Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Low Fat Peach Muffins from Coffeehouse Mystery author Cleo Coyle




Summer is almost gone, but its sweet, juicy peaches are still here. At my local market, they're piled high and priced low. 

My low fat muffin recipe makes great use of these luscious orbs. I bake these up every year in early September when the peaches are ripe and plentiful...




Cleo Coyle has a partner in
crime-writing—her husband.
Learn about their books
by clicking here and here.

Cleo Coyle's (low fat)
Peach Muffins


These tasty muffins are packed with fresh peach flavor. Marc and I often eat them drizzled with a little honey. They are truly amazing that way. 

If you prefer them low fat, use 1% or 2% milk. For a richer tasting muffin, go with whole milk, half-and-half, or cream. The higher the fat content of your milk, the richer your peach muffins will taste. Either way, bring out that local, raw honey (the best tasting and best for you), put on a pot of coffee or tea, slip a pan of these babies in the oven, and get ready to...

Eat with (end-of-summer) joy!

~ Cleo



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


Click here for the
free recipe PDF.


Cleo Coyle's (low fat)
Peach Muffins 


Makes 6 standard muffins

Ingredients:

1 cup diced ripe peaches (for yellow peaches that’s 2 medium or 1 large)

1 egg 
1/2 cup low fat milk (1% or 2% milk gives us good results;
      for richer muffins use whole milk, half-and-half, or cream)
2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
5 tablespoons white, granulated sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt (or 1/8 teaspoon table salt)
(optional) ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup all-purpose flour

(optional) A little "Sugar in the Raw" (aka turbinado or demeraraor another coarse finishing sugar to sprinkle on before baking

Directions:

Step 1 - Prep oven, pan, and peaches: Preheat oven to 375º Fahrenheit. Line six muffin cups with paper holders and lightly coat them with non-stick spray. Choose ripe peaches. (The flesh should be soft in your mouth, not crunchy.) Peel the peaches and dice the flesh into small, uniform pieces (as shown below).


Step 2 - Create batter with one bowl mixing method: Crack egg into a mixing bowl and gently beat with a whisk. Add milk, oil, sugar, vanilla, and salt and whisk until well blended. If adding cinnamon, whisk in well. Now add baking powder and whisk very well, until dissolved. Switching to a spoon or spatula, mix in the flour until all the raw flour disappears into the batter and a lumpy batter forms. Do not over-mix at this stage or you will develop the gluten in the flour and your muffins will be tough instead of tender. Finally, fold in the diced peaches.






Step 3 - Bake: This batter will make 6 standard muffins. Divide it up evenly among your paper-lined (and lightly sprayed) muffin cups. If using a finishing sugar, sprinkle it on the unbaked muffin tops at this time. Bake in a well-preheated 375º F. oven for 25 to 30 minutes. 


Remove the muffins from hot pans as soon as they leave the oven. The muffins will be pale. If using a finishing sugar, the tops will be more golden brown. 


Toothpick method for de-panning hot muffins: If you leave fresh-baked muffins in their hot pans, the bottoms may steam and become tough. Here's an easy way to remove hot muffins fast. See my photos below...


Gently insert a toothpick on each side of the muffin. Take care not create visible holes. You're inserting them in the muffin sides, below the visible muffin tops. 

Use the toothpicks as handles and carefully lift the muffin from the pan. This is a fast, efficient way to get the muffins out of their hot pan without squishing or flattening them. Place on a rack to continue cooling.


Storing: Once the muffins are completely cool, wrap them in plastic and store them in the refrigerator. A little honey, a cuppa joe or tea, and you're set to eat with joy.







Click here to download
this recipe in PDF form, and...






Eat (and read) with Joy!

~ Cleo Coyle

New York Times bestselling author of  
The Coffeehouse Mysteries


Friend me on facebook here. * Follow me on twitter here
Learn about my books here



* * *

Now a Bestseller
 in Paperback!

Once Upon a Grind: 
A Coffeehouse Mystery


Learn more here.

* Mystery Guild Selection 
* Best Book of the Year List - Kings River Life 
* Top Pick! ~ RT Book Reviews 
* Fresh Pick ~ Fresh Fiction 





Join coffeehouse manager Clare Cosi as she solves the crime against "Sleeping Beauty," opens secret doors (uptown and down), and investigates a cold case that's been unsolved since the Cold War.

*
Wonderful recipes are also featured
in Cleo's 14th culinary mystery, 
Once Upon a Grind including...

* Dairy-Free "Cinderella" Pumpkin Cake
* Dairy-Free Almond Milk Custard
* Caramel-Dipped Meltaway Cookies
* Black Forest Brownies
* Cappuccino Blondies
* Shrimp Kiev
* Dr Pepper Glazed Chicken
* Silver Dollar Chocolate Chip Cookies
* Poor Man's Caviar
* Snow White Chocolate Mocha

...and many more recipes, including a guide to reading coffee grinds...



See Once Upon a Grind's 
Recipe Guide by clicking here.



* * * 

*Starred Review 
~ Kirkus

A Coffeehouse Mystery 

"Top Pick" -RT Book Reviews

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


See Billionaire Blend's
Recipe Guide


* * * * * * 



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

GET A FREE TITLE CHECKLIST
(with mini plot summaries)


* * * 


Marc and I also write
The Haunted Bookshop Mysteries

Get a free title checklist, 
with mini plot summaries, 



Or learn more about the 
books and meet Jack Shepard, 
our PI ghost by clicking here.




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Thanks for stopping by the Kitchen! 

16 comments:

  1. Great peach recipe...downloaded the PDF. I love the PDFs. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're very welcome, Kathleen. (I use them myself!)

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

      Delete
  2. Thank you for sharing the recipe. The muffins look so good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jen. Peaches make pretty subjects for pictures—and they make pretty good muffins, too! I hope you enjoy the recipe as much as Marc and I do.

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

      Delete
  3. Gorgeous Cleo--and I have the peaches waiting! xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't forget the honey! And may you eat with peachy joy...

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

      Delete
  4. Those look and sound wonderful!
    Happy peach season.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peaches are so beautiful, aren't they? Little rounds of sunshine you can hold in your hand. Sweet juice dripping down your chin. What could be better (oh, yeah, that drizzle of honey)! Thanks for dropping by the Kitchen, Libby, it's always a pleasure to see you here.

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

      Delete
  5. Yum! I could go for these and coffee right now!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll put the pot on, Patricia! Thanks for stopping by the Kitchen. May your September be...peachy!

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

      Delete
  6. Replies
    1. You are very welcome, Grandma Cootie. Muffins in the morning put a smile on my day (although that first cuppa joe is what actually gets me out of bed)!. Thanks for dropping in today, GC. It's always so nice to see you here!

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

      Delete
  7. Oh, thanks for the idea, along with the tips as always, Cleo! Also love how you called peaches "luscious orbs" and "little rounds of sunshine". Terrific descriptions.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw, thanks, Lynn. Peaches are worthy of poetry, aren't they?! :) Cheers for the sweet words about my words; and may your September be...(yes!) peachy...

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

      Delete
  8. I LOVE Peaches, but I was wondering, since I have some on hand, could I substitute with some Nectarines? Would it make that big of a difference?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Paula - Yes! Although I've never used nectarines, I can't see why it wouldn't work just as well. Just be sure to use fruit that is good and ripe (soft in the mouth and not crunchy). I hope you enjoy it!

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

      Delete