Let me lay a muffin on you, this fine Friday. It’s maybe the one time in my life that I’ll declare something ‘as good as a donut’, when the thing is not actually a donut.
You see, to me, the donut is practically sacred. There are two foods in this world that I can straight up never resist, and those are fries and donuts. To me, they are perfection. And this muffin is about as close as you can get to it, without just making donuts! (I know I’ve used the word donut about 50 times already, mea culpa.)
Let’s break down the anatomy of this treat. You might already be familiar with it? It’s a soft, spiced muffin, filled with a splodge of jam and then dipped in melted butter and rolled in spiced sugar.
My particular donut muffin is spiced with nutmeg, and made with buttermilk, which gives it a definitively donut-y air. The filling is cherry jam into which I stir some vanilla and lemon zest, and the sugar is given a Scandi-inspired twist with a mixture of cardamom and cinnamon.
I hate to use a boring adjective, but yum. You guys? Yum. The actual cake part of these muffins is not just an afterthought – it’s soft and lush and buttery and, yes, donutty!
The jammy centre is delicious and actually packs some flavour punch, it’s not just a sweet fruit goo of indiscriminate origin. And the buttery, sugary crust, with it’s Scandinavian whisper of cardamom is what keeps you eyeing off the remaining muffins as their numbers slowly dwindle.
And what’s more, they couldn’t be simpler to make! The perfect thing for the weekend I tells ya. Whip up a batch of muffins, and then eat one in bed with a cup of coffee. Drag your couch over to the window and watch the sun rise while you read a book.
Whatever you do, make your weekend special, dammit. You only get so many of those guys! What’s your favourite way to ring in the weekend? Is it Brunch? Can I come?
xx Sarah.
- 1 stick (115g) butter, at room temperature
- ¾ cup (185g) caster sugar
- 1 egg
- 2¼ cup (340g) plain flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda (bicarb soda)
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- 1 cup (250ml) buttermilk
- ½ cup cherry jam
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- zest of ½ lemon (optional)
- ½ cup caster sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp cardamom
- ¾ stick (75g) butter, melted
- Preheat the oven to 350F/180C and line a 12 cup muffin tray with muffin papers.
- Place the butter and sugar into a large mixing bowl (or stand mixer) and cream together until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and beat until completely incorporated, about 30 seconds.
- Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda and nutmeg to the bowl, and begin mixing them in slowly. Stream in the buttermilk as you go, and continue mixing until everything is incorporated.
- Take about ⅔ of the batter, and divide it evenly among the muffin papers - about a heaped tablespoon in each. Make an indent in the batter for the jam to sit in.
- Stir together the jam, vanilla and lemon and place a small teaspoonful into each muffin. Divide the remaining batter between the muffins, trying to cover the jam, as best you can (don't lose sleep over it).
- Bake the muffins for 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown and springing back when touched.
- Leave the muffins to cool for at least 15 minutes. To top them, stir together the sugar and spices and place in a shallow bowl. Place the butter into a small bowl.
- Dip the top of each muffin, first into the butter, and then coat it generously in the spiced sugar. When all the muffins are done, you can serve them. They're great warm.
Have already tried these – best muffins ever and best donut ever. What else could you want!
You ALREADY COOKED this recipe? That’s gotta be a record! I only posted it a couple hours ago!
I share your passion for donuts and find it annoying when people try to pass off those baked things as donuts. Have you tried Donut Time in fortitude valley yet? I am dying to go there.
http://theweekendedition.com.au/food-drink/doughnut-time-fortitude-valley/
this is too good to be true!! I could practically taste these as you were describing them. MY favorite way to ring in the weekend is with coffee (just like everyday). But adding these muffins would certainly make it a bit more special..
This and a coffee? Dream Sunday.
Have these babies in the oven right now – Tho only half have the magic jam centre as my boys aren’t fans. Can’t wait for the first doughnutty-aroma to start wafting from the kitchen!
So glad you’re trying these! Hope they went down well!
Oh Sarah you’ve done it again. My crazy Friday night turned into a baking bonanza. I made these Devils and have not been so chuffed with a baking hybrid in a long time. Great recipe I will be making these again and again. Thanks!
So glad you like these, B!
Fries and donuts, you know where it’s at. My two weaknesses as well.
I was just flipping through the Ovenly cookbook and saw they had a similar recipe — jam stuffed donut muffins, BOOM. These look AMAZING yo.
Yeah, I’ve seen a bunch of these guys getting around – the oldest recip eI’ve seen is in Nigella’s ‘How to be a Domestic Goddess’. But this is my take on the whole thang…There was a restuarant or cafe in the UK who tried to patent the idea I think, because they marketed them as ‘Duffins’ and the Uk Starbucks started selling them as ‘Duffins’ too. Anyway, the concept’s not new, but it’s all in the execution, right?
I MADE THESE MUFFIN DONUTS AND MY KIDS AND HUBBY DEVOURED THEM (I REPLACED THE FILLING FOR PLAIN STRAWBERRY JAM, CAUSE THAT’S ALL I HAD IN MY PANTRY) AND THEY ARE DELICIOUS. HATS OFF TO YOU!!
Those look amazing! Better than my doughnut muffins, looks like :P Love the addition of a cherry filling!
These look so yummy! Definitely feeling the sugar just looking at these!
Kari
Um… YUM!! I could eat these all day!
I’ve never had a donut muffin before (forgive me!!) but these look too amazing not to try!
Oh wow. I love the topping idea. How very delicious. I can think of all kinds of things I would love to put in the centre of these too.
hi there! just wanted to ask , do you use salted butter in your recipes?? your breakfast and dessert recipes are tooo good!
Firstly congratulations on being Yahoo’s blogger of the week – that is totally awesome – as are these donut muffins. Seriously. Muffins that are donuts – so cool- pretty sure my children would call me a saint for making these. So in the interests of being superficial um I mean a loving mum, my family are gonna get a weekend donut muffin treat. Sammie http://www.feastingisfun.com