Muffins

Clarkson Potter Cookbooks

by Elizabeth Alston

Muffins presents 50 mouth-watering recipes plus baking tips and hints for the classic taste treats everyone loves. 8 black-and-white drawings.

Genres: Cookbooks, Food, Nonfiction, Reference, Cooking

96 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Monique]

Now that I've made four of the recipes, I feel competent to write a review of this nifty little cookbook.

The Best Blueberry Muffins have my complete and total endorsement. They are even better if you use tangy local blueberries you pick yourself.

In the sweet muffin category, the Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins are also very good. I left out the almonds for my kids and the chocolate chips for myself. (It calls for a tablespoon "pumpkin pie spice." I just used the spices indicated for pumpkin pie in the Joy of Cooking.) Alston notes that they are even better the second or third day. I'll have to try them again then. You can call these puffins.

The Smoked Cheese and Scallion Muffins eat like a light on-the-go lunch. They also feature chopped fresh tomato and thyme. "When warm, the cheese in these muffins is stringy and fun to eat, but the flavor is more intense when the muffins have cooled completely."

Another biscuit-like savory are the Bacon Muffins. The shortening used in these is the grease from frying the bacon bits.

On my wish list to try next:

Donna Morgan's Ice Box English Tea Muffins (an heirloom recipe)

and

Cheddar Cheese and Mustard Muffins (I would spurge on some very sharp luxury cheddar for this).

A classic for a reason.

[Stephanie]

The best book on muffins ever. Seriously, this is my muffin Bible. From the moment I met it, I knew I was in love. The apple streusel muffins? A smash hit. The pumpkin chocolate chip muffins? Divine. There are English muffins, health-conscious muffins (whole wheat, low-calorie, low-sodium, low cholesterol), even a couple wheat free muffins. They range from classic to unheard-of, with helpful notes for just about every recipe.
The 60 recipes Alston includes cover breakfast, tea, and dinner muffins, which may not be much compared to glossy newer books, but it's really the introduction and "muffin basics" sections that contain invaluable information I've never found anywhere else: the difference between creamed muffins and stirred muffins, butter vs. vegetable oil, pan sizes, and multiple advance preparation strategies. I do wish the recipes were listed in a table of contents, but the index is comprehensive. Plus, the illustrations are charming. Why would anyone resist?

[Marian]

great muffin recipes and a darling little book, small size and a cute "just because" gift for a friend (with some home baked muffins, of course), I have made at least 8 successful different recipes from this book, my favorite are the golden raisin rosemary muffins, slightly sweet, slightly savory, they go great with any chicken dinner.

[Joyce]

I love muffins and this is my "go to" book for them. It's a little book, but it's filled with simple, homey and delicious recipes.

Many recipes begin with "The Best ______" But, "The Best Blueberry Muffins" from this book are the best I've found so far. Also, really good are the Pecan Orange, Banana Bran, Apple Streusel, Honey Bran and Nutmeg muffins.

A really good little book bursting with simple goodness. Thanks Elizabeth.

[Catherine Woodman]

This is my go-to Muffin book--it is very slim, and petire, but the recipes work, she describes things well in the book, and it was one of the first times that I saw real value in a single topic cookbook (I have had this for YEARS--now of course I have many such cookbooks :-)

[Shannon]

I've been making muffins out of this very small, very cute little book for years. My family loves the pumpkin chocolate chip muffins.

[Valerie]

Although not used as often as the scones one, still an excellent collection.

[Beatrice]

Worth it for the blueberry muffin recipe ALONE: it truly is the “best,” as it claims. My family tradition is to replace the blueberries with fresh-picked blackberries (skipping the mashing step and instead adding two quantities of floured berries). Those ones aren’t just the best blackberry muffins; they’re the best muffins, period.

The maple cornbread muffins are real winners too, as are the marmalade muffins. Each recipe, even the ones where I don’t care much for the taste due to personal preference (I know, what kind of monster doesn’t like nutmeg? Sorry, nutmeg muffins!) consistently have the lightest, fluffiest texture you could hope for.

No-nonsense and just plain good!

[Janis]

This is a great little book. Recipes for all kinds of muffins including whole grain, wheat free, and kids’ favorite marmalade filled (I use raspberry preserves) muffins. There are even recipes for flavored butters and spreads.

[Joosey]

I have made the bluberry muffin recipe from this book a zillion times. I had it written on a recipe card so when I found my copy of this muffin cookbook I realized I have to bake more muffins!! I will let you know if they are as delicious as the best blueberry muffin recipe.

[Mary]

It's my go-to muffin book of recipes, but after having it for many years and slowly making each muffin, finally read the Intro and Tips to consider when baking muffins!!

[Blair]

Cookbooks are fun to read. I hate the current blogging trend of introducing a recipe with a 5000 word irrelevant and uninteresting introduction, so this was a nice change. It has a cute short introduction, and then like less than a paragraph introducing each recipe. I also learned how baking soda and baking powder work, which I had never known before. As far as the actual recipes, I have tried I think 4 of them and they were all good, the english muffins especially were fun.

[Katie]

Just started in on this beuatiful little cookbook. First recipe: "The Best Blueberry Muffins." If you don't mind having a very blue tongue, they are wonderful.

[Sue]

Great recipes

[David]

Have not made every muffin in the book. The ones I have made I have enjoyed.