Name: Delicious German Muffins Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: ½ cup softened butter; 2 eggs; 1 tsp rum extract; ¾ cup milk; ½ tsp cinnamon; 1 ½ tsp baking powder; 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour; 3 tbsp brown sugar; ¼ cup almond meal; 2 tbsp chopped orange candied zest; ¼ cup raisins

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Although they are mostly consumed in the States, muffins originate from the United Kingdom.

The word itself was first found in print in 1703, spelled “moofin.” It is of uncertain origin but possibly derived from the German “muffen,” meaning a small cake.

It seems the Germans had their recipe for the perfect muffins way before the U.S. did, and therefore, I bring you an authentic recipe for the muffin, coming from Germany.

The German recipes for muffins and sweet bread are usually enriched with ingredients that give them extra flavor.

German muffins are different from the classic muffins in the States, or muffin recipes usually found on the internet. These are less sweet in comparison to classic muffins and have some delicious, dried fruits inside.

Let’s get into it!

What Are German Muffins?

As mentioned above, German muffins are muffins with less sugar content. Although they are not as sweet as we’re used to in America, they are perfect to be served as a dessert or lightly sweet treat with a cup of hot tea or coffee.

German muffins also come in different varieties. Besides muffins with dried fruits, there are also muffins with nuts and citrus zest.

For this recipe, I kind of mixed it all, to get amazing flavors and a great texture. I did add a bit of brown sugar, but just a tiny amount to round it out.

What Are The Ingredients?

As you can already tell, the German muffins I have today are packed with different ingredients. Besides classic ones, like flour, milk, eggs, sugar, and butter, I added a few extra.

Candied orange zest – This ingredient is very popular in Germany and I use it in many cakes and sweet bread recipes. The most popular recipe using candied orange zest is Stollen – a sweet Christmas bread, similar to Italian Panettone.

Raisins – Raisins are a fantastic ingredient in muffins and cakes. As they are dry, they tend to soak up some liquid from the baked goods. Therefore, I suggest you soak them in water before use. You can also soak them in rum, but water will be perfectly fine, especially if you are serving these to kids.

Almond meal – German muffins are usually made with almonds or walnuts, and they are added as chopped or slivered nuts. I was thinking about how to improve the texture, as chopped nuts sometimes ruin smooth batter during baking, so I decided on almonds in the form of almond meal. You will have a subtle almond flavor, but with a perfect muffin texture.

How To Make Muffins Perfectly Moist

This is a very common question from home bakers. There are a few tips, but they are all very easy:

Use room temperature butter and milk. This will ensure all is blended easily. Leave your ingredients on the kitchen counter for at least 1 hour before use.
Don’t over-mix your ingredients. Mix the ingredients until just combined. Do not use a whisk like your life depends on it.
Don’t over-bake your muffins. Bake the muffins until just browned and a toothpick comes out clean.

How To Store Freshly Baked Muffins

You can store the muffins on your kitchen counter, at room temperature in a sealed container. They will last for 4 days. Just make sure to cool them completely before transferring them into the container.

You can also prolong their shelf life by storing these in a fridge. This way, you can enjoy muffins for up to 6 days.