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Saturday, June 19, 2010

Cherry Corn Muffins

Corn Muffins (cherries)

Happy Saturday, Dearies!

I hope you all are having a great Father's Day weekend. I know that many of you are thinking about what special thing to make for Dad or Gramps tomorrow for breakfast or brunch, so I wanted to share my delicious and healthful cherry topped corn and sorghum muffins with you. They are not only super perfect in terms of texture and fluffiness, but they are also delicious. All of this and with no A.P. flour or Xanthum Gum!

This recipe could probably also be done with only corn meal, but, for accuracy purposes, I'm listing exactly what I used. These muffins are also gluten free and that baked cherry on top tastes like cherry pie. Healthful yumminess in a cupcake wrapper!

Note: the muffins pictured had molasses in them, hence their tan appearance. I remade the exact recipe last night sans molasses and ended up with the most perfect corn muffin. So just know if you follow the recipe you will get a beautiful and more yellow muffin! These photos really don't do justice to the recipe at all, but you all know how night photography goes...

Here's the recipe:

Cherry Topped Corn Muffins
1 1/2 Cups Fine Grind Corn Meal*
1/2 Cup Sweet Sorghum Flour
1/4 Cup Organic White Sugar
2 Tsp. Baking Powder
1/4 Tsp. Salt
1 Organic Egg
2 Tbsp. Low Fat Yogurt
2 Tbsp. Vegetable Oil
1 1/2 Cups Low Fat Milk
Fresh Cherries
*I used an organic corn meal that looked a lot like a flour to me. So this would most likely be considered a fine grind corn meal not a grit or more textured one.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin tin with oil sprayed paper cups.

In a bowl, mix the flours, sugar, baking powder, and salt thoroughly. Create a well in the center and add the yogurt, oil, milk and the egg (beaten already). Mix gently till homogeneous. Spoon batter into the muffin cups and place the cherry on top. If you have trouble making it stay at the top, you can do like I did and put another cherry or a piece of chocolate below it in the mix so that it has something in which to lean. Bake for 18-20 minutes. Recipe makes 10-12 muffins depending on tin size.

Enjoy with honey butter, jam, or whatever you like.

Happy Father's Day everyone!
















p.s. if you want your muffins to be shiny on top, brush them with a smooth, chunk free apricot jam. Oh, and I'm going to try this with flax egg, soy milk & soy yogurt soon for my vegan lovelies!

55 comments:

  1. All that and a cherry on top! Dee-licious!

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  2. These are amazing muffins. I love you don't throw the stalks of cherries away. It looks like I can pick the muffins from cherry stalks.
    I will pass this recipe to my friends looking for gluten free dishes.

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  3. These look delish with a cherry on top!

    I have never cooked with sorghum flour and I must say that I am learning a lot about the use of alternate flours from you. These look absolutely delicious :)

    Happy Father's Day weekend to you too Stella!

    Hugs, Devaki @ weavethousandflavors

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  4. Hi Stella!

    Something healthy with a cherry on top and maybe even a surprise cherry in the middle, luv it! Leaving the stems on the cherry was a great choice as it made the muffins look so much more fun to eat. You know I don't bake much but after reading your posts I'm starting to realise how many different types of flour there are.

    Today I made some cakepops with my friends and it took us about 4 hours. All that time I was wishing I had the help of a dear witch friend cause instead of 4 hours you probably would have been able to do it in 1 hour. 3 Novice bakers trying to make cakepops. Yeah, what were we thinking? Hope you have a happy father's day weekend as well Stella!

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  5. Stella, I love the way the cherries are sticking out of the surface like fruit bearing muffins! They are darling.

    And thank you for all your support. :D

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  6. These look yummy! I've never baked anything with cornmeal before, and can I ask what sorghum flour is? Happy Father's Day to everyone there! Father's Day in NZ doesn't roll around until September :D

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  7. Hi Stella, these corn muffins looks wonderful. Nice touch with the cherry on top and leaving the cherry stalks.
    I heard of sorghum flour, but I have not tried cooking them. This is the great way for me to taste them.
    Wishing all of you a Happy Father's Day.

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  8. Yum! If you think those can be made with all corn flour then I'm making them this week. Perfect since I have all the other ingredients!

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  9. I really love the idea of 'cherry on top' - absolutely perfect!

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  10. Fantastic corn muffins. Love the flourish with the cherry on top. Magnificent photography these photos jump off the screen.

    Be well...

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  11. I like each cherry popping out from the muffin!

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  12. These muffins are fabulous especially with that cherry nestled in the batter; lov it!

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  13. Awesome and delicious muffins to celebrate Happy Fathers day.
    Great photos too ♥

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  14. Your night photography makes these look pretty darn delicious! Imagine what the daylight would do. I wouldn't be able to resist!

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  15. Wonderful !! Cherries seem to be in the air !! Baked dough and fruits always go so well together!!

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  16. I mean can you get much cuter than these? They are so tempting... yummy and I am sure delish! Thank you for sharing this!

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  17. How cute are these!! The cherry on top is the perfect flourish.

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  18. Hello dear Stella, these are absolutely cute and beauty, I love cherries!! Nice recipe, thanks by sharing! Have a nice day!

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  19. Hi Stella, Cute cherry muffins! Your photos look good, as usual and I have to comment on the cherry stem, very creative, I love seeing whole fruit in baked goods, like a whole pear baked into a tea bread or??? Happy father's day and look forward to your next post, Patty

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  20. Stella, I love the cherry on top! It looks so pretty. And that East of Eden is in your photograph. I love that book.

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  21. I love corm muffins and will definitely have to give these a try. And your photos are beautiful..

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  22. perfect for breakfast and my dad used to love cherries, he would have loved these too! beautiful

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  23. These are beautiful adorned with the cherry :) Love the tips for keeping the cherry from sinking and helping it shine!

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  24. amazing muffins.....a must try..

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  25. I love all kinds of muffins and in my opinion yours are so delicious!

    best wishes
    sema

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  26. Stella...you go girl...the perfect sounding gluten-free muffin! Now, you know that I'll have no choice but to now try baking these;o)
    I'm so glad this Sweet Sorghum flour has found its way into your baking.
    I can see myself adapting your recipe also into a savoury one. Thanks for the inspiration;o)
    Flavourful wishes, Claudia

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  27. I love corn muffins! Yours are cute with the cherries on top haha. :)

    And thank you so much for checking in on me! I hadn't published the comment yet - I hadn't really even been online much since I last posted so I didn't even see it until this morning! I'm sorry about your cavity and hearing loss. I hope it comes back (the hearing, not the cavity ;) )!

    And when I have the time I'm going to give your biscotti another go and hopefully the color will turn out much better. :)

    Hope you're doing well!

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  28. I think your night photography is wonderful, Stella! I'd never know it was night.
    And I do love that baked cherry in the center of your delicious muffins.

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  29. Great recipe. Really enjoyed the photos as well. I am definitely bookmarking your site! Corn is my go-to summer ingredient, but I've never used it in muffins. Usually I just make Wet Cornbread. Thanks for sharing!

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  30. These muffins really do look delicious - GF and no xantham gum!!!WOW!

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  31. Stella, the muffins look awesome...love the way you decorated with a cherry...absolutely gorgeous!

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  32. Stella, happy Father's day to you too!
    Those muffins look amazing and beautiful!!! love the cherry on top. It really makes the muffins pop.

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  33. Wow Stella, I would have never guessed you took your photos at night. The lighting is amazing. These muffins look awesome too. I also see you have some Steinbeck in your library. :) He is always a great read!

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  34. Hello, Stella
    I love this muffins with a cherry on top. In Portugal, I never saw sorghum flour for sale. I think it will not be the same as quinoa flour, but probably is the same thing. I'll try this with flour mixed with yellow cornmeal.I'll try this recipe. You did not have problems with the fermentation proces due the flours have no gluten?

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  35. Almost too cute to eat...but not quite! I fairly sure I cold throw down a dozen of these babies!

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  36. I've never heard of sorghum flour. These look amazing and with the cherry on top, that's the icing on the cake!

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  37. Those would be perfect for my breakfast tomorrow! hmm I can never get enough of cherries, what a gorgeous combo!

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  38. I love the cherry on top of these! My daughter is crazy for cherries so I'll have to try these out on her. I know what you mean about the lighting for photos. It can be so aggravating sometimes! I think I would enjoy the molasses version. :)

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  39. loving the cherry on top, my girls would surely love these, they are beautiful..I love the pic and taking pics at night is always my greatest fear, ha ha. I have not yet tried sorghum flour, thanks for the introduction, I will look out for it next time..hugs
    sweetlife

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  40. I don't know if I can even get sorghum flour but I sure would love to try these muffins. Love the cherry on top - the stem makes them look so adorable!!

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  41. those look good. I think I'll try the recipe tonight - wonder if I can use regular flour instead of the sorghum? ... trying NOT TO BUY!!
    PM

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  42. Hey Paula, you most likely could use regular flour instead of sorghum. They won't be gluten free though (smile)...
    xoxo

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  43. Stella, you've outdone yourself. These are great! I love the cherry baked right into the muffin. And, cornmeal? I LOVE the stuff and actually wrote about it myself this week. What is it about cornmeal that is so versatile?Sweet or savory. It's all delicious!

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  44. What a cool and sassy way to jazz up corn muffins.

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  45. With the fresh cherries, it is yummy!

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  46. Aw healthy muffins!! That's double goodness!

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  47. I just love leaving the stem in the cherry like that. Gives those muffins a little devilish tail! That seems to work because I bet they're sinfully good! ;-)

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  48. I like the idea you have adding flax seeds. This looks like such a delightful muffin with a wonderful texture.

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  49. Those are the absolute cutest little muffins I have ever seen. Absolutely adorable... and they would be even cuter as mini muffins. You could hoist them by the stem. What a great idea!!!!
    :)
    Valerie

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  50. LOVE the cherry top with the stems coming out. Looks so perfect!

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  51. Hi Stella!
    I have never cooked with sorghum flour but i heared say that is a very good option for "substitution" to the common flour.
    Love the cherry on the top (beautiful)... Look amazing and delicious!

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  52. I love cherries... we had a huge tree in our backyard when I was growing up and used to always look for cherry recipes to use them in. These days I'm at the mercy of the Farmer's market.
    If we don't gobble up all our cherries fresh, I'll try making thee corn muffins. I like gluten free and they look tasty :)

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  53. What on earth are you talking about Stella? Your food photog is always gorgeous and lovely. And I think that the pictures are doing your recipe much justice. And knowing that it tastes like cherry pie definitely is the cherry on top ;)

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  54. Stella - you witchy witch... you are a mind reader. I love this idea, and was thinking of doing it... Ok, I am a liar. What a beautiful idea. and with corn meal. Brilliant.
    :)
    Valerie

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  55. Nice little touch with the 'cherry on top' Stella. Using sorghum flour is an interesting idea too, nice sweet touch.

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Please do comment, Dearies!