Inspired by America's Test Kitchen, I
was thrilled when I came across a recipe for these little gems. Perfect texture
and flavor; be sure to use a good ground cinnamon, whole-milk buttermilk
and real unsalted butter. Excellent as a quick breakfast or light snack.
Use a scale if you have one for the ultimate texture. Measurements are
provided for cups and the scale. Yum!
Preparation Time: 30 minutes Serving Size: 12 muffins
Crumb Topping
- 1/3 cup sugar (2 1/4 ounces)
- 1/3 cup dark brown sugar (2 1/2 ounces)
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
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- 1/8 teaspoon table salt
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted but warm
- 1 3/4 cup cake flour (7 ounces)
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Cakes
- 1 1/4 cup cake flour (5 ounces)
- 1/2 cup sugar (3 1/2 ounces)
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon table salt
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces, softened but still
cool
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- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup buttermilk
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For the topping, whisk sugars, cinnamon,
salt and warm melted butter in a medium bowl. Add flour and stir with a rubber spatula
or wooden spoon until it comes together as a dough. Set aside at room
temperature to cool. For the muffins, heat oven to 325° and position the
rack in the upper-middle part of the oven. Line standard-sized muffin tins
with baking liners. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine flour, sugar, baking soda and salt on low speed to
combine. Add butter one piece at a time and beat until mixture resembles
moist crumbs and butter has been incorporated, about 2 minutes. Add egg,
yolk, vanilla and buttermilk. Beat on medium-high speed until light and
fluffy, about 1 minute. Use a 1/4 cup measuring cup or scoop to divide
batter evenly among muffin cups and even out the tops with a spatula. The
muffin tins should be half full. Break
the crumb mixture into large pea sized pieces and spread in an even layer
over the smoothed tops of each muffin to cover. This should fill the muffin
tins. Bake about 20 minutes or
until a toothpick comes out clean and crumbs are golden. Transfer to a wire
rack and cool at least 20 minutes. |
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