NYT Blueberry Muffins

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SINCE THE DAWN OF TIME (...the early 1990s...) blueberry muffins have been a staple in my life. They're the go-to treat when I'm in an airport and want something sweet in a hurry. They're my pick-me-up when I have them on-hand and I've had a rough day. They've been in the Special Sunday Breakfast rotation at my house for two whole decades. They're just the epitome of classic baked goods in my book.

Before I became a baker and didn't truly know what a difference home-baking could make in a person's life, my go-to if I wanted blueberry muffins was the store-bought boxed mix. You know which one I'm talking about, don't you? The one with a  cellophane  bag full of flour mix and chemicals, and a slim tin can full of tiny, preserved blueberries swimming in syrup. Then you just had to add a few eggs and a cup of milk, and you were on your way. At the time, those muffins, always served still-warm from the oven and a bit crispy (if not a little dry to be honest) on the outsides tasted great, but it hasn't been until I was the age and stage that I am now that I realized I could've been having it so much better all this time.  Don't get me wrong; those mixes definitely have their place...somewhere, but, my friend, fresh is always best. Sure, it may take a little longer to measure out all the ingredients when you're making blueberry muffins from scratch, but really, how much time are you actually  saving by using boxed cake mix? Not as much as you think.

Despite the fact that blueberry muffins are such a classic, there are perhaps dozens of ways that you can prepare them. And believe me, as someone who has had her fair share of muffins, I've also tried a fair share of those recipes. One particular favorite of mine (and incidentally one of the first recipes I EVER tried) comes from Joy the Baker. She doesn't stray too far from the standard, but she takes things up a notch in her recipe with the inclusion of melted brown butter instead of regular-old softened and unsalted. It brings a sort of nuttiness and depth of flavor that I just absolutely love.

And while that recipe is definitely wayy up there on "Sydney's Favorite Baked Goods, Blueberry Muffin Category" list, something inside me was desperately seeking a recipe that stayed within tradition. If I'm going to have that perfect cup of coffee early on a Sunday morning, with the window shades opened and the glow of dawn seeping in, I want to capture that moment just-so. I want that feeling of being in a coffeehouse somewhere where they serve you cafe treats exactly the way they were intended to be served and consumed: no muss, no fuss, just something that tastes phenomenal. Enter: the New York Times Blueberry Muffins.

These muffins are the perfect celebration of summer blueberries (although, frozen and thawed blueberries will work perfectly well when it's off-season). It calls for two cups, which means that all twelve of these muffins are packed with plump antioxidant-rich blueberries just waiting to burst when you bite into them. And as much as I love a good crispy, crumbly topping made out of flour, sugar, and butter, sometimes a little coarse sugar will also do the trick of adding a bit of texture quite nicely.

Hey, blueberry muffins are a classic for a reason.

 

NYT BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

What You'll Need:

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened (I've been really into Irish butter lately! Have you heard about Kerrygold?)
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 cups blueberries, washed, drained, and picked over
  • 3 teaspoons sugar

(Baker's Note: Some of the commenters suggested that the blueberries should be rolled in a bit of flour before being added to the batter to prevent them from sinking while baking. I tried it, and it's definitely something to consider!)

 

Find the recipe HERE from the New York Times!