RaggaMuffin - Flour & Beats

It's no surprise that in recent years, muffins have become one of the favorite desserts worldwide, including among us Bulgarians. Muffins, these small delicious emissaries from other lands, are simultaneously very close and distant from our cuisine and taste preferences. On one hand, the appetizing representatives of pastry temptations come from distant England and even further America. English muffins have a long history, with culinary experts tracing their origins back to the 10th-11th century in Wales. They are flat and round, 2-3 cm thick, and are cooked on a griddle or under a grill. Since English muffins are not widely spread outside the United Kingdom, when muffins are mentioned, the far more popular American variety is usually meant.

American muffins, however, started to be made in large quantities by home cooks in the late 18th century. They are baked in special molds placed in the center of the oven, typically at temperatures ranging from 175 to 200 degrees Celsius, for approximately 25 to 30 minutes. The number and size of the molds in the tray can vary.

Another interesting detail about muffins is that they can be both sweet and savory. And there are so many varieties of both taste options that if we decide to search for recipes and make homemade muffins every day, we will surely find different ones for each day of the year! So, throughout all 365 days, we can enjoy the variety that the abundance of muffin recipe ideas offers us - chocolate, blueberry, strawberry, vanilla, caramel, peach, raspberry... Many people mix up muffins with cupcakes. Yes, the resemblance is striking, but they differ in texture and sweetness. Cupcakes are essentially miniature cakes, filled with various types of cream, and I've noticed that most of them have frosting on top, while muffins are less sweet and often contain fruits, nuts, or chocolate chunks.

Mine are crafted with blueberries, dark chocolate, coconut milk, shredded coconut, eggs, and erythritol, a sugar alternative. They match the taste of their sugary counterparts flawlessly, and I assure you, they are heavenly and significantly healthier!

The popularity of muffins is so great that it even reaches musicians who have been inspired by this little sweet treat.

Enjoy!