a great way to experiment with new flavour combinations. Bakers’ Corner offers so many muffin recipes that we know you’ll find one—or several—to suit even the pickiest eaters!
The More Things Change, the More Things Stay the Same England and America have a long history of rivalry, but the battle for the word “muffin” continues to this day. English muffins, the savoury round breakfast bread made with yeast, became popular in 18th century England, when the day’s fresh muffins were delivered by “muffin men” who rang loud bells to announce their approach, until the bells were outlawed in 1840 for disturbing the peace! You and your kids may still sing the nursery rhyme “Do You Know the Muffin Man?” centuries after those muffin men were told to be quiet.
In contrast to English muffins, sweet American muffins pack their flavourings inside. Somewhere between sweet bread and a cupcake, these individual servings of tasty goodness gave rise to the modern-day cupcake craze. Traditionally, muffins have been eaten at breakfast or as an accompaniment to tea or coffee, but they are evolving into savoury versions for lunch and dinner as well. Most of the muffin recipes on Nestlé Bakers’ Corner are of the American muffin variety. Begin your forays into muffin-baking with our Choc Banana and Bran Muffins, combining potassium-rich bananas, healthy bran and scrumptious chocolate for a treat kids and mums can both feel good about.
The Many Perks of Muffins
Kids love muffins, and with so many flavour possibilities you’re sure to find something for everyone. Muffins come in convenient individual portions, to stem sibling rivalry and make quick and easy snacks and lunchbox fillers. For entertaining, mini-muffins are an easy finger food for hosts and guests alike, and if you somehow manage to make too many, you can always freeze them for later. Muffins are great for any season, and their size means muffins take much less cooking time than loaf breads, so you and your family can enjoy the payoff of your baking even sooner.
Tips for Perfect Muffins
As any kid will tell you, the muffin top is the best part of the muffin! To achieve those perfect, domed tops, be sure to fill the cups no more than 2/3 full of batter. And don’t let the muffin pan get bits that were meant for you! Grease the cups well (or line them with paper wrappers) for easy removal of muffins after baking. Finally, a trick from the master chefs: if you don’t have enough batter to fill all the cups in a pan, put a little water in any empty cups to prevent the pan from warping while baking.
Baker’s Dozens of Kinds—Or Experiment to Make Your Own!
Muffins offer creative chefs infinite recipe variations—whether you’re craving something sweet or savoury, fruity or chocolaty, a healthy boost to start the day or a satisfying snack to accompany your afternoon ‘cuppa’, Bakers’ Corner has muffin recipes to suit. Start your muffin day with our Muesli Breakfast Muffins, chock full of fruit and oats for energy to last all morning.
Take a break with your afternoon tea to savour our Orange Choc Chip Muffins, studded with NESTLÉ Milk and White CHOC BITS, and round out your day with Savoury Cheese and Corn Muffins instead of your usual dinner rolls. Now that you’re an expert in the art of muffins, log in to the Bakers’ Corner online community, rate the recipes you’ve made, and upload your own family favourites.
