Thursday, January 15, 2015

The Greatest Oatmeal Streusel Muffins


I've been baking again! Nothing feels quite as wonderful on a cold, winter day to have a warm kitchen with the smell of something wonderful baking in the oven. And these muffins are wonderful! Moist, flavorful, with a crunchy streusel topping that you will want to pick off your plate to eat every last crumb.
 

I don't know if the secret to these delicious muffins is the unique recipe which includes toasting and pulverizing the oats or the oodles of melted butter.  Probably both!  I have to say that they are the best oat muffins I've ever made.  They are so tender you won't need to add any butter while eating them. They are perfect on their own.


Warm from the oven they are a little bit of sunshine on a cold day.  Wonderful with a cup of coffee for breakfast or with a glass of milk for a snack after snowman building. 


Try these - you won't regret it!

The Greatest Oatmeal Streusel Muffins


Makes 12 Muffins

Notes:  This recipe requires Old Fashioned Rolled Oats - Not Instant or Quick.My adaptation includes graham flour and ground cardamom. 

STREUSEL TOPPING

1/2 cup (1 1/2 ounces) old-fashioned rolled oats
1/3 cup (1 2/3 ounces) all purpose flour
1/3 cup pecans, chopped fine (walnuts may be substituted)
1/3 cup packed (2 1/3 ounces) light brown sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

MUFFINS

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus 6 tablespoons melted
2 cups (6 ounces) old-fashioned rolled oats
1 1/4 cups (8 3/4 ounces) all purpose flour
1/2 cup graham flour (I find Bob's Red Mill brand at my grocery store in the baking aisle) (you may omit and use just all purpose flour instead)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon ground cardamom (my addition)
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/3 cups packed (9 1/3 ounces) light brown sugar
1 3/4 cups milk
2 large eggs, beaten

To make the streusel topping, combine oats, flour, pecans, sugar, cinnamon, and salt and cardamom in a medium bowl. Drizzle the 4 tablespoons of melted butter over the mixture and stir to combine thoroughly.  Set aside.

To make the muffins, grease and flour 12-cup muffin tin (I use baking spray with flour, such as Bakers Joy).  Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a 10 or 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the rolled oats and cook, stirring frequently, until oats turn golden brown and smell like cooked popcorn, about 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer the toasted oats to a food processor and process into a fine meal, about 30 seconds. Add the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda to the oat in the food processor and pulse until combined, about 3-4 pulses.

Stir the 6 tablespoons melted butter and sugar together in a large bowl until smooth. Add the milk and eggs and whisk until smooth. Using the whisk, gently fold half of the oat mixture into wet ingredients, tapping whisk against side of bowl to release clumps. Add remaining oat mixture and continue to fold with whisk until no streaks of flour remain.

Set the batter aside for 20 minutes during which time it will thicken. Meanwhile, adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees.

Using a large ice cream scoop or a 1/2 cup measuring cup, divide the batter equally among prepared muffin cups (about ½ cup batter per cup  they will be filled to the rim). Evenly sprinkle the streusel topping over muffins (about 2 tablespoons per muffin). Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes, rotating the muffin tin halfway through the baking time.

Allow the muffins to cool in muffin tin on a wire rack or wooden board for about 10 minutes. Remove muffins from muffin tin and serve or let cool completely before serving. Unused muffins can be frozen to preserve freshness. 

58 comments:

  1. Lovely and delicious muffins Susan!
    Look soo good!
    Love the kids playing on the snow!
    Cute!!!

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  2. They sound delicious! I love just about anything made with oats!

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  3. I haven't made oatmeal muffins since my boys were little. These sound amazing, and, frankly, I will eat anything that is streusel topped!

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    1. Hi Pattie! I hadn't made them in a long while either but I'm so glad I tried this recipe. Thanks!

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  4. The best way to start the day ! Lovely kids ! Have a nice weekend my dear, a warm hug !

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  5. These oatmeal muffins look breakfast perfect :D

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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  6. I am hand-writing down the recipe, Susan. These muffins look perfectly crunchy and moist at the same time. Is graham flour a kind of bean flour?

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    1. It's a type of whole wheat flour, Angie, so whole wheat flour could be used instead if you can't find it. I think some health food stores carry it also. Thank you!

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  7. Your muffins do look wonderful early this morning. Makes me want to reach in and snitch one. Love the photo of your kids playing in the snow.
    Sam

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  8. Such lovely muffins! I can imagine the fragrance from the oats while these are baking in the oven! Perfect with a cup of coffee!
    So nice to see your grandkids having fun in the snow! Hope you have a lovely weekend!

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    1. I loved the smell of the oats toasting in the skillet too. Thank you, Joyce!

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  9. I.m not a big fan of oatmeal anything,but your muffins look delicious and I would have to try them.

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  10. When you have such cute snowman sculptors outside, you'd better have something warm from the oven inside! I'd say good job on both fronts.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  11. These look like the perfect idea for after a long day of playing in the snow... Or just my long trek to work in the morning :)

    Sues

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  12. Love the boys! I see Spiderman and Captain America are big with your boys too!
    Lol remember Strawberry Shortcake?
    Vive la différence:)!
    I usually always(oxymoron?)love America's Test Kitchen recipes:)
    A huge hit with our boys now..all of them is the cinnamon swirl banana bread:)
    Just in case you need more goodies..:)
    Yours are perfect..Sending a print command via wireless:)
    I am a muffin girl.

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    1. Only a Nana of boys would notice that ;) Yes, they are huge fans of Spiderman and Captain America. I do remember Strawberry Shortcake. She may be in the attic along with the Cabbage Patch dolls. And, the girls would never think of knocking down the snowman like the boys did - LOL. Next baking day I will try the cinnamon swirl banana bread. I even have some ripe bananas to use.

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    2. I know!
      Max on his own would not..but get the trio together younger and yes..
      Noah..not sure..but most likely yes..
      Only a Nana of boys would know that!

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  13. I can't resist a great streusel muffin, and oats add so much flavor! I feel warmer already :)

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  14. Susan your grandsons are growing ,they seem to be having fun making snowman and it's a wonderful idea for the oatmeal strudel muffins on a cold day like that is warm up their little souls, lovely blog and posting.

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    1. Thank you, Rosa! They had a great day making that snowman.

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  15. I love baking when it;s cold outside, it is so comforting. Looks like your grandsons are having a blast. The strudel topping looks perfect. Pinned and printed.

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  16. These look amazing and I think the oats totally negate the butter :)

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  17. These muffins looks delicious - I love anything with a streusel on top! The snowman building looks like it was fun!

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  18. These muffins look amazing! I totally agree, baking can warm even the coldest of days :)

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  19. Looks like some fun snowman building! These muffins would be a great treat to take to school one morning next week. They sound absolutely wonderful! :)

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  20. I noticed a bag of oatmeal in the cupboard the other day, now I know what to do with them! I am amazed at the low amount of butter in these, yet the texture looks perfect. Great clics, as always.

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  21. Perfect snow for snowmen...yes, I do remember! :)
    Lovely muffins, Susan. Unusual idea to toast the oats and process. Can't wait to try these. The crumb looks divine.

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  22. Glad to hear you're back in the kitchen! I love starting my days with a good muffin...and these sound great! Streusel is always a good idea.

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  23. The toasted oats sound like a wonderful touch! Love the grands building the snowman :-)

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  24. Oh, they sound and look delicious, Susan! There's nothing like baking on cold winter days like this, and the aroma as they were baking must've been a wonderful thing. Great pic of the kiddos!

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  25. these look wonderful and i want to build snow men then have a cup of tea with one :-))

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  26. These muffins look positively delicious! Can't wait to enjoy them with my morning coffee - thanks for sharing this fabulous recipe:)

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  27. Since you said these are the greatest muffins, and they're streusel - well you have me hooked. I can't wait to indulge in a muffin (or 2!). :)

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  28. Yes Susan, I would love to have these muffins for breakfast...like the streusel on it...
    Awww, the picture of the kids playing on the snow are s cute...
    Have a great week :)

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  29. They look so crunchy on top and so fluffy inside! Perfect Susan and so are the snowmen!

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  30. Oh my dear! I'm in love with this recipe as I'm a fan of oatmeal. Yum o!

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  31. I love anything with streusel! And I love anything in a muffin shape-except of course my tummy. And those snowmen definitely deserve muffins!

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  32. I love a good muffin and these definitely sound flavorful and look so moist. I'll have to give these a try. Love the photos of your grandkids. Adorable!

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  33. Love these warm and moist muffins! gosh we can eat the entire batch - Delish! Your grandsons are adorable- love the photos!

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  34. Your oatmeal streusel muffins look fabulous, Susan! I like watching America's Test Kitchen on TV--they always have the best recipes and instructions. Their gluten free cookbook is one of my favorite.

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  35. I was hoping that after the holidays that I would not crave baked goods. No such luck. These muffins are very tempting. Stay warm Susan.

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  36. Pinning these to try! I love a moist muffin. I always struggle with them being too dry. The kiddos look so cute in the snow. No snow here, not complaining!!!

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  37. I made these recently and posted them, too, Susan. They are wonderful and the toasted oat flavor really came through.

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  38. You had me at 'streusel' ! I must make these asap! We love muffins and oatmeal. This is the first time I've heard of these muffins and I love to try new recipes instead of the same-old, same-old! Lovely photos too Susan! Thank you so much for this recipe!
    Roz

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I appreciate your comment!