I saw people in bikinis today. People. In. Bikinis.
Friends… apparently it’s time. Granted, I live in Los Angeles. It’s SunnySunTown.
Just a few days ago I was eager and ready for summer. Summer is great, right!? Well… I was mostly thinking about watermelon, picnics, and late night tacos. I was NOT thinking about bikinis. I’m not ready to think about bikinis. I’m medium ready to think about tankinis… and that’s about as far as it goes.
I tend to have really strange reactions to seeing people in bikinis. I make muffins. It’s sort of a knee-jerk reaction. People are wearing very little clothes in public? Right… right. I’ll be right back. I have to go make a dozen, and eat at least two muffins. (brb. no bigs)
I want to pack these muffins with as much flavor as possible.
In my kitchen, flavor generally starts with browned butter.
The process of browning butter takes the cold stick of yellow butter, and makes it a golden brown, nutty smelling, butter liquid.
It is divinity.
I made simple sugar fragrant and utterly lovely by adding fresh vanilla bean.
I split a vanilla bean, scraped out the seeds and rubbed it into granulated sugar. I used my clean fingers. This pretty much creates the best perfume ever.
Next flavor? Espresso!
Instant espresso powder is one of my secret weapons in the kitchen. …I’ll throw it in the eyes on any burglar that breaks in my house.
It also adds an amazing depth to chocolate desserts. Brownies and chocolate cakes are brilliant with just a touch of instant espresso powder re-hydrated in a bit of hot water.
In these muffins, the espresso powder isn’t hidden behind dreamy chocolate. The coffee flavor is combined with browned butter and vanilla sugar to create… well, a dang lovely breakfast muffin batter.
I filled the muffin cups halfway with the vanilla, brown butter batter… then I stirred the espresso mixture into the remaining batter and topped off the muffin cups. Yea… vanilla and coffee in these humble little muffins. No biggie.
Streusel and cinnamon too! It wouldn’t be coffee cake without a streusel.
These are good thinking and planning muffins. Grab your calender and coffee… settle in. Avoid any and all thoughts about bikinis.
Or! Put on a pair of cowboy boots and a little dress and take these muffins for brunch times. Totally the right move.
These muffins are tender and flavorful. The coffee flavor is alluring and not too sweet. They’re like little cupcakes you can totally get away with enjoying in the morning. It’s just good breakfast eating.
Coffee Coffee Cake Muffins
makes 12 muffins
10 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons whole milk
2 large eggs
2 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons istant espresso powder mixed with 1 1/2 tablespoons warm water
For the Topping
3 Tablespoons cold, unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Put a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin pan with paper or foil liners.
Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Keep an eye on the butter. Melt and cook down the butter until little brown bits appear in the pan. The crackling will subside and butter will begin to brown fairly quickly after that. Keep a close eye. Remove from heat.
If using vanilla bean, split the vanilla bean down the center, scrape the seeds out, and in a small bowl, rub the vanilla beans into the granulated sugar. I used my fingers and it worked like a charm. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, and vanilla. Add the brown butter and stir to combine.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl Add milk and butter mixture all at once, and stir gently to combine.
Divide half of the batter among muffin cups. Stir the espresso and water mixture into the remaining batter. Divide the espresso batter between the twelve muffin cups.
To make the topping combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and rub together with your fingertips until crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over the batter in the cups.
Bake until golden and crisp and a wooden pick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, about 18-20 minutes. Keep an eye on them… they dry out quickly. Cool in pan on a rack for 15 minutes then remove from the pan. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Bree
Got your book, got your book, got your book book book! (to snappy little tune)
Have bookmarked and will bake. Hard to choose where to start, although the granola is calling my name.
xx
Karen
The granola is awesome! Good choice!
Susan
You make me smile. Thanks.
Lauren (PB&G)
Bikinis = not right.
I’m like you, I prefer the muffins.
Kate @eatrecyclerepeat
Thanks for this post! I feel like I’ve learned all of your pro tips: vanilla bean sugar, espresso powder, and I am still in love with your lemon matcha poundcake
Mallory
I love that you layered the batter. I would have never thought to do that with muffins – cake definitely but not muffins for whatever reason. Thanks for the idea!
Jenny
You genius woman! browned-butter vanilla muffins layered with esspresso muffin? Uhhh pass me four and shove my bikini to the back of the closet, thank you!
Stacy
These look super delicious! What a great combination of ingredients. And I am particularly loving the first and last photos.
Also: I think muffins are a totally reasonable response to bikinis.
Becca - Cookie Jar Treats
It is definitely not bikini season here…but that doesn’t stop the girls in my school from wearing skimy outfits. Acctually winter didn’t even stop those girls and I live in Colorado! o.O
Anyways…muffins=love. Muffins, I think, are way better than cupcakes. Plus this one has strussel!! Who doesn’t love crunchy, sugary strussel?!
Nicole @ the Dirty oven
You make me happy! Thank you!
Laura @ She Eats Well
Coffee cake will always remind me of my childhood. We made coffee cake a lot in my kitchen and it’s such a timeless food…dare I say food GROUP!? Ha. Anyways, these muffins look delicious…and should be consumed at all times of day!
Anne
SunnySun Town (totally true)? I HAD to laugh at this and the bikini-state-of-things. I’m totally not ready for that yet! …AND “…I’ll throw it in the eyes on any burglar that breaks in my house.” omg, I love it! You’re the best. Who else but Joy the Baker would tell us that she plans to use espresso powder as a burglar deterrent? <3
Lea Ogozelec
Can’t get it to print either! Sooo disappointing because these look amazing!
Anna @ the shady pine
Muffins are the answer to so many things and bikinis too as you’ve rightly pointed out. These look delish by the way!!
Rindi
Wow that looks yummy and a great treat for Monday morning meetings at work – then I followed the link to the espresso powder – I everything on that site and a week off work to play!!!!
Hilary
My other half and I were discussing just last night how best to make the smell of vanilla and butter in to a perfume. We concluded that I may be alone in wanting to wear a perfume that smelt of baked goods. Thank goodness for Joy.