Sunken Cherry Almond Muffins

The plate is a precious inheritance!  

It has become a habit of sorts now to make something special when I am visiting someone. A homemade gift always gets me the biggest smiles whether its the kids or the adults. Why would I not work hard for it then? But you know what psst... these muffins are really a breeze to make if you have ready made almond meal but even if you don't an additional 5 mins to just whiz the almonds in the grinder is not a big deal.

I love how the cherries sink in the muffins and the stalks are a telltale of the hidden sweetness also warning you not to bite at the stone in the fruit lest you break your teeth. The cherries are perfect fruit for baking and do not make the muffins jammy inside unlike other softer fruits but still hold a bite.

These muffins are wonderfully fragrant with almonds without using any essence or spice. Plus the almond meal fortifies the muffins with the protein while lending it a beautiful grainy texture. Brain food for the kids I hear you say.

These muffins turned out so good that C had two in go and also suggested that I sell confections thru the Eshop. I would love to do that but what I have observed is that most people are looking for a big bite in a small spend. There are very few people who really look at the quality of the things they buy and are willing to spend more. Some bloggers/ bakers are very conscious about what ingredients they use and also go all out to educate about the good stuff. However when it comes to making such products commercially viable is the real challenge!

It is strange that people will go to a mall and eat a dried out muffin with just one blueberry at a Coffee shop but haggle with home bakers that use good quality ingredients and are generous in their use too. On top of it delay in payments or even cutting the price after the product has been consumed. Just yesterday a baker friend was venting about this experience. I would like to appeal to people to support good products and honest businesses. You need them as much as they need you.

While I don't mean to step into Gourmet bakery products immediately I am all happy to make them for my family. Would you like to bake these gourmet muffins too? Follow the recipe without cutting corners.

Ingredients

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1 cup almond meal

3/4 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 cup molten ghee
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
2 dozen cherries

Preheat oven for 10 mins at 200 degrees Celsius.

In a large bowl sieve the all purpose flour and baking powder together. Mix in the almond meal. Keep aside.

In another bowl cream the ghee, salt and powder sugar together. Add the dry ingredients which we kept ready, at this point. Add milk to it and whisk till light. The batter should fall in folds.

Keep the muffin cups ready. For these muffins if using liners you do not need to prepare the tin there is enough fat in the muffins to allow the liners to peel off easily after baking. You will need 2 dozen muffin cups or tray with 24 pockets and 24 liners. I used these pleated cups which don't require a muffin tray and go into the oven directly. They hold well and I don't have to worry about a square muffin tray bringing the turntable to a halt while baking.

Fill the lined cups with a table spoon of batter and place 2 cherries in each cup. 

Bake the muffins at 180 degrees Celsius for 20 mins on till you get a golden top and the skewer poked into the muffin comes out clean.

Cool on the rack for atleast 15 mins. They are ready to eat or can be stored in a ziploc bag in the fridge for a week. Warm up while eating. The muffins are a lovely treat with the evening cuppa.

Bake some for your favorite people and bring sweetness to their life.