Extra-yummity Breakfast: Apricot and Ginger Muffins

No, it’s not a typo. “Yummy” is my boyfriend’s highest form of praise for the food, and these muffins I whipped up this morning were pronounced extra yummy by the critic himself. Well then.

Andrew spends four to five days a month working from home, and on those days, a home-baked breakfast is always in order. Usually scones or muffins, sometimes it’s a recipe I’m testing from a Kitchlit review book, sometimes it’s an old favourite, and sometimes, like today, I just open the cupboard in search of inspiration.

Today, however, I was met by dismally empty shelves. No fresh fruit in the fridge, no bananas on the counter, not even any inspiring jams, nuts or berries in my baking cupboard. I only had my spice drawer and the sad remains of a packet of dried apricots to contend with. Still, I wasn’t about to let that stop me.

I adore ginger in any of its forms- dried, fresh, candied. I had some ground ginger in the spice drawer, and figuring that was as good as any a place to start, I added some cinnamon, the apricots, some crème fraîche that was languishing at the back of the fridge (don’t worry- it was still good) and gathered them all on my counter. The resulting muffin is quickbread-y rather than cakey, moist from the crème fraîche and sweet from the apricot. While the ground ginger and cinnamon gave a great flavour, next time I’d add some grated fresh ginger, as well, to up the spice factor.

Apricot and Ginger Muffins

makes 12 muffins

• 250g all-purpose (plain) flour
• 120g caster sugar
• 60g brown sugar (light or dark, I like dark)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 142ml crème fraîche (Greek yogurt or sour cream work, too)
• 125ml vegetable oil
• 1 Tbs. honey
• 1/2 tsp. grated fresh ginger (optional)
• 2 eggs
• 200g dried apricots, cut into small cubes
• extra brown sugar for sprinkling

1.  Preheat the oven to 200°C or 400°F. Line a muffin tin with papers if you aren’t using silicone.
2.  Mix together the flour, sugars, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon and salt together in a large bowl.
3.  In a jug or smaller bowl, whisk together the crème fraîche, oil, honey, fresh ginger (if using) and eggs, and then fold this mixture into the dry ingredients. Don’t overmix- you want it a little lumpy.
4.   Gently mix in the apricots and divide evenly between the muffin cases. Sprinkle a bit of brown sugar on the top of each muffin (about 1/4 tsp. for each).
5.  Bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. (Mine were a little overbaked, but you don’t want to underbake these- they are best with a crunchy golden crust.) Cool on a rack and enjoy slightly warm.