Wednesday 16 March 2011

Chocolate and Cranberry Muffins

Whilst replenishing my pantry with baking essentials recently I came across a packet of dried cranberries, they were meant to have gone into a Christmas relish but somehow I had overlooked them during the holiday period.
What to do?
One of my mottoes is "If in doubt ~ bake"
It isn't really a motto, I just made it up so that I could share with you this great recipe for chocolate and cranberry muffins which I came across when I googled "dried cranberry recipes".

Cake, Crumbs and Cooking is a great blog authored by a "twenty something baking enthusiast living in the north of England".
Now I don't know whereabouts in the North this young baker hails from but as a "Lassie from Lancashire" and lover of all things to do with baking myself, this blog ticked all my boxes and I signed up to follow along.

If you're a baker or cake maker you might want to check out the recipe too by clicking here.
Being me, I tweaked the recipe just a little bit.
I didn't have any dark chocolate in the pantry, which is unusual, but I did have a bar of Lait Bricelet, a Swiss milk chocolate with a creamy hazelnut and wafer biscuit filling which I used instead.
Also, a tip that I learned a long time ago when using dried fruit of any kind, always toss the fruit in a little of the flour before adding to the mix.

It helps to stop all the fruit falling to the bottom of your cake or muffin.
A small thing but well worth doing.
Linking this post to Full Plate Thursday over at Miz Helen's Country Cottage, a weekly gathering of cooks and bakers with recipes and good food to share.
The muffins turned out great, very flavourful -  perfect with a cup of hot coffee.
I would just mention though, that if like me you use milk (with or without a sweetened nutty filling) not dark chocolate and don't have a very sweet tooth, you may want to reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe.
Linking also to Kathryns Muffin Monday @ Talking Dollars and Cents, click on the link for more muffin recipes.

17 comments:

  1. Maggie,

    Lovely muffins, lovely dishes! Let me know how the book is. Have a great day. I am going to make chocolate chip cookies!

    Carol

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  2. The coffee and muffins look so tempting! Don't you just love to bake something from you already have in the pantry?

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  3. Thanks so much for the recipe link. They look delicious! Thanks so much for sharing.

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  4. I think it's all round to your place for coffee and muffins.
    Lovely recipe.

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  5. Hello Maggie,

    The muffins sound delicious and I love the setting you created for them.

    ~ Tracy

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  6. Yum! Muffins and tea, just delicious. Would love to pop by for a visit!

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  7. I just found a bag of frozen [Xmas leftover] cranberries in my freezer. I wonder if they will work in muffins? If in doubt...

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  8. Cranberry muffins are calling out to me. I just may need to bake some myself, though I'd need to go buy the cranberries. LOL
    ~ Sarah

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  9. I'll have to try these...I love muffins, chocolate AND cranberries! MMM! Found you at Full Plate Thursday - keep up the good work. LOVE your beautiful header!

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  10. I love muffins with dried fruit in them! These look beautifully delicious.

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  11. I too have some cranberries from Christmas. You just me an idea! Thanks. I'll go visit her site.

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  12. The muffins look so tempting! I'm just about to start Ina's Soda Bread. Have a wonderful St Patrick's Day!

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  13. These look very yummy and I also love the cake plate! So beautiful!

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  14. Hi Maggie,
    Your Chocolate and Cranberry Muffins are going to be a great addition to my afternoon tea. I wish it was ready right now. Thank you so much for sharing on Full Plate Thursday and please come back!

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  15. Hi Maggie

    Your muffins look wonderfully moist and flavorful! I also liked your Irish soda bread in the prior post.

    I find baking so relaxing and comforting. It's been that kind of week!

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  16. Oh Yum, Maggie! But then how could you go wrong if you added chocolate!
    THANKS for the tip about flouring the fruit..will surely try that.
    Hugs,

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  17. Your chocolate and cranberry muffins look and sound so yummy! Can't wait to try them. Thanks so much for linking up to Muffin Monday and sharing your recipe!!

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Thanks for stopping by, your visit just made my day!