Mini Muffins Many Ways

As I mentioned when I shared my One-Bowl Chocolate Chip Cookies, I do a lot of baking for the boys' lunches. This is another recipe I make a lot, it is a versatile mini muffin that I change-up the main ingredient frequently to keep things interesting.

Most times I use frozen blueberries in this recipe. Fresh works too but I always have blueberries in the freezer for my smoothies. Really, any frozen fruit would work.

 A popular ingredient is chocolate chips. You could use any variety or a combination of them for extra yumminess (yes to chocolate chips and peanut butter chips!).

When I use raisins and cinnamon I substitute 1/2 cup of the flour for a 1/2 cup of rolled oats.

Recipe

1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
1/3 cup milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup of your ingredient of choice (blueberries, chocolate chips, raisins)

Combine the sugar, butter, eggs, milk and vanilla together.

Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together. Stir the liquids into the flour to form a smooth batter. Fold in the blueberries (or other ingredient of choice).

This makes 24 mini muffins or 12 regular-sized muffins. If you aren't using liners, use some butter to grease the muffin tin. Bake in a pre-heated 375 degree oven for 14-17 minutes (for mini muffins) or 20-25 minutes (for regular muffins).

One Bowl Chocolate Chip Cookies

I decided to cut out processed granola bars and other snacks from my kid's lunch boxes this year. I won't say we don't eat any processed food, but what we do eat is very minimal and we are label detectives (no BHT or TBHQ for us).

What this means is I have been doing a lot of baking, A LOT. The danger with baking in a house full of boys is that the cookies you make for next week's lunches will disappear in a day if you do not guard those cookies. My trick? I freeze them! They thaw by lunch time and they last a wee bit longer.

I have been playing around with recipes, yummy ones, easy ones, ones with not too much sugar but hadn't found the perfect one until I combined a few that can be made in, wait for it, 1 BOWL. Less mess and mixing!

Here is the recipe for my 1 Bowl Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 large egg
1/2 cup softened butter
1/2 cup brown or golden sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tbsp of vanilla

Mix these ingredients in your bowl first

Add in:

1 cup of rolled oats (I know most people say not to use quick oats, but I do with no issues)
1 cup of flour (I use whole wheat)
pinch of salt
1 tsp baking soda

Mix these ingredients with the wet

And THEN:

3/4 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips

Roll into balls, about 1 inch in diameter and place in a 350 degree oven for 9-10 minutes. This recipe makes 16-18 cookies depending on how accurate you are with making the cookies the same size. I typically use parchment paper but was out and they still cooked evenly with no burning.

Enjoy!