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Goji Muffins with Mixed Whole Berries, Citrus and Pecan topping!

SylviaH's picture
SylviaH

Goji Muffins with Mixed Whole Berries, Citrus and Pecan topping!

I wanted to use some Goji berries in my baking and so I thought muffins would be a good start.  I purchased the softer more like raisins dried berries from Whole Foods.  The combination of whole berries, with a pecan topping made a delicious breakfast or snack muffin.  The  fresh candied orange peel I recently made was a great tasting combination with berries, especially the goji berry.  The recipe is my version of Blackberry Muffins from Williams - Sonoma Muffins book.

Topping:

90 g sugar

3 TBsp. All Purpose Flour

2 Tablespoons Unsalted butter - softened room temperature

Pecans chopped small - 1/3 cup  - 45g

 

MUFFINS

2 cups - 315g Plain All Purpose Flour

185g - 3/4 cup Sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder - Fresh

1/2 teaspoon baking soda  - ditto

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 tsp. sea salt

1 Large Egg - lightly beaten

5 TBsp. 75g - unsalted butter - melted 

1 Cup - 250g - 8 oz - Buttermilk

 250g - 2 Cups of Fresh Whole Fruits - I used a combination of Goji, Blackberries, Blueberries and Candied Orange Peel

 

Preheated Convection Oven 375F

I used my XLarge 6 muffin pan with muffin liners - Or you can make 12 smaller muffins - Spray or use muffin paper liners

To Make The Topping:  In a Small Bowl 

Stir together the sugar, flour.  Rub in the softened butter to make a nice crumbly mixture, add the pecans and combine.  Set aside

 

To Mix the Muffins:

In a bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.

Make a well in the center and add the egg,  cooled melted butter, and buttermilk.

Stir/ using a folding motion, just until evenly moistened.  Batter will be a little lumpy..do not over mix or you will have tough muffins...very important.

The batter will be slightly lumpy.

Fold in the Fruits, use a large spatula, gently.  Do this using only a few strokes, being careful not to break the blackberries.  Do not over mix

Spoon the batter gently filling each muffin cup.  Do not push the batter down into the cups.   Fill up to the rim.

I scooped up a handful of topping and gently cupped my hand over the top of the muffin laying the topping on with a gentle push into a rounded mound.  

Bake until light golden brown, and springs back at the touch.  25 to 30 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the bake.  

Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes and then remove from the muffin pan.

 

 

Serve warm or room temperature.

 

 

 

 

                               

 

 

                                                 

 

 

                               

 

             See the moist Goji berry with it's tiny seed, it's eatable in this healthy power packed berry.  Use them like you would raisins.  They taste somewhere between a cranberry and a cherry, with a slight sweetness and flavor that I think is enhanced with candied orange peel.

 

        Sylvia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

LeeYong's picture
LeeYong

Exceptional muffins! You definitely got some height on them lovelies... I've only seen dried Goji berries... Can you just soak them prior to mixing into the batter?

Thank you for sharing - love the crumb topping!

LeeYong

SylviaH's picture
SylviaH

Thank you, LeeYong!

The store where I purchase the berries had two kinds.  One contained a very hard and dried goji berries, they almost looked freeze dried.  The ones I purchased are much more like a raisin, softer and more pliable.  They baked up very soft and moist without any pre-soaking.  These were more expensive and you got less but I think they are much better for eating right out of the bag or to use in baking.  I haven't tried the really hard dried ones.

 

           

Sylvia

Syd's picture
Syd

Gorgeous looking muffins, Sylvia.  Goji (枸杞) are used mainly in teas, soups and savoury dishes here in Taiwan but recently I have also seen them in breads.  Apart from being rich in anti oxidants, they are also meant to be good for your eyes. 

Syd

 

SylviaH's picture
SylviaH

These were delicious, the muffin part was very tasty, what ever you care to add, it makes a nice muffin.  @Syd, I see a lot of  commerical drinks here with Goji added. Nice to know they are good for the eyes.  I enjoy eating them right out of the bag.

Sylvia

Mebake's picture
Mebake

Yum! Sylvia..! A perfect fruity combination of ingredients...!

arlo's picture
arlo

Never been a fan of goji berries, but your muffins look delicious! I love the tops too!

SylviaH's picture
SylviaH

Thank you, Arlo!  These would be nice to with just lemon zest and blueberries.

Sylvia

Mini Oven's picture
Mini Oven

Sounds like you found a perfect combination there!  And the looks are exquisite!

Amori's picture
Amori

Look better than the ones at the coffee shop!

Thanks for posting the recipe Sylvia,

Amori =-)

SylviaH's picture
SylviaH

Sylvia

SylviaH's picture
SylviaH

Thank you, Mini Oven!  

I have a feeling you could taste the colors in these muffins!

Sylvia

Mini Oven's picture
Mini Oven

Through your photography, I could chew holes thru my lap top and still taste your muffins!

Not to mention the sweet and sour tang, crunchy and pecans, fluffy bite and berries... orange and purple & blue berries with white sweet buttery sparkle nutty yum!   Nice touch with the candied orange peel!

I don't think I'm the only one making these soon.  I can't wait to pull a warm one apart and sink my teeth into it!  

SylviaH's picture
SylviaH

you just made my day! I'm just getting home, it's been a long one, but fun!  

Sylvia

kim's picture
kim

Your muffins look so yummy and thanks for the recipe. I add goji in my morning smoothies for about five years now.

Kimmy

 

 

SylviaH's picture
SylviaH

what a healthy morning you have been into for some time now.  

Sylvia

MadAboutB8's picture
MadAboutB8

They're beautiful Sylvia. I feel like pinching those blackberries. They looks juicy and tasty. Love the crunch on top too.

Funny I am thinking about goji berries in the fruit bread too. Now that you mention orange zest in the recipe. I'm thinking of adding the orange zest and, soak goji in orange juice, for the fruit bread.

We usually have goji berrie (together with currants) with our bircher muesli.

Sue

http://youcandoitathome.blogspot.com

 

SylviaH's picture
SylviaH

Soaking the fruit in oj sounds delicious, orange zest too!  I did use the whole candied diced peel rather than zest and placed a long sliced orange peel on top of 3 of the muffins, it tended to over brown/burn where it wasn't pushed into the topping.  If you look carefully you can see the long peel on the front and second left muffin tops and the last right back muffin.

Sylvia