Mackinac Lemon-Blueberry Muffins

Mey and I were blueberry pickers on a mission! Mine are gone but Mey froze most of hers. She came over the other day with three full bags. Love Blueberries! Wanted to try this recipe from Cooks Magazine. 


To prevent streaks of blue in the batter, leave the blueberries in the freezer until the last possible moment. Frozen blueberries make this a year-round recipe; fresh blueberries may be substituted, if desired. If your lemons are small, buy an extra one to ensure that you’re able to get 5 teaspoons of zest.

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups  sugar

 5 teaspoons grated lemon zest (2 lemons) 

 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

 ¾ teaspoon salt

 1 ½ cups sour cream

7 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

2 large eggs

1 ½ cups frozen blueberries

Directions:

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees. Generously spray 12-cup muffin tin, including top, with vegetable oil spray. Combine ¼ cup sugar and 2 teaspoons lemon zest in small bowl; set aside.

 2. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in bowl. Whisk sour cream, 5 tablespoons melted butter, eggs, remaining 1 1/4 cups sugar, and remaining 1 tablespoon lemon zest together in large bowl.

 3. Using rubber spatula, fold flour mixture into sour cream mixture until just combined. Fold in blueberries until just evenly distributed; do not overmix. Using greased 1/3-cup dry measuring cup or #12 portion scoop, portion batter among cups in prepared muffin tin; evenly distribute any remaining batter among cups. Brush batter with remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter and sprinkle with sugar-zest mixture (about 1 teaspoon per muffin cup).

 4. Bake until muffins are golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out with few crumbs attached, 20 to 25 minutes, rotating muffin tin halfway through baking. Let muffins cool in muffin tin on wire rack for 10 minutes. Transfer muffins to rack and let cool for 5 minutes. Serve warm.


Notes about Blueberries:
What does partially defrosting them do?  Bakes muffins faster.  For things where extra liquids are an issue, I keep them frozen but toss first in flour or similar. I agree that in some cases keeping them frozen is for the best.