Muffins muffins muffins

sb44

Well, I will be trying the banana and choc chip when my daughter is at school as she doesn't like banana cakes. In fact she will only eat natural bananas if you know what I mean.

So, as she is a typical 11 year old who wants to try baking, we are having a go at the Nigella choc chip muffins.

They seem to be rising ok but I only had a tray that had room for the smaller pastry cases so we are using those.

I also didn't have enough dairy choc chips to use wo we have used half dairy and half white choc chips.

It was VERY runny when we put the mix in the cases so not sure what they are going to come out like, haven't made muffins before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwjGWiTU_mU

Will be back in 10 mins or so when they have finished cooking.

sb44

sb44 wrote: »

Well, I will be trying the banana and choc chip when my daughter is at school as she doesn't like banana cakes. In fact she will only eat natural bananas if you know what I mean.

So, as she is a typical 11 year old who wants to try baking, we are having a go at the Nigella choc chip muffins.

They seem to be rising ok but I only had a tray that had room for the smaller pastry cases so we are using those.

I also didn't have enough dairy choc chips to use wo we have used half dairy and half white choc chips.

It was VERY runny when we put the mix in the cases so not sure what they are going to come out like, haven't made muffins before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwjGWiTU_mU

Will be back in 10 mins or so when they have finished cooking.

Well, we have just tried one and they are very nice but there are a couple of things I'm not sure about.

I only cooked them at 180 degrees as it is a fan assisted oven but they came out fine but the tops were quite crispy (not burned).

I am sure I saw a YouTube poster saying to wet the tops of the cakes before you put them in the oven to stop them being hard, does anyone else do that?

The other thing was quite a few of the choc chips are on the bottom of the cake mixture instead of through them, is that because the mixture was quite sloppy?

Oh, the other thing was they weren't really as dark as my husband thought they would be, is that down to what type of cocoa powder you use?

Ta.

Swan_2

I've just had a look at the video & the mixture does look very runny, so that might be responsible for the sinking chips

she's using roughly the same amount of flour as the recipe I posted but only half the amount of cocoa powder, so I think it's the quantity rather than quality that's responsible for the lack of chocolatey-ness
unless you used drinking chocolate?

I just use whatever cocoa powder I find in the supermarket & they always turn out really dark & chocolatey


I'm not sure about the problem with the tops, although I've got a fan oven it's very new & I haven't quite got to grips with it
can you turn the fan off temporarily? maybe that would help?

I've never tried wetting the tops, I think it'd be quite difficult because the batter's so wet already
maybe spray them?

sb44

Swan wrote: »

I've just had a look at the video & the mixture does look very runny, so that might be responsible for the sinking chips

she's using roughly the same amount of flour as the recipe I posted but only half the amount of cocoa powder, so I think it's the quantity rather than quality that's responsible for the lack of chocolatey-ness
unless you used drinking chocolate?

I just use whatever cocoa powder I find in the supermarket & they always turn out really dark & chocolatey


I'm not sure about the problem with the tops, although I've got a fan oven it's very new & I haven't quite got to grips with it
can you turn the fan off temporarily? maybe that would help?

I've never tried wetting the tops, I think it'd be quite difficult because the batter's so wet already
maybe spray them?

I used Sainsburys cocoa powder but will double it next time.

Mine is a new oven too so I am just getting to grips with it but don't think I can turn the fan off, it would be a case of using the top oven/grill which doesn't have a fan.

I will give yours a go next week Swan, I'll let you know how I get on.

sb44

Just found a full preview of a muffin book at google books.

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=4VdkXf3hs8AC&printsec=frontcover&dq=muffins&hl=en&ei=dZ6oTNLEDY-eOtrcrcsM&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDQQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

sb44

I have just realised we didn't seive the flour, does everyone do that when making muffins? (I don't mean forget to do it, do you seive or just tip the flour in?).

Swan_2

sb44 wrote: »

I used Sainsburys cocoa powder but will double it next time.

Mine is a new oven too so I am just getting to grips with it but don't think I can turn the fan off, it would be a case of using the top oven/grill which doesn't have a fan.

I will give yours a go next week Swan, I'll let you know how I get on.

the top oven of my old cooker made brilliant muffins, this new one cooks unevenly, crispy muffins at the front half-raw ones at the back, I hate it :mad:

those muffins have never failed, the worst thing that ever happens is if I forget about them & they get a bit dry, I prefer them slightly underdone & gooey :drool:
hope you like them if you give them a go

sb44 wrote: »

Just found a full preview of a muffin book at google books.

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=4VdkXf3hs8AC&printsec=frontcover&dq=muffins&hl=en&ei=dZ6oTNLEDY-eOtrcrcsM&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDQQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

that book looks interesting

I've few muffin books myself, but my favourite is my first one Muffins Fast & Fantastic by Susan Reimer

sb44 wrote: »

I have just realised we didn't seive the flour, does everyone do that when making muffins? (I don't mean forget to do it, do you seive or just tip the flour in?).

I don't always sieve, & if I mean to & forget, I just make sure I give it all a good stir*
but I like to sieve the cocoa powder because it's often a bit lumpy & it gives a better distribution


EDIT ... *before I add the liquid!

sb44

Swan wrote: »

I've few muffin books myself, but my favourite is my first one Muffins Fast & Fantastic by Susan Reimer

Is that the book you got the recipe that you posted earlier from Swan?

Swan_2

sb44 wrote: »

Is that the book you got the recipe that you posted earlier from Swan?

yes, I substituted chopped chocolate for the chips in the original recipe, initially because it was cheaper, but now I find I like the chunks better

I'd tried to make muffins before with no success, but since I got that book I can make great muffins, even though I say so myself

there are a lot of much fancier books around now, but that one gives you all the basics you need to get started

sb44

Swan wrote: »

yes, I substituted chopped chocolate for the chips in the original recipe, initially because it was cheaper, but now I find I like the chunks better

I'd tried to make muffins before with no success, but since I got that book I can make great muffins, even though I say so myself

there are a lot of much fancier books around now, but that one gives you all the basics you need to get started

I have just been reading a few reviews about the book at Amazon and it sounds impressive so I am going to order it.

My husband can't see how many variations of sweet muffins there can be (he doesn't want to try savoury ones, says muffins are meant to be sweet), but I am going to ignore him (nothing new there) and order it.

I see that one of the buyers raves about the banana muffin, have you tried that one and if so do you recommend it?

Ta!