Food and Home
Oprah.com
 Pick-Me-Up Muffins
Created by Rori Trovato
From Great Food in the April 2008 issue of
O, The Oprah Magazine
Makes 12 muffins


What's better when you need a pick-me-up than a muffin straight out of the oven?

INGREDIENTS
  • 1/3 cup raisins
  • 1 cup hot, strong-brewed coffee
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup plus 3 Tbsp. sugar
  • 1 Tbsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1 cup milk
  • 8 Tbsp. (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 tsp. instant espresso granules or instant coffee
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

In a medium bowl, combine raisins and hot coffee; allow to steep 30 minutes. Strain out liquid; set raisins aside.

Preheat oven to 400°. In a large bowl, combine flour, 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. In another bowl, whisk together milk, butter, egg, vanilla, and coffee granules until blended. Add to flour mixture along with strained raisins and walnuts. Mix with a spatula until just blended, taking care not to overmix.

Spoon batter into 12 paper-lined muffin cups. Sprinkle with remaining 3 Tbsp. sugar. Bake until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve warm straight from pan.
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