How can I make my banana muffins more fluffy and airy?!
How can I make my banana muffins more fluffy and airy?
Help! Help! Help! Help!
I think it's too dense. It's not so dense, that if you threw it at someone it would knock them out, but it's quite heavy. I've bought those "Just add milk" muffin mixes and they are so light and fluffy. I'm jealous of that, but I'd prefer to have a non preservative treat.
I've always used a whisk to mix the batter. Isn't a whisk supposed to make things light and fluffy?
I measure the flour then sift it. Should I sift it first, then measure the sifted flour?
I put baking soda and power in it. Can I add more or less of one of those to help add more fluff?
I use apple sauce in place of milk. Same amount. Should I use more or less? Should I go back to milk?
Thank you.
Answers:
You are over beating them - you should only mix slightly
with a spoon.
"Baking the Best Muffins"
YIELDS:
1 Servings
INGREDIENTS:
------------------------------...
DIRECTIONS:
* measure ingredients carefully and mix just enough to moisten. Don't worry
if the batter still has a few lumps. Overbeating can make muffins tough.
* If you don't have a nonstick muffin pan, a spritz of nonstick cooking
spray in the pan or on the papers before filing them will prevent these
reduced-fat muffins from sticking after they're baked. Remove the papers
while the muffins are still warm.
* Muffins are best warm from the oven. Reheat any leftovers briefly in the
microwave.
When making muffins you need to be careful not to over mix the batter. You generally just mix until combined, over mixing causes the gluten to develop in the flour resulting in dense muffins. Best utensil to do this is a spatula or a wooden spoon.
First, go back to the milk. If your recpe calls for say 2 tsp. baking powder, change it to 1 tsp powder, and add 1 tsp baking soda. Add 1 Tbsp lemon juice or vinegar to your milk or use buttermilk. It will make the muffins nice and fluffy. I don't buy into the overmixing theory. I use a mixer to make my muffins and they come out great. Keep in mind that baking powder goes bad after a while. Baking soda does not. So if you're using old powder, replace it.