Berry Breakfast Muffins

I can't believe I've never, ever thought to seek out frozen berries before. Why ever not? How come these affordable little punnets of juicy goodness have never entered my life before now? A friend told me about them a few weeks ago, told me to get myself to the freezer section in Aldi and purchase myself some frozen berries for £1.49. Absolutely delicious, she said, stir them into Greek yoghurt and top with granola for a yummy breakfast. I was kind of expecting a mix of strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, but when J came home with them ticked off the shopping list, I discovered he had bought Black Forest Fruits. This is a mix of blackberries, sour cherries, blue grapes and blackcurrants, but still very delicious looking and perfect for the indulgent breakfast I was craving.

Yes, the Muffin Craving hit me this morning with absolutely no warning, bam! just like that. I had fully been intending to make toast, but before I knew it I had the oven on, my apron over my pyjamas and was busy baking up my breakfast. First of all I took a generous handful of the frozen berries, popped them into a bowl and gave them a quick 30 second blast in the microwave to semi-defrost them. You can put frozen fruits straight into muffin batter, but as the cherries and blackberries were rather large I defrosted them a little first so's that I could scissor-snip them up.

I used my fabulous Easy Peasy Muffin recipe, topping each fruit laden dollop with a sprinkling of oat granola breakfast cereal (with slivers of almond) before popping them into the oven. I twiddled about for 25 minutes while they baked, I honestly couldn't wait to get them out and inhale my freshly baked fruity, muffiny breakfast.

Oh, sooooooooooooo good. They looked just so SO good when they came out of the oven! Light, golden and fluffy, and bursting with juicy fruit.

I immediately set about making myself a mug of coffee to accompany my warm Berry Muffin. I get asked a lot about my coffee you know, about how I make it and so forth. Well.....I use my wonderful, extremely fantabulous Nespresso machine (a present from J which I love to bits and press into action multiple times a day), and my low-tech bit of milk-frothing kit. The milk frother is called the Bodum 1446 Latteo Milk Frother, and it really does just what it promises. That is, it produces a thick, frothy milk, perfect for adding to freshly brewed coffee, plus it gives your upper arms a bit of a mini workout at the same time (we're talking vigorous, manual pumping here, jigging those bingo wings!). So now you know my coffee secrets ;)

The muffin was delicious. It was quite sharp tasting (a funny thing...I gave one to Little B, telling him it was a weeny bit sharp, and he looked at it alarmingly asking if it was going to cut him, awww bless!). This is a low sugar recipe anyways, and the berries weren't particularly sweet (well duh, sour cherries, I kind of forgot that when I added them in, that they would taste sour). But as a breakfast muffin, accompanied by a mug of good coffee, they were pretty perfect. Certainly no complaints from the Little People either, they thoroughly approved of this type of breakfast fodder.

A yummy start to the day. Might even have to do the same again tomorrow.

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♥...more little snippets from the Attic...♥

Weekend Snaps

Hunkering Down

Easy Peasy Muffins

Comments

[Caroline]

I discovered frozen fruit accidentally last year too. Frozen rhubarb and apple pieces (already sliced) are great for an impromptu crumble. No peeling!

[Taciana Simmons]

What a wonderful start of the day... Can't wait till Saturday...I'm going to try your easy peasy recipe :)

[Sharyn]

I have frozen berries so am going to make these now. After your last delicious recipe of bread I just can't wait to taste these. I know the kids are going to love them so they will not last. Thanks for the great recipes.

[Annie Chermak]

I love how you share your mornings! Thanks for showing off your frother -- I love your little Nespresso/Bodum system! (and the muffins look simply amazing!)

[Tara]

Those frozen berries are perfect for mixing into good porridge in winter...

[Helen jones]

I make a similar muffin- known by my family as 'fruits of the freezer'.They tend to contain whatever has emerged first in the rummage( oh the joys of a chest freezer).I can highly recommend the Aldi frozen raspberries- they crumble into muffins- no need to chop.

[Sue.]

The muffins look wonderful! I buy fresh berries, freeze them in a pie tin, then put them in a freezer zip lock bag and have them year round. I do love some frozen berries! I also love your frothed milk! I had a handy little milk frother but dropped it on my tile floor...I am going to look for another one soon!

[Andrina T]

Delish! I need to get some of this made, seriously. And thank you for the recipe! :)

[denise clason]

Sew and Sow sent me to your blog, what a fun recipe. I love making muffins! And these look yummy!

[eclectichomelife.blogspot.com]

I use frozen berries all the time, my own as long as I have them and then shop bought otherwise. We use them for everything from sauces, to cake maing and most days for home made smoothies, you know what is in them then!! Glad you have discovered them too Lucy x
eclectichomelife.blogspot.com

[Ann Snell]

Died and gone to heaven!

[Angela-Southern USA]

AW, bless little B! :) I can just see a puzzled look and wonder on his face. Bingo wings...thanks for that laugh! (not that I would know or anything.) ;D Must try some granola on my next batch of muffins.Those look de-lish!I like to eat the fruit half thawed, as is. Happy muffin mornings!

[Amy at love made my home]

They sound lovely and great tip to buy frozen berries, especially at this time of year when they are so expensive. I suspect that this is one that you will be repeating! xx

[Cristal @ Dapple Design]

That does sound yummy! We grow blueberries, raspberries and strawberries in our garden and always freeze some of the bounty for winter splurges. They're fabulous on granola with yogurt or warmed gently and spooned over pancakes. Be sure to try your berries with pancakes next.

[happy just doing]

Mmmm... and a colourful touch of summer to boot :o) They look most tasty!

[Jane Denholm]

I just had to chuckle after reading your comment in brackets about a present from J - your coffee maker or J is loved the most?!

[Rachael Iddon]

Being an allotment holder, I am VERY familiar with frozen berries. I put them in muffins just as you said, still frozen and they usually hold together well. I like raspberry and white chocolate chips. They are good in smoothies too. Enjoy the rest of half term.😀

[Pam]

I love Aldi's frozen berries - discovered them very recently. :). Your muffins look delicious!

[Winwick Mum]

Hooray, it must have been a muffin day - I've been baking them too! Mine were lemon curd and although I've never made them before, I'll certainly be making them again! xx

[Daisy Jones]

oooh sounds scrummy might even have to shop at Aldi...love your muffin recipe,,,xx

[Jones]

I've recently discovered frozen berries too - I stew them with a bit of cinnamon and a small amount of sugar. Totally divine over icecream!

These muffins look delicious, nothing like a warm bake straight from the oven :)

Jones x

[Jo]

I buy those very same punnets of fruits to make Eton Mess and Pavlova and muffins and to eat alongside chocolate brownies... endless possibilities - Just brilliant!

[Judy Jones]

What time do you open for breakfast, sounds delicious!! x

[Louise]

They look delicious! Brilliant breakfast food for sure,

[Carol]

They sound delicious. Trip to Aldi needed!
Carol xx