Tuesday, December 17, 2013

How to Make Glazed Eggnog Muffins + a #bookgiveaway from mystery author Cleo Coyle


'Tis the season for eggnog! This classic holiday flavor is one of my favorites, and Marc's, too. (If you're new to this blog, Marc is not only my husband, but also my partner in crime writing.) 


http://cleocoylebooks.wordpress.com/2013/11/07/13-billionaire-blend/
Billionaire Blend,
now an official
national bestseller in
hardcover.
Billionaire Blend is the newest entry in our long-running Coffeehouse Mystery series. It was released earlier this month to a Starred Review from Kirkus, a Top Pick from RT Book Reviews, and is now officially a Top-10 national bestseller in hardcover** (huzzah!). 

**B&N, Nielsen Bookscan, and (for the first time), Baker & Taylor!

I'm guest blogging about the book with a fun contest at Dru's Book Musings this week.


Scroll to the end of this recipe
for the link to the contest...




Now Back to the Food!

Today's recipe is the second eggnog muffin I've shared with readers. The first was in last year's "holiday special" Coffeehouse Mystery, HOLIDAY BUZZ. You'll find the recipe (pictured below) in the recipe section of that book...



Eggnog Crumb Muffins from
Holiday Buzz: A Coffeehouse Mystery

http://www.coffeehousemysteries.com/userfiles/file/Holiday-Buzz-Recipes_Cleo-Coyle.pdf
To see the many festive recipes
featured in Holiday Buzz,
click here.

The crumb muffin (above) is a very tasty "from scratch" version. Today's muffin is a quick-and-easy large batch recipe with a cake mix starter and a delicious eggnog glaze. It's just as tender and tasty as the scratch version and just as eggnoggy (yes, I made up that word).

Both muffins are delicious and festive. Whichever way you make them, I hope you will bake them with love and eat them with (holiday) joy!

~ Cleo




Cleo Coyle, baker of
"eggnoggy" muffins is author
 of The Coffeehouse Mysteries
Cleo Coyle's
Eggnog Muffins


In Holiday Buzz, I describe these muffins and how they came about...

During her years raising her daughter alone in New Jersey, my amateur sleuth, Greenwich Village coffeehouse manager Clare Cosi, created this easy "cake mix" recipe for her In the Kitchen with Clare column. The recipe produces tender and delicious breakfast or coffee break treats with the seasonal flavors of eggnog, nutmeg, and (if you like) even a spirited splash of rum. The eggnog glaze puts a lovely finish on each muffin, boosting the flavor while dressing them up for your Season's eatings. Enjoy! ~ Cleo 


For a free PDF of this recipe that you can print, save, or share, click here


Makes 24 muffins

One Yellow Cake Mix (Butter Recipe)

1-1/2 cups Eggnog

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

3 large eggs, lightly beaten with fork

1-1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon table salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

Optional addition: 1 tsp. rum extract or 1 Tbsp. dark rum

Directions: Using an electric mixer, blend eggnog, butter, eggs, salt, vanilla, (and rum, if adding) in a large bowl. Once blended, add the cake mix and beat at medium speed for 3 to 4 minutes. Line muffin tins with paper liners, divide batter among them. Bake for 20 minutes in a well-preheated 350° F oven. Muffins are done when a toothpick inserted into the center of a test muffin comes out with no wet batter clinging to it. Remove from oven. Allow to cool and dip tops into eggnog glaze (as shown below). 

Cleo's Eggnog Glaze

In a saucepan warm 1/2 cup eggnog and 4 tablespoons butter (1/2 stick) over low heat. Do not allow this mixture to boil! If it does, you may get a scorched taste in your glaze. When butter is just melted, stir in (about) 3-1/2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar. I also like to add in 1/2 teaspoon rum extract. If you really like rum, you may want to increase this amount; if you dislike rum, leave out the extract. 


Keep stirring until the sugar is melted and a smooth glaze forms. If you did not sift the sugar, you may need to whisk the glaze to smooth out any clumping. If the gaze seems too loose, add more confectioners’ sugar, if it’s too thick, spoon in a bit more eggnog until you get the consistency you like. Test on a plate. The glaze should drizzle easily off the spoon but harden fairly quickly once it cools on the plate. 


Dip the tops of each muffin into the glaze as shown in my photos. Remember that the glaze is hot! So watch your fingers. Finish with an optional sprinkling of Nutmeg Sugar before the glaze hardens.

NUTMEG SUGAR: Whisk together 1/4 cup granulated sugar and ½ teaspoon nutmeg. Sprinkle over freshly glazed eggnog muffins.






Win and Autographed 
Copy of Billionaire Blend and 2 more fun prizes...

*Star Reviewed ~ Kirkus

"Top Pick" ~ RT Book Reviews


"...a highly satisfying mystery."
~ Publishers Weekly



Update: This contest is now over, but you can still enter the contest at Kings River Life magazine (of CA):




And Note:
Two new contests to win the
book and extra fun prizes
are starting Christmas Day.


Stop by my
website for links to those or 
subscribe to my newsletter. 



Simply write an e-mail 
that says "sign me up"
and send it to...

CoffeehouseMystery(at)gmail(dot)com





Read with joy!

~ Cleo Coyle

New York Times bestselling author of
The Coffeehouse Mysteries

Yes, this is me, Cleo (aka Alice). 
Friend me on facebook here.
Follow me on twitter here
Visit my online coffeehouse here.







To view the
Coffeehouse Mystery
book trailer, click here.
 






Free Title Checklist!


The Coffeehouse Mysteries are bestselling
works of amateur sleuth fiction set in a landmark
Greenwich Village coffeehouse, and each of the
13 titles includes the added bonus of recipes.

To download a free checklist of titles (in order)
with mini plot summaries, click here.




The Ghost and
Mrs. McClure


Book #1 of 

The Haunted Bookshop
Mysteries
, which Cleo writes
under the name
Alice Kimberly

To learn more, click here.



12 comments:

  1. We're so proud of you and Marc! Congrats on the book launch. The eggnog glaze looks so tempting, and I don't love eggnog, but is worth trying! xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Lucy/Roberta, Marc and I are happy about the HC bestseller status, but our rescue cats are even happier. They know our budget for kibble and nip will remain unmolested--at least for the next year. :)

      Happy holidays and enjoy the Season's Eatings!
      ~ Cleo
      Cleo Coyle on Twitter
      www.CleoCoyleRecipes.com

      Delete
  2. Picture perfect, just like the book.
    Eggnog always sounds so inviting, but wears thin quickly on me. This sounds like the perfect solution to having my nog and enjoying it the whole time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Libby - That book cover is picture perfect. Our cover artist, Cathy Gendron, has been wonderful. She's been with us since our first book, ON WHAT GROUNDS, now celebrating ten years in print. She's working on next year's cover now...more to come soon on Coffeehouse Mystery #14. On the eggnog--although it is indeed too rich for many people to drink straight, I find that very richness to make a fantastic ingredient in baked goods, especially holiday cakes and cookies.

      I also use it in an eggnog cookie - recipe here:
      Click Here for Eggnog Shortbread Cookie Recipe.


      Thanks for dropping by and enjoy the holiday's eatings!

      ~ Cleo Cleo Coyle on Twitter
      www.CleoCoyleRecipes.com

      Delete
    2. It appears to have been an eggnog day. My husband came home from work with a gift he had gotten from a co-worker--an eggnog pound cake!

      Delete
  3. Both recipes sound delicious. I wish I had one to eat right now!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Katreader - I wish you did, too--sharing is better for my disappearing waistline! Thanks for dropping by today and have a happy holiday and may your New Year be caffeinated. :)

      ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
      “Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
      Cleo Coyle on Twitter

      Delete
  4. Love eggnog! Great sounding recipe. I shall make it to have with tea this afternoon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Eggnog is indeed a delicious ingredient to use in baking. Here's another tea break idea for you - Eggnog Shortbread Cookies (click the link below...)

      Click Here for Eggnog Shortbread Cookie Recipe.

      Enjoy, Martha, and may you have a blessed holiday and New Year...

      ~ Cleo Cleo Coyle on Twitter
      www.CleoCoyleRecipes.com

      Delete
  5. Absolutely beautiful and so festive, Cleo!

    ~Krista

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks, Krista, this a great week for festive recipes. A little indulging to celebrate (okay, a lot of indulging--as long as the diet starts in January)!

    Merry Christmas and may your New Year be blessed...

    ~ Cleo Cleo Coyle on Twitter
    www.CleoCoyleRecipes.com

    ReplyDelete