The Startup Cook – Vanilla Muffins

There are days when my cravings have a personality and mind of their own. Sometimes it’s for the sweet and chocolaty, most of the time it’s for the spicy and savoury, but these days however I crave for the sweet-but-not-so-sweet.  Whenever this occurs I always turn to my favourite food pet – Vanilla. Vanilla based food generally border on the semi-sweet range and this particular muffin recipe will attest that. Amending the chocolate chip muffin recipe, I conjured up this fabulous treat for myself - It’s the ideal crave buster. Moreover due to its semi-sweet density it’s makes to be a good breakfast muffin as well. So couple this with your morning cup of Coffee and start your manic Monday- Muffinlicious.

Ingredients

1 cup of all-purpose flour
¼ cup of cashew nuts
1/3 cup of milk
¼ cup of white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp of baking powder
2 tbs & 1 tsp of vegetable oil
1 ½ tbs of vanilla essence
1 tbs of brown sugar
1 tsp of white sugar
Salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 200 Celsius. Prepare a muffin tin with muffin cases and set it aside.

Dice the cashews in to miniscule bits and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl sift in the flour, add ¼ cup of sugar, baking powder, chopped cashews, a pinch of salt and mix well.

In separate bowl add the milk, oil, egg and whisk until well incorporated.

Pour the milk mixture in to the large mixing bowl, add the vanilla and whisk until a thick liquid-like batter forms.

Take a regular tablespoon and spoon in the batter in to the muffin cases.

Mix the tablespoon of brown sugar with the half tablespoon of white sugar.

Dust the sugar mixture on to the top of the muffins.

Bake for 20 -25 minutes.

Disasters, Warnings and Tips

For moist muffins, do remember the batter must be liquid like.

The cashews are optional of course.

My latest addiction is The Vicar of Dibley. Dawn French is hilarious! (Still love Dr House though).

The scent of vanilla baking… DIVINE.

If you’re feeling a little festive, add some raisins to the batter before baking.

When baked brown sugar gets browner and will brown up your muffin more, lessen the quantity of brown sugar if you mind.

This recipe will give you six muffins.

I’m in love with the crusty top (of the muffin).

By Shazzana Hamid