This week’s TWD was chosen by none other than the fabulous Kayte of Grandma’s Kitchen Table: allspice crumb muffins! Kayte’s become one of my favorite online baking/cooking buddies over the past few months. She’s super fun and always so upbeat – eager to try new recipes and motivate others to join her! I was psyched that she chose a relatively simple recipe this week that neither required me to make a trip to the store for special ingredients nor dirty a ton of dishes!
I halved the recipe and wound up with 6 muffins. Many of the other TWD bakers were having problems with the crumb topping melting off of their muffins in the oven, so on the advice of Mary Ann, I decreased the butter a bit in the topping (for a half recipe I used 2 tablespoons instead of 2 1/2). I’d planned to add diced apples to the muffins but unfortunately completely forgot until they were in the oven. Same thing happened with the lemon zest, which bummed me out because I know I would have enjoyed it. I often find that crumb toppings fall off of muffins as they bake, but these muffins rose nicely in the oven and the crumb topping stayed put! The only issue I ran into with the topping was that it baked over the tops of the muffin liners and made them difficult (but not impossible) to peel off of the muffins. Next time I might just spray the tins with nonstick cooking spray instead of using liners.
As for the flavor? I tried one still a bit warm from the oven and really enjoyed it! I don’t know that I’ve ever baked anything with allspice in a starring role, but it was a nice treat in these muffins and perfect for this time of year. The muffins are tender and come together so quickly that I know I’ll be making them again before too long. I gave 5 of the 6 muffins to Shane’s parents who came over yesterday to take us out for lunch to celebrate Shane’s birthday (he turns 30 next weekend!). I haven’t talked to them but hopefully they enjoyed the muffins as much as I did!
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Well those look picture perfect! Nice, even topping – and love the liners – so festive for this time of year. Glad you enjoyed them – I know they (it) smelled heavenly in the oven!
Yours look wonderful! I forgot about the lemon zest too! Want to give these another try.
Thanks for the heads up on the amount of butter to keep the topping on.
Joyce
I left out the zest too, and I can’t remember if it was intentional or not (baked them a couple of weeks ago), but I’ll bet it would be a great addition, although we loved the muffins as is. Your wrappers are adorable – great looking, tasting, and smelling!!
They did come together so quickly.
I totally enjoyed them.
Oh, wow, those look really great. I love the liners, they look so girlish and you know, there is not enough pink in my life around here with all these guys…so those are just fun to see. Will play around with the apples and less butter in the topping next time to check all that out. Thanks for baking with me all the time…love that always.
Your muffins are perfect. These were tasty. I’m jealous of your crumb topping. I’ll have to reduce the butter next time.
Your muffins look picture perfect Tracey – just marvelous!
Wow! Your crumb topping looks just right. 🙂 Well done.
Your muffins seriously look amazing. The crumb topping looks just perfect! I actually added apples into mine and I loved how they came out!!
ils sont vraiment parfaits, et tes photos..qu’est ce qu’elles sont belles 🙂
Oh, they look perfect! I’m sure Shane’s parents enjoyed them, too. Great job! And I love your pics, Tracey!
Those look incredible – what cute muffin wrappers, too. Glad you all enjoyed them – mine also passed the in-law taste test. I also forgot the zest, but want to try them that way next time.
Your muffins look so cute! I love the liners too. I’ll have to remember the “use less butter” trick next time!
I love your muffins ! Happy birthday !!
How gorgeous! I wish I had seen Mary Ann’s tip about reducing the butter in the crumb topping, but they were still delicious.
Your topping looks perfect! Glad that little tip about reducing the butter helped a little.
Beautiful pictures, Tracey! I am sure your in-laws loved these!
Thanks for the muffins, Tracey! They were really delicious! Went great with coffee this morning. The crumbs were just the right sweetness and the flavor perfect. I can see that apples would have been a great addition to them as well. Thanks again and Rick also said to tell you they were great!
Your muffins look great, but all your things always do. I really changed things up and made the recipe in to a coffee cake with chocolate chips!
Perfectly simple!
These look scrumptious! I’m definitely going to give these a try.
These were good, weren’t they. Your pics make them look soooo delicious.
I love allspice, but have never used it alone. It will be used alone often now after these.
Pretty wrappers.
I love all the ideas and tips we share with each other. Like the reduction of butter for your crumble topping. You are so smart. Your look very beautiful and I’m pretty sure they tasted better than my non buttery ones. Like you I have always been hesitant. This time I just decided to jump off and give it a try. So there you have it. Thanks for stopping by even this late in the day. You’re the best.
AmyRuth
The muffins look fantastic! Your crumbs topping looks perfect, so I guess the key is to cut the butter. Happy birthday to Shane! I assume there will be a great birthday cake here soon!
Your muffins look yummy! I love your liners. They were wonderful with the lemon zest…
You did a great job… great look..
Such beautiful muffins! I forgot the apples and lemon zest too *snaps* But I will be making these again, maybe subbing some applesauce for the butter. Wish me luck 🙂
It sounds like allspice was a revelation for many, myself included. Definitely include the zest next time, as I think it really contributed a nice flavor. Beautiful job on the muffins!
Yeah, I’m bummed about forgetting the lemon zest too – but the kids ate them up!
Gorgeous! I loved how easy these were.
Hmm, what is the word I am looking for?!
Oh yeah: PERFECT.
Man, those are perfect-looking muffins.
Those look great. A big muffin top is okay on muffins (but not on me).
They look just perfect! Love the liners too! I reduced the butter in the topping and I think that worked out well.
great tops and rise!
Your muffins look perfect! Bummer about the apples – you’ll have to the muffins again and add them, they were so tasty! I tinkered with the crumb topping, too, and was glad I did – I love a good crumb! I didn’t add the zest, because I was out of citrus, but I loved them so much the way they were, I don’t know if I will add it next time or not!
Your muffins look perfect. It was so nice that they weren’t super sweet, but still tasty.
So please tell–where do you purchase such cute cupecake liners??
Your muffins look great, Tracey. I’ve made these several times, and I haven’t ever added lemon zest. I might have to try it next time.
I am drooling now and it’s all because of you (or these photos). I have to try this recipe out soon, and I mean SOON! My boyfriend will be happy, too ;o)
Such a beautiful muffins..