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Old 04-02-2007, 10:35 AM
Chris_C Offline
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Culinary Experience: Cook At Home
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 4
Default Muffin tops

Morning everyone,

How can I assure a large muffin top? I prefer to use a moist cake mix (I'm not the worlds best cook...) and a cupcake tin.

Thanks,
Chris
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Old 04-02-2007, 10:59 AM
Dessert Diva Offline
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 10
Default

Ah, you are now talking my language...lol.

I have a wonderful muffin top pan (you can pick them uo at any specialty kitchen store or online) and my own TNT recipe. I have been doing these for sometime (even before the big fad of Seinfeld) and I use a wonderful filling to place inside as a suprise.

Here are some notes that I have copied about acheiving a wonderful muffin:

When muffins aren’t perfect, the first reaction is to change the ingredients in the recipe. Rather than changing the recipe, try a different mixing method.
There are two major makeup methods for muffins--the muffin method and the creaming method. In the creaming method, you cream the fat (butter or shortening) with the sugar until light and then add the other ingredients. In the muffin method, you mix the liquids and the dry ingredients separately and then stir them together until just combined. While the recipe will specify one method or the other, there is no reason why you can’t use the other and see which you like best.
The muffin method is quick and easy. Mix the dry ingredients together. Mix the wet ingredients together including the eggs then add the wet mixture to the dry mixture with a spatula and you’re ready to bake. (Don’t even break out your electric mixer. Stir the two mixtures, by hand, together with a spatula only until combined—not lump free—so that the gluten in the flour will not be developed.) If the recipe calls for butter or shortening, either substitute vegetable oil or melt the butter and add it to the liquids. (In my opinion, it is better to use oil or melted butter than melted shortening.)
One advantage of the muffin method is that both the dry and the wet ingredients can be mixed the night before. Store the wet ingredients in the refrigerator and then add the wet to the dry ingredients in the morning and you’re ready to bake.
In the creaming method, place the butter or shortening in the mixing bowl of your electric mixture. Add the sugar, spices, and salt and cream the mixture together with the paddle attachment for the mixer. (Of course, recipes that call for oil instead of butter or shortening cannot be creamed unless you substitute butter or shortening.) The objective is to drive the sharp sugar crystals through the butter or shortening creating tiny voids of air in the mixture. This entrained air will help the muffins rise.
The creaming method has two advantages: The sugar and fat are well dispersed in the batter and the entrained air tends to make for a light, fine crumb in the muffins.
In my experience, changing mixing methods can make a marked difference in the outcome of the muffins.

Steps in the Muffin Method
1. Whisk all the wet ingredients together including the eggs and oil or melted butter.
2. Whisk the dry ingredients together.
3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Stir with a spatula until just moistened.
4. Place in tins and bake immediately as set forth in the recipe.


Steps in the Creaming Method
1. With the paddle attachment of an electric mixer, cream together the butter or shortening and sugars, spices, and salt until light.
2. Add the eggs one at a time, creaming after each.
3. Add the liquid ingredients and stir them in. Do not over-stir or you may reduce the entrained air in the creamed mixture.
4. Mix the flour and leavenings together and then add them to the creamed mixture. Mix until just combined.
5. Place in tins and bake immediately as set forth in the recipe
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