Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Goji Berry & Walnut Muffins

Sorry guys, I am a tad busy this week and slightly caked-out (gasp!). All I can offer this week are muffins. It’s not to say that these muffins aren’t good.

For goodness sake, their packed full goji berries and walnuts. I have been so busy lately, that I literally don’t have time to eat anything. I keep telling myself to pack a lunch, and then I stare into the fridge and nothing seems appealing.

I finally decided that I would bake muffins that I could just pop into my purse along with a couple of tea bags. I know what you’re thinking. A muffin Gigi? Muffins are bad for you.

These muffins do have some redeeming value. What could it be? The goji berries of course! Goji berries are dried red berries that look similar to cranberries. They have been used for thousands of years for their “healing” properties. They are packed full of antioxidants, help eyesight, protect the liver, and boost immune function. How could you not like this muffin? Right?

Go ahead and bake yourself some super muffins! In addition, goji berries are available at organic supermarkets and specialty food stores. These particular berries where given to me by Katie. Thanks Katie!

Goji Berry Walnut Muffins

Adapted from The Essential Baker

Makes 12

Dry Ingredients:

2 cups of AP flour
2/3 cup of firmly packed light brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon of salt
Pinch of nutmeg

Wet Ingredients:

1 cup heavy cream
4 ounces of melted unsalted butter, cooled
2 extra large eggs
1 ½ teaspoons of vanilla

Mix in:

½ cup of goji berries
½ cup of walnut pieces

Preheat the oven to 400F degrees. Grease a 12 cup muffin pan or line with baking papers.

In a large bowl whisk together the dry ingredients. Set aside. In a medium bowl whisk together all the wet ingredients. Add the wet ingredients to dry and using a large spoon just mix until incorporated. Do not over mix muffins, there will be lumps. Gently fold in the goji berries and walnuts. Divide the batter among the muffin pan and bake for 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes clean.

28 comments:

Sheltie Girl said...

These sound wonderful and a fabulous way to start the day. I'd take tea too...make mine a Rooibos.

Natalie @ Gluten a Go Go

Maria♥ said...

Gigi I have recently come across Goji berries and wondered what I could use them for. You have given me the perfect excuse to buy them now!! These muffins look delish.

Maria
x

Silvia - Magnolia Wedding Planner said...

Gigi! good morning dear!thanks for yur visit and comment! you are so sweet. and your italian is good don't worry to much..look at my english !! :-D so bad!! ahahha :-P
Stunning these muffins they really look delicious.
have a nice day darling
Silvia

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

Ahh, I'm sorry that things are busy for you - hang in there, Gigi!!

Oh my goodness, a muffin packed with two of my FAVORITE "superfoods": goji berries and walnuts!! Perfect!! Love the recipe, for sure.

grace said...

i've been hearing a lot about goji berries lately, and i'm anxious to try them out. apparently the presence of a superfruit balances out any cream or butter in a recipe... :) these look great--if this is the best you can offer, i'll gladly take it. :)

Hallie Fae said...

I picked up some goji berries a couple of weeks ago only hearing great things about the benefits of eating them. Maybe I got a bad bag of them or something but they literally tasted like manure, and turned my whole mouth orange. Instantly I was turned off, nothing that was that good for you but tasted that bad was worth it. Did you find this with your goji berries, did baking with them cut the taste down? I couldn't even swallow it...

glamah16 said...

I have seen these Goi berries and have been tempted to purchase some. I admire the fact that you can devote your blog to sweets and cakes, as I would defiantely be caked out too. A few DB challenges and the odd Birthday are all I can handle.

aforkfulofspaghetti said...

As a big fan of goji juice, I can imagine how good these muffins are. I'm sure the slight citrus-y tang complements the walnuts perfectly. Yum.

Deborah said...

I have never tried goji berries before, but I have always wanted to. These sound delicious!

marae said...

yummi...muffins don't have to be bad for you!!! i love oat muffins..mmm.

RecipeGirl said...

I've not seen goji berries before. I'll have to be on the lookout for them. We love muffins around here!

Katie said...

That looks one tasty yet healthy muffin. Never baked with goji berries before, but will give it a go as these look so good. Pack 2 or 3 if thats all your eating for lunch!

Anonymous said...

I've heard so much about goji berries, but have never gotten my hands on them. These look wonderful btw. And sweetie, muffins are almost always a beautiful way to start your day! :)

Chibog in Chief said...

berries and walnuts sounds perfect together in a muffin..definitely a recipe to try.. i dont know what goji berries are..:-)

Patricia Scarpin said...

These are some yummy muffins, Gigi! They look flawless!

Stef said...

We got some goji berries a while back. My husband was the only one who liked them. He kept trying to force feed them to people. I bet that they woudl taste better in a muffin though. The muffins look tasty!

Anonymous said...

I love this! Simple muffins with a slightly exotic element. Bravo. Now just make sure you eat some!

Cookie baker Lynn said...

Muffins bad for you? No way! These look great.

test it comm said...

Those muffins look good! I have been wanting to try goji berries for a while now.

Rosie said...

Gigi your mufffins look fabulous and I have never tried goji berries something to look forward too!

Sorry to hear things are busy for you too atm - do take care!

Rosie x

marae said...

hey miss gigi, i just rated you E for Excellent over on my blog...thanks so much for all your awesome help in answering my random questions.. i appreciate it!

Helene said...

Love Goji berries...at least when I eat a muffin with them I can say I am eating a superfood thus doing something good for me :)

My Sweet & Saucy said...

I've only tried goji berries by themselves, so I would love to try them in a muffin!

Silvia - Magnolia Wedding Planner said...

Thanks Gigi for your kindness :-D I hope you are right..a wedding planner should not be only a..planner..for that you can buy an agenda! :-D it's the comfort and security that a couple look for :-D
You are adorable hun :-D
kiss
Silvia

How To Eat A Cupcake said...

Thanks, I was just about to ask where I can find these wonderful goji berries! Yum!

Anonymous said...

Yum!! I recently tried Goji berries for the first time, but I never thought about putting it in muffins, great idea!

Janiene said...

Thanks for this recipe! I can't wait to make these this weekend. I get Goji berries at my local Whole Foods. They are expensive, but well worth it.

Hallie - it sounds like you got a very bad batch. Maybe give them one more shot, but that would definitely put me off them too!

Anonymous said...

Thanks Janiene! I agree, Hallie probably got a bad batch of goji berries! I hope your muffins turned out great!