Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Plum Coffee Cake Muffins



A co-worker gave me a bag of plums, fresh from the tree! They are so juicy and sweet. I used some of them to make Plum Coffee Cake Muffins. The muffins look plain, but when you take a bite there is a sweet surprise inside! The plums are hiding in the center of the muffin. You put half of the batter in the muffin cups, add the plums, and then the rest of the batter. Sprinkle the muffins with cinnamon and sugar and you are good to go! These are a real breakfast or anytime treat.









Plum Coffee Cake Muffins

Adapted from Martha Stewart’s Baking Handbook

3/4 cup + 2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 cups flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
2 eggs, at room temperature
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup milk ( I used skim)
1/2 cup melted butter, cooled
3-5 ripe plums, depending on their size, pitted and cut into small chunks.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Spray or line 10 muffin cups. Put water in the remaining two cups.

In a large bowl, combine 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Set aside.

In another large bowl, whisk together eggs, vanilla, milk, and melted butter. (Make sure the melted butter is cool before you add it.)

Fold the egg mixture into the flour mixture with a rubber spatula. Divide the batter evenly.

Divide one half of the batter evenly among the 10 lined muffin cups.

Add a layer of plum pieces to each.

Divide the remaining half of the batter over the layer of plums.

Combine the remaining 2 tbsp sugar and 1/2 tsp of cinnamon in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the muffins.

Bake for 15 - 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of one of the muffins comes out clean. Leave to cool in the muffin tin for 5 to 10 minutes before removing from tin and transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

36 comments:

  1. Ive never made plum muffins before. Will have to give it a try, they look lovely and moist!

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  2. We have plums galore in our farmer's markets right now. Thanks for posting this! These really look delicious.

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  3. Your muffins look great. Now if only I can keep my hubby from eating all the plums as soon as I bring them home.

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  4. What a beautiful muffins! I love the filling. Perfect for weekend brunch - I don't make fancy breakfast on weekdays. :)

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  5. Those look yummy. What a great idea to use all of those plums I've been seeing in the farms lately.

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  6. Your food looks so yummy! Plum muffins, egglant parmesan (Hungry Girl has a great low fat/low cal version of this, too), sweet potato fries...I can't wait to go through your archives!

    I see that The Kite Runner is one of your favorite books. I am about 1/3 of the way through and so far its so sad...I am hoping for some major redemption or something positive before its all said and done...

    Thanks for dropping by!

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  7. ooh, plum muffins!! i was thinking there's a shortage of baking with plums :) and what a nice co-worker!

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  8. ohhh those are beautiful! i love the idea of mini coffee cakes... how perfect! and putting plum in coffee cake sounds delicious :)

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  9. Mmm, these look delicious. What a great way to use up a bag of plums!

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  10. Those are beautiful! The plums look like little gems flecked throughout your muffins!

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  11. These look wonderful! The sugar on top sealed the deal for me. I have GOT to make these while I can still find decent plums (although I am sure I won't be able to find fresh off the tree ones -- that sounds like a great treat!)

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  12. these look amazing. I just bought a bag of plums — the last of the season I think — from my farmers' market. I am going to try these this weekend!

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  13. Fresh plums from a plum tree??!?!?! Lucky!!! Love that you used them in these muffins - yum!

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  14. These muffins look amazing - especially the yummy topping. What a perfect breakfast treat.

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  15. Great idea to make them into muffins! I don't think that would stop me from eating more than my share but eh! they look cuter that way!!

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  16. Yum - I want breakfast at your house!!

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  17. Anonymous10:19 AM

    lovely muffins... love the fruits inside them... :)

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  18. Those remind me of Marie's jam surprise biscuits. I love hidden treasures like that!

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  19. Those would go fast around here. They look amazing and with fresh plums, I bet they tasted amazing!

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  20. Wow these look wonderful. I've never tried plum muffins but there is always a first, especially after viewing these!

    Maria
    x

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  21. What a wonderful treat...the muffins look just perfect :)

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  22. Maria - how do you keep coming up with such WONDERFUL ideas! I can't wait to try this recipe. It looks so scrumptious!

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  23. Ah, look at the tops! These look perfect.

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  24. Anonymous4:39 PM

    These look wonderful Maria! :)

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  25. They sound so delicious, just love fruit in muffins ;-)

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  26. I love these muffings...they look very good. Im going to have to make these asap!

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  27. Oh yum..I love the Muffin Top...however I DO NOT like mine!!LOL

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  28. I love those Maria. It's like individual coffee cakes, with hidden treasures inside. Surprises are great :)

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  29. I really could have used this for breakfast this morning - I had leftover cereal, yuck!
    Your muffins turned out great! I love how the plums lurk underneath :)

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  30. Oh these look so good! I have been looking for muffin recipes, I have been making mini muffins to put in my kids' lunches and send with the teens for breakfast. Thank you!

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  31. Oooh, these look fantastic. I love anything even remotely related to coffee cake!

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  32. oddly enough, i don't believe i've ever seen plums in muffins before. great idea--they look delectable (and quite mushroom-like). :)

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  33. I also have a boat load of plums to use up before they ferment on my countertop. Looks like a plenty good use for them. Thanks!

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  34. I've never heard of plums in muffins! These look great!

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  35. Anonymous4:45 AM

    Plum is my FAVORITE! I HAVE to make this recipe!!!

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  36. Oh WOW plum muffins now they do look divine!! So bookmarked :)

    Rosie x

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