Baklava Muffins

Do you ever browse food blogs and find something that you know you absolutely have to make?  This was the case this past weekend with the Baklava muffins I saw on Ruth's blog Once Upon a Feast.   Her post from Saturday showed just how easy it is to put together a great meal in little time even while babysitting.  Those muffins she served as dessert, however, called to me.  Big time.

Ruth's post links to the recipe on Group Recipes and the recipe on Group Recipes links to the one on Recipezaar which lists Nigella Lawson as the creator of this extraordinary muffin.  I think I'll have to check out the library for more Nigella cookbooks.  I own one and I'd like to see how many more I like and need to buy.

While I wouldn't say these taste like baklava, they are very tasty and Don proclaimed them "the best muffins ever".  Now, I wouldn't go so far as that, but they're going in the "make again, make again" pile.

I used paper liners to keep things a little neater but they were easy to fill and get the filling in.  One of the other things I like about them is that they only make 12.  I hate those recipes that make a TON and I end up throwing out a bunch because I don't like to freeze baked goods.  Delicious looking, huh?

Baklava Muffins
(courtesy of Recipezaar)

• Filling:
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• Muffins:
• 1 cup flour plus 7 tbsp
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup buttermilk plus 2 tbsp (I used half and half mixed with a little lemon juice)
• Topping
• 1/2 cup honey (I didn't use nearly this much)

1. Preheat oven to 400F degrees.
2. Mix all the filling ingredients together in a small bowl, set aside.
3. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and sugar.
4. Mix the egg, melted butter and buttermilk.
5. Make a well in the dry ingredients and add gently mix in the wet ingredients.
6. Fill 12 muffin cups 1/3 full, add a scant tablespoon of filling, cover with more muffin mixture until 2/3 full.
7. Sprinkle any remaining filling on top of the muffins.
8. Bake for 15 minutes.
9. Put the muffins onto a rack to cool and drizzle with honey (it may be easier to drizzle the honey if it has been warmed first).

Comments

[Claire]

I've seen a recipe like this and still haven't tried it. Must do this soon!

[Ruth]

Great research job, Miz Detective. I guess I'm not surprised that it's a Nigella recipe. I have 2 of her books - Forever Summer and Feast, which is my favorite...I'll be making her maple pecan muffins next.

Thanks for mentioning me and thanks even more for making the Nigella link!

[Alisha]

Oh, I think I need a recipe for maple pecan muffins, Ruth. The only Nigella book I have is Forever Summer. I'll definitely have to do some more research now!

[Elizabeth]

This recipe was the very first Nigella recipe I had ever tried and my family loved them.I now have all of her cookbooks.She is awesome.Lover her.Your pictures look amazing...I am getting hungry!!!!