Saturday Morning Coffee Cake Muffins

"Who's craving a cinnamon roll this morning, but doesn't want to go through the trouble of letting dough rise?"... well that would be me!  Last Saturday, those were my exact thoughts.  So instead, I decided to make these Coffee Cake Muffins which give you all the taste of a nice warm cinnamon roll with out the hassle.   The flavor is sooo good. Cinnamon, Butter, Brown Sugar with a bit of crunch from the walnuts and raisins, nothing wrong with these flavors if your ask me :-)!.  

I know it appears like a lot of steps, but honestly they are really quick ones; you can have these muffins done and in the oven in 30 minutes. Then all you need to do is surprise your family with a nice morning treat and enjoy all the praise..

I hope you give these muffins a try this morning!  Happy Cooking everyone!

Ingredients:

TOPPING
3 tablespoons flour
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking spice*
2 table spoons cold butter (i used salted)
4-5 tablespoon rough cut walnuts

MUFFIN BATTER
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon baking spice*
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup cold butter (i used salted)
1/2 cup white raisins
1 egg
1/2 cup buttermilk

(**Baking Spice is a mixture of Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg and Mace.  You can substitute Pumpkin Pie Spice if you do not have Baking Spice.)


Instructions:
1. Line 12 regular size muffin pan with paper muffin cups. Set aside.

2. Start the topping first and set aside -

In bowl , combine 3 tablespoons of flour, 3 tablespoons light brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon baking spice.  Mix till all ingredients are incorporated.  

Cut 2 table spoons of cold butter into small pieces.  Taking a fork press down and start blending into flour. Continue to do until flour resembles a small crumb. (or you can take the cheaters way like I did and use your food processor)

Add walnuts and  set aside.

3. Make the batter
In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, baking spice, baking soda and salt.  Whisk together till all ingredients are combined.

Take 1/4 cup cold butter cut into small pieces and use the same cutting technique as the topping. Or as i did, use the food processor.   The flour mixture will look like crumbly . Add 1/2 cups of raisins and stir. Set aside.

In a large bowl combine egg and butter milk. Mix together. Gradually add the flour mixture into the wet mixture, mixing only until just combined. Do not overmix or your muffins with be tough and dense.

Take the batter and fill each muffin cup about 1/3 filled (step 1). Now add 1 large table spoon of the topping (step 2) next fill each cup with about 1 full tablespoon of batter (step 3) and finish with one more tablespoon of the Topping (step 4).


















Step 1                                                                                               Step 2


 

Step 3                                                                                                 Step 4


Bake for 18-20 minutes at 400 degrees.
ENJOY!