The base recipe for the muffins is really quick and easy, which left me with motivation to spend a few extra minutes making a crumb topping for them. I figured in case the berries were extra sour it would help, though I think we all know I didn’t really need an excuse to make a sweet brown sugar crumble for the top. The muffins baked up light and fluffy, and the blackberries softened enough that I actually found myself really enjoying them.
By Tracey
Blackberry Crumb Muffins
muffins adapted from Williams-Sonoma
Ingredients:
Crumb Topping
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
Muffins
- zest of 1/2 lemon
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg, at room temperature and lightly beaten
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
- 2 cups fresh blackberries
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 F. Line muffin pans with paper liners.
To make the crumb topping: Add the flour, baking powder and cinnamon to a medium bowl; stir with a fork to combine. In a small saucepan, melt the butter. Add the brown sugar to the pan, using a rubber spatula to combine with the butter. Pour the butter/brown sugar mixture over the flour mixture and use the fork to stir until all of the flour is moistened. Set aside while you make you muffin batter.
To make the muffins: Add the lemon zest and sugar to a medium bowl. Use your fingers to rub the zest into the sugar until fragrant. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt to the bowl and whisk to combine. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the egg, butter and buttermilk. Whisk until the dry ingredients are evenly moistened – the batter will be lumpy, that’s ok. Use a rubber spatula to very gently fold the blackberries into the batter – do not overmix.
Divide the batter evenly among the wells of the muffin pans, filling each about 3/4-full. Break the crumb topping into small pieces and scatter over the tops of the muffins. Bake for about 22 minutes, or until the tops of the muffins spring back when lightly pressed and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer the muffin pans to a wire rack and let the muffins cool for a few minutes before removing them from the pan to the rack to cool completely.
Makes 12-14 muffins.
