Coffee Cake Muffins

Remember when we could just walk into a grocery store without waiting in line or worrying that they would be out of the essential ingredients that we need?  Grocery shopping has changed drastically in the last couple of months.  Not all of the changes have been bad though. 

I'm big on personal space and I've thought for years that people should stand 6 feet apart while in line the grocery store check out line.  I'm going to be a little disappointed to see those little footprint guides on the floor indicating how far apart people should stand, disappear when this whole pandemic is over. 👣 Not everyone can read my not-so-subtle stares when they're encroaching on my personal grocery space.  💁🏻‍♀️

And can we just talk about how great it is that every cart is cleaned and sanitized before we use them? 🛒 I've always been a consistent cart wipe user but I feel like the continuous cleaning of the carts by store employees is far more effective.  My local Target store is going a step further by cleaning the register belt and key pad in between every customer.  As a self proclaimed (borderline) germaphobe - this new level of cleanliness is very appealing. 

Yes, it's inconvenient to wait in line outside a store for 30 minutes before being permitted to enter, but I appreciate the less congested aisles while I'm inside, picking out my groceries.  I've even shopped at grocery stores with directional aisles.  ☞  My type A personality was thrilled to participate in singular direction grocery shopping.  

Wearing a mask has probably been the biggest adjustment to grocery shopping during a pandemic. 😷 I've been wearing my homemade masks which are super cute and arguably more comfortable than other options but - it's still pretty annoying.  On a positive note - I got carded for buying a bottle of wine for the first time in a looooong time, while wearing my mask.  Apparently, I have young looking eyes.  👀

Lucky for me, the panic that initially cleared the grocery store shelves of --- well, everything, has subsided.  There were a couple of weeks that I couldn't find a single bag of flour but fortunately, the essential ingredient that I need to keep my catering business afloat, is more widely available now. 

Getting creative with the ingredients that were available when I went to the store was the name of the game for a while.  And that's exactly how these Coffee Cake muffins  became a reality.  When regular flour is at a premium - I make treats for my family with cake flour.   I think that you'll agree that this is a delicious repercussion to come out of this crazy pandemic.  

Coffee Cake Muffins
1 1/2 cups cake flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup canola oil
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs

crumb topping:
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
1 1/2 cups cake flour
​
icing:
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp milk

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.

Whisk together milk, canola oil, vanilla and egg.

Pour mixture over the dry ingredients and stir using a rubber spatula.

Scoop the batter evenly into the muffin tray about 2/3 of the way full.

​To make the crumb topping, combine sugars, cinnamon and salt in a bowl. 

Fold in melted butter and add flour with rubber scraper.

Add crumb topping to each muffin.

Bake muffins at 375 for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake another 5-10 minutes.

​For glaze, combine powdered sugar and milk in a medium bowl and whisk until smooth.

​When the muffins are done, cool for 10 minutes and drizzle the glaze on each muffin using a small spoon.  Allow glaze to set before serving. ​

This recipe makes 12 regular size muffins or 6 jumbo muffins.  

Ciao!

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