6/1/09

morning glory muffin

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There is a little bakery nearby where I live, and they used to be stellar--I mean really good. They had the best muffins--the best (as close as you can come to) croissants, and cookies the size of your head with oodles of flavor, textures and combo's.
But in the last few years they have seriously gone down hill. I think they've gone through about three different owners.
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And with each new owner comes more 'scale-down' ideas; ways to save money, and also jack up the prices. Now this little bakery sits in the heart of tourist mecca; a perfect spot for any retailer to seize the opportunity to make money from the summer influx of tourists; plenty of parking and near all the other famous tourists attractions of the historic town. It's sad really to see such a beautiful spot (near the waters and marshlands) go downhill. Well, many years ago they used to have the best morning glory muffin. This is the muffin that used to make me go to the bakery in the early morning hours to get while it was still warm. They had perfected the 'muffin top': it was a huge top with crunchy edges, overlapping sides, and filled with fruit, carrots, coconut, nuts, etc... Today, sadly, this muffin is no more; a smaller version with no muffin top has replaced it, as well as being dry and fruitless. So with that said I had to recreate this at home, because every once in a while I crave a really good morning glory muffin. So, here is my latest re-creation or creation. If you adore the infamous morning glory muffin then you simply must try this recipe.
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morning glory muffins
recipe by vanillasugarblog.com
print recipe

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup oat bran 
½ cup whole wheat pastry flour
2 ts baking soda
1 TB baking powder
½ ts salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
¾ ts powder ginger
½ cup dark brown sugar, packed
2 medium size eggs
¾ cup vegetable oil
1 ½ ts pure vanilla extract
¾ cup half & half (or whole milk)
1 cup shredded carrots
½ cup raisins
½ cup chopped toasted walnuts
½ cup unsweetened flaked coconut
Granola for topping, optional but wonderful

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 6 jumbo muffin cups (or 12 regular muffins). You can use paper liners, but I’ve never used them for my morning glory muffins.
In a large bowl, mix together the flours, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and ginger.
In a separate bowl mix together the carrots, raisins, nuts, and coconut.
In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, dark brown sugar, oil, vanilla, and half & half. Whisk well.
Pour the liquid ingredients into the large bowl containing the dry flour mixture. Mix until just combined, do not overmix! It’s perfectly normal to have lumps. Lumps are good! Then add in the “add in” bowl mix and “gently” mix that until just incorporated. Don’t overmix!
Scoop batter into prepared muffin cups. Top with granola before baking (optional).
Bake in preheated oven for 30- 35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.

Makes 6-8 jumbo muffins or 12-14 regular muffins (see note below).
Note: I used the oversized muffin pan; they make better muffin tops. I've made these muffins using regular muffin pans, but they just didn't taste right, too dry. I'm certain the jumbo muffins ones are a better fit for keeping it nice and moist.

62 comments:

  1. Definitely have to do the granola topping.

    So sad when a great place starts to skimp and save in hopes of saving a buck. All the end up doing is pushing away the people who are looking for the good stuff. They can probably survive on idiot tourists who just want cheap food and don't care.

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  2. Perfect is the best way to describe this recreation. Nice job!

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  3. oh man- these sound awesome! Love all the fruit and nuts in there. Bummer that the bakery has gone down hill....may I suggest you try and buy it and make some of YOUR incredible creations there? I'd come visit!

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  4. I have a recipe for Morning Glory muffins and have wanted to try them for so long. So many good things have always been said about them. Yours look fantastic!

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  5. Aww.. I hate it when bakeries go downhill. It's so hard to find good stuff now. I'm starting to find that many places use mixes or buy frozen already-made cakes!

    Those look like they're full of flavour and add-ins!

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  6. I am with Erica - whats stopping you from opening up vanila sugar?

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  7. There is alot of good for you goodies in this muffin. That is sad when good places go downhill fast. Well at least you have made your own good muffins!

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  8. Mmmm, these sound great. I love the mix of the ingredients!

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  9. Might as well make your own if you can. The carrot pineapple walnut combo is great.

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  10. Will try it for sure! I like that it has tons of oat bran in it. This must make it nice and crunchy outside!
    It's all about the muffin top for me too! Great job on recreating your old favourite

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  11. these muffins sound delish, especially with the pineapple chunks! yum!

    p.s. I gave you an award on my blog :)

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  12. Wow, I used to get one of these muffins at a little coffee shop near where I went to college every morning! Thanks for the recipe, I'll have to try it soon!

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  13. These muffins are packed with the best stuff. I could definitely see these becoming a go-to breakfast.

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  14. I know why you called these morning glory muffins yum yum!

    It is sad when you find a great place to eat and then they change owners.

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  15. Yummy! Morning Glory indeed!!!! Give me some of those stat!

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  16. Just look at the butter slathered on that beautiful muffin. I leave your site drooling yet again.

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  17. Dawn you ought to take over that bakery!

    The granola topping makes these muffins look like somehting I'd wake up for.

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  18. Looks better than any bakeries. Looks so yum with the butter.

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  19. I've heard of these, but never had one. They sound wicked good, I'll have to try them out!

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  20. What a pretty muffin - I love all the goodies tucked inside! It's always sad when muffins are dry - there's a place by us that sells dry cupcakes (and that's all they sell - cupcakes) and I don't know how they stay in business.

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  21. oh gosh this looks and sounds amazing! Lots of yummy ingredients in there!

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  22. I had the worst Morning Glory muffins over the weekend--- dry and crumbly and just plain gross. I wish they'd had this recipe!

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  23. I love the topping! This muffin is packed with loads of good flavors. You did a beautiful job, you should have the bakery sell your version!

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  24. Thanks for sharing the perfect recipe! I rarely purchase anything from bakeries. I like to look but they are usually so pricey and I know I can produce equal/better results in my own kitchen! Will be trying these muffins when I get home!

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  25. these are one of my favorites...and they look wonderful!

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  26. Now that's a muffin top!! I've never had a Morning Glory muffin, I'll have to try this recipe it looks terrific. So sad about the bakery, you might as well just stay home and bake yourself. You did a much better job!

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  27. These are perfectly glorious muffins! Wow, what flavors with all these ingredients and topping is wonderful! Simply delicious!

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  28. What?! Someone made a muffin with no top?! Did they also just make a car with no wheels? It's just ridiculous and a bad idea all around. Almost makes me want to see them fail (I'm so mean...). But it's fantastic that you were able to recapture that original magic-- the interior of the muffin looks divine!

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  29. I LOVE Morning Glory Muffins! I am most definitely going to try these. You have totally made my day providing this recipe.Thanks!
    Kasha
    www.grubandstuff.blogspot.com
    I am adding you to my bloglist!

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  30. Granola topping is key. Spread a little pb on these suckers and I'm good to go!

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  31. I have never even heard of a morning glory muffin. This does look delicious. You are so awesome at recreating things that you have seen.

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  32. This is some kind of muffin - I LOVE IT!

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  33. These are such a favorite of my hubs

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  34. I love morning glory muffins and yours look awesome. I hope you really do start your own bakery someday, because I live close enough to be a customer!

    As a local, I'm curious what the name of the bakery is so I can avoid it...

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  35. this is a favorite. that may be due to the copious oil, the cream, or maybe it's just all the delightful add-ins. heavens, i love coconut.

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  36. Love that picture of that muffin and it's top! My SIL gave me a recipe once for Morning Glory muffins but I never made it. Always had good intentions but, ya know, never did. I just happen to have some oat bran and I didn't know what to do with it. Now I have an option! :)

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  37. It's a crime to see what some bakeries are making and charging. These look and sound fabulous! Morning Glory is one of my all time faves!

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  38. Those muffins look great and they sound nice and healthy with the oat bran and whole wheat flower.

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  39. I'd love to wake up to one of those in the morning! Too bad you could'nt take over that bakery it would be an overnight success!!

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  40. Saw the pic on Tastespotting and had to click..this is my favorite type of muffin and it looks like you've nailed the recipe. Very nice blog as well!

    Cheers from a fellow blogger/foodie/surfer girl

    Marie

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  41. Looks delicious and moist.When I moved here , I had a wonderful bakery nearly my home, but go downhill too and I hate this.

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  42. YUM - what could be better than a spicy, goddie-filled morning glory muffin?? I love that yours has oat bran - I bet that gives them a fabulous nutty flavor. Delish!

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  43. Yeah that crumbly topping is awesome. It's like little pieces of falling off flavor :)

    I'm with ya on the business changing hands thing. It's too bad you can't save up some money to save the place... ya know give the people what they want and deserve.

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  44. My goodness! What an awesome way to start a morning! I wish I had one right now!
    Thanks for sharing! Yum!

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  45. Dude, buy the bakery-you'll have back to perfect in no time!

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  46. mmm looks so good with buttah!

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  47. I love that muffin tin! I've been trying to use my regular size one to get the perfect overflowing muffin-top, but have been unsuccessful. I'm buying that tin right now then making these muffins!

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  48. I'll have to try this out. My friend loves Morning Glory muffins and I told him one day I'd bake him some. Will do!

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  49. Great way to start the day with one of your muffin. oh bwt I love your other husband, he's very hunky :P

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  50. We should buy that heap of a dump bakery and bring it back to it glory!

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  51. These muffins look perfect! I love the granola on top - next time I make muffins, this is the recipe I'm gonna have to use!

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  52. sorry to hear about the bakery, but i think you should open your own :) i'd totally gobble these up!

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  53. I love the giant tops on those muffins! The tops are the best part :)

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  54. Hey Hi there...my first time here and love what I see....those muffins...if I had one every morning...my entire day would be glorious! :)

    Thanks for sharing.

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  55. These look heavenly. As with everything else you do, great job.

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  56. Your photography does an excellent job on showcasing your muffins. I think my favorite is the image with the butter on one half.

    Do you have a specific amount of batter per muffin, or is it simply divide the batter evenly between the 6 spaces?

    --
    Gustafson
    http://www.theviewfromhome.com/howtobuyvanilla/

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  57. That's an interesting tip about using the jumbo muffin tins. I don't own one, but now I'm tempted to buy one just to see. Although I do make awesome muffins, always moist and tender, even my morning glory muffin....

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  58. I just made homemade granola last night so I can make these muffins tonight. Of all things, I forgot to add the brown sugar! I sprinkled the brown sugar on top of the muffins and then sprinkled on the granola and then baked them. Despite my messing up, the muffins are great. Can't wait to make them again with the the brown sugar IN the muffins! Dang it! I made 12 muffins and baked them for about 20 minutes. They had great tall muffin tops. Thanks for the great recipe!

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  59. my aunt had a bakery in dallas called Buttercream's and she served a Morning Glory muffin. Here's a SERIOUS secret. I worked there 3 months after it opened. And those darn good Morning Glories you speak of. With the big ol' muffin tops and fruits and nuts hidden in the dark brown, molasses cake was made by Sysco Foods. I found out, almost all her muffin batter was from Sysco. I've been dreaming of these (just had a baby and that's what i was craving) So I went online to Sysco b/c i was ever so determined to buy this batter by the bucket load. Sadly, they don't sell this wonderful batter anymore. :(

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  60. I tried making some last week and the recipe I used was a total flop. I'm going to give yours a go since they sound amazing. Hells yes to the granola topping!

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  61. Ok, these muffins are insane. So good! Thank you for sharing the recipe!

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