Pomegranate Muffins

Pomegranates are in season! Also called “The Jewel of Autumn” is a real Antioxidant-Bomb, super healthy and helps you fight off cold and flu-viruses. So with the days becoming increasingly cold and rainy you might need some comfort and power-up food to have with your hot tea and blanket on a Sunday!

Alternatively you can serve it as an original but quick and easy to make treat to serve to friends and family when they come to visit!

 
Prep time: 20 min
Cooking time: 15min
For approx. 12 Muffins


Ingredients:

• 2 cups of flour
• 2/3 cups of sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest (alternatively use a squirt of lemon juice/concentrate)
• 1 cup milk
• seeds of 2 pomegranates
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg, beaten 

Preparation:

Pre-heat your oven to 220°C and grease your Muffin tin, unless you're using paper Muffin cups. 

For the dough you might want to mix the wet and the dry ingredients separately. So you start by

mixing the dry ingredients (sugar, flour, baking powder, salt) in a large bowl; and then the wet ingredients (milk, egg, oil/butter, lemon zest). Put them together by making a mould into the flour-mix and gradually adding the milky mix until it's roughly mixed.

Now, prepare your pomegranates by rolling them on a cutting board while slightly pressing down; this loosens the seeds inside from the tough flesh. Beware not to damage the seeds by pressing too hard, you can alternatively massage the pomegranate where you can still feel the seeds forming a tough spot.

Cut the fruit across the middle (not through the stem!) and queeze the seeds into a bowl. Invert the fruit to take out any remaining seeds and make sure to remove any of the unwanted (hard) yellow flesh from the inside.

Use a spatula or large spoon to fold the seeds (and juice!!) into the mix. 

Then spoon small portions into the Muffin tin or cups and bake for 10-15min.

You know they're ready when a knife or toothpick come out clean (with no wet dough sticking to them). 

Once cooled down you can garnish them with icing and Almonds (as shown above), sprinkles, nuts, fruit, chocolate or the like.

The soft texture and pleasant crunchy-ness of the pomegranate seeds are going to make you fall in love with this lovely (and healthy) alternative to chocolate chips!

ENJOY!