GF Muffins are Best!

Here is a little fact that I keep forgetting to share. I always thought that I was just really good at making muffins but it seems that GF flour is the magic in the muffin mix!

When I was on Britain's Best Dish last year I got the opportunity to talk to Ed Baines (one of the judges) about gluten-free cooking. I can't remember why we got onto the subject of muffins but he reckons GF flour actually works better than plain flour in muffins. It is something to do wth the gluten reacting with the wet ingredients (hence why it is really important not to over mix muffins). He even said that some of the bakeries in the States use GF flour as a matter of course.

I therefore always make GF muffins (nothing to do with the fact I can eat them!).

So what is the best tasting muffin? In our house there is a big debate on this. Some go for a nice simple blueberry muffin, I am quite partial to a raspberry and white chocolate muffin but the kids tend to go most crazy over the double-chocolate Nutella muffin (our own concoction!).

These are best serve warm with the chocolate Nutella spread oozing in the middle. Yum!

I've posted the basic recipe before but here is a specific one.

Chocolate & Nutella Muffins

Wheat Free Yes
Gluten Free Yes 

Ingredients
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Sift together:
2 cups gluten free plain flour (minus 2 tbsp)
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1tsp xanthan gum
3 1/2 tsp gluten-free baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup brown sugar

Beat together:
1 egg
1 1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup olive oil

1 cup of chocolate chips (optional)
Nutella



Method
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1. Add the wet ingredients to the sifted ingredients. The trick with muffins is not to over mix. Stir until only combined (batter will be lumpy).
2. Add chocolate chips.
3. Fill muffin cases (makes about 9 large ones) with a spoonful of the mixture. To make good quality muffins it is best to sit paper cases into a muffin tin.
4. Put a tsp Nutella in the middle of each mixture.
5. Add the remaining mixture to the cases (covering over the Nutella).
6. Cook in oven for approx 20mins at 170oC
7. Enjoy warm!

Note - Can be frozen and reheated in the microwave.