In September The Quilt Whisperer Investigates, featuring museum curator and quilter, Caroline Platte, will launch my new cozy mystery series. The series takes place in the charming (invented) town of Banburyport, Massachusetts, where the locals gather every morning at Farrow Square Coffee for gossip, cappuccino, and treats from the bakery case. Among the treats described and eaten in The Quilt Whisperer Investigates are Apple Muffins with Cinnamon Butter.
Apple Muffins with Cinnamon Butter
Makes 12 muffins.
Ingredients
For the muffins:
2 cups flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3 tbsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 egg
1 cup milk
4 tbsp. butter
1 Granny Smith apple
For the cinnamon butter:
4 oz. butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
Insert paper liners into the cups of your muffin tin. Heat the oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients together.
In a small bowl, whisk the egg and milk together.
Melt the butter
Core, peel, and chop the apple.
Add the egg and milk mixture to the dry ingredients and stir together until just combined. Stir in the melted butter and then the diced apple.
Transfer the batter to your muffin tin, filling each cup about two-thirds full. A large spoon and a rubber spatula make it easier to control the amount that goes into each cup.
Bake the muffins for 20 to 25 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center of one comes out clean.
To make the cinnamon butter, blend butter, sugar, and cinnamon until smooth. A rubber spatula can be helpful.
Serve muffins warm with cinnamon butter for spreading.
Peggy Ehrhart is a former English professor with a doctorate in Medieval Literature.
Her Maxx Maxwell mysteries, Sweet Man Is Gone (2008) and Got No Friend Anyhow (2011), were published by Five Star/Gale/Cengage and feature a blues-singer sleuth.
More recently, Peggy has written the Knit & Nibble mysteries for Kensington Books. Book #12, Last Wool and Testament, was released in May, 2025; An Eggy Way to Die appeared in Kensington’s 2026 Easter novella anthology, Easter Egg Murder. In September Peggy will be launching a new cozy series with The Quilt Whisperer Investigates, also from Kensington.
Peggy herself is an avid crafter, dating from her childhood as a member of the 4-H Club in rural Southern California. She now lives in Leonia, New Jersey.
Visit Peggy at www.PeggyEhrhart.com
“Solid character development, a well-crafted plot with history and art pointing the way, and a heartwarming side-story make this a satisfying and enjoyable read.”—FirstClue
“The kickoff to a new series perfect for readers who love crafts and history.”--Kirkus
GIVEAWAY!
Because The Quilt Whisperer Investigates won’t be out until September, I’m giving away a copy of Book #12 from my Knit & Nibble series, featuring Pamela Paterson, founder and mainstay of the Arborville, New Jersey, knitting club, nicknamed Knit and Nibble.
Craft cozies are very popular now. What crafts do you most enjoy featured in craft cozy series? Are there any crafts that you feel are under-represented?
Leave your comment to be entered to win!
Welcome to the blog, Peggy. I'm a big muffin maker and these sound delicious - as does your new series!
ReplyDeleteCrafts I think are under represented are Latch hooks and cross stitching both stamped cross stitching and regular cross stitching also weaving
ReplyDeletedon.stewart@zoominternet.net
I enjoy scrapbooking and paper crafting as hobbies. They occasionally turn up in cozy mystery series.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Congratulations of the upcoming release of THE QUILT WHISPERER INVESTIGATES! It is on my Amazon wish list and my Goodreads want to read list.
ReplyDeleteThrough my years, I think I've tried just about every craft. Maybe that's why I thoroughly enjoy them in cozies. I really enjoy the stories with crochet because they remind me of my mom, who was amazing in it. The craft I think that has been ignored is macrame. It was all the rage in the 70's. I could see it being the craft where the main character might be older (like me). Another I don't remember seeing in a cozy is scrapbooking.
Thank you so much for the fabulous chance to win a copy of LAST WOOL AND TESTAMENT! I would love the opportunity to read and review it.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Peggy, welcome to the kitchen and congratulations on your new series! Those Apple Muffins with Cinnamon Butter look delicious.
ReplyDeleteThe muffins look fantastic and since I have some apples in the fridge I'll have to try them. I enjoyed Knit & Nibble and am sorry to see it end but will be looking forward to the new series.
ReplyDeletekozo8989(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thank you for your comment! I've had some good news about Knit & Nibble--there's to be a spinoff series with all the same characters and the setting and the knitting and the food. The first one won't be out for a while, but I'll keep readers posted.
DeleteWelcome to Mystery Lover's Kitchen, Peggy, and thank you for your delicious apple muffin recipe! Your new series sounds fantastic and I've enjoyed your Knit & Nibbles Mysteries even though I've never knitted. It's always made me want to give it a try :)
ReplyDeleteLynn in Texas here; Hiya, Peggy! LTNS! I'm not as crafty as I used to be. But I appreciate all kinds of artwork. I would say jewelry-making is under-represented. Thanks for the muffin recipe!
ReplyDeleteYou're right about jewelry-making being under-represented! I can think of lots of fun plot ideas using that craft.
DeleteHi Peggy, the muffins sound yummy as does that cinnamon butter! Congrats on the new series. I look forward to reading it. As for crafts, I am much better at reading about them than doing them! I used to crochet and do latch hook many many years ago, a bit of macrame as well, but haven't done any in what seems like a lifetime. I rarely hear about tatting or crewel anymore. They seem to be lost arts. Thanks for asking. makennedyinaz at hotmail dot com
ReplyDeleteMacrame! Hanging plant-holders were such a thing and I made my share. Now my daughter-in-law snaps them up at garage sales as vintage treasures.
DeleteAs a boy, I enjoyed pottery. Once made my own piggy bank. As an adult, I used to enjoy painting. But what to do with the paintings? johnlong83@rocketmail.com
ReplyDeleteI also used to paint and now, yes, what do I do with the paintings? The question arises every time I go up to my attic and there they are.
DeleteThose muffins make me long for fall as does your new series! I'm not a crafter. I didn't see my paternal grandma very much, and she was the only crafty person who could have taught me. I would love to know how to embroider, and I haven't read/seen too many series featuring that craft.
ReplyDeletechristy41970@gmail.com
Thank you for your comment! I usually try to bake things suited to the season, and since it's summer now my mind turned to peaches and blueberries. But the new book is set in the fall and in it the featured goodies are autumn goodies--so apple muffins. And fall is my favorite season anyway.
DeleteI like knitting. Thank you for the chance to win AlAm22@msn.com
ReplyDeleteI like that the muffins 1-have minimal sugar in them and 2-aren't the gigantic size so many muffins are today.
ReplyDeleteLooks like winners to me.
libbydodd at comcast dot net
I like that about these muffins, too, Libby.
DeleteWelcome to the kitchen, Peggy! Really looking forward to the new series.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Mystery Lovers' Kitchen. I can't wait for your new series!
ReplyDeleteI like quilting I love to see the colorful quilts. Deborah
ReplyDeleteemail is deborahortega229@yahoo.com
DeleteI hope you will enjoy the new series. I tried to incorporate both the craft aspects of quilting and its rich history. My protagonist's specialty as a museum curator is quilts and the museum where she works focuses on arts and crafts.
DeleteThe muffin recipe sounds great and would be delicious with the cinnamon butter. I love quilting, and I am very excited for your new series. A museum curator as the protagonist sounds fascinating too.
ReplyDeleteKnitting and crocheting are relaxing
ReplyDeleteI like stories with baking/cooking and enjoy crocheting.
ReplyDeleteWskwared(at)yahoo(dot)com
Your apple muffins and cinnamon butter sounds delicious. I enjoy reading about knitting, crocheting and needlework. However I will read about any craft.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
Would love to read this series!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the Kitchen, Peggy! Congratulations on your new series! It sounds wonderful, as do those delicious looking muffins! I will have to give them a try!
ReplyDeleteYour apple muffins look delicious. I enjoy reading about cooking and baking and crocheting. My daughter.can crochet really well. She has been teaching me as well.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chance!
jarjm1980(at)hotmail(dot) com
I can't wait to make the muffins!!! My son and I will really enjoy them. As far as crafts, go I enjoy reading about any of them. I used to like crocheting but haven't done it in forever .
ReplyDelete