Duffins

Time for a mix up – a cross between a doughnut and a muffin – a duffin?

This is a very easy recipe and so quick to make.   Whatever you do, do this using a bowl and spoon, DO NOT use an electric mixer, it will not work out very well as the mixture will become too runny, it does not need to be whisked or beaten!

Recipe

• 140g caster sugar (plus extra for rolling the duffins in afterwards)
• 200g plain flour (or self-raising flour)
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (omit this if you use self-raising flour)
• 140g melted butter
• 100ml buttermilk OR natural yoghurt (they both produce lovely duffins, but slightly different – try each to see which one you like best!)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract (I prefer the paste)
• Filling – jam, nutella, whatever takes your fancy really

Method

1. Take a 12 hole muffin tin and lightly grease it.  Do not use muffin cases!  Preheat the oven to 190°C
2. Into a large bowl weigh out the sugar and sieve the flour and bicarbonate of soda into it.  Mix thoroughly together.
3. In a separate bowl mix together the melted butter, buttermilk (or yoghurt), eggs and vanilla paste.
4. Add this to the dry ingredients and very gently fold the mixture in.  Using a fork works best!  Stop folding as soon as the dry ingredients are combined.
5. Using two-thirds of the mixture spoon this in to the 12 hole muffin tin.
6. Add about 1 tsp of your filling to each duffin.  I use home-made jam or nutella (which is delicious in these).  Spoon the remaining mixture on top of the filling and using a spoon or your finger gently make sure the filling is completely covered.
7. Pop the tin in the oven for 15-18 minutes until  they are well risen and golden brown.  Remove from the oven and leave them in the tin to cool slightly for approximately 5 minutes.
8. In a small bowl tip a quantity of caster sugar.  Remove each duffin from the tin and roll in the sugar to coat completely.  Finish cooling them off on a wire rack.

These are very simply to make, but don’t take a bite into one when they’re still warm as you may burn your mouth on the filling!