Top o’ the Mornin’ Marmalade Muffins

These sweet, finely textured muffins are a bright, cheery way to start the day! Because they’re so moist, they keep extremely well. To me, they’re a splendid way to enjoy a St. Patrick’s Day breakfast or tea.

Top o’ the Mornin’ Marmalade Muffins:

To Prepare the Muffins:

1 c. butter or margarine, softened

1-½ c. granulated sugar

4 eggs

Grated rind of 1 large lemon

1 c. orange marmalade

1 c. plain, natural yogurt

4 c. all-purpose flour

4 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. baking soda

1-½ c. buttermilk

Have all ingredients at room temperature. Fill medium muffin pans with 12 medium paper liners; spritz each liner with a quick oil spray. Preheat oven to 375 deg. F. Cream butter and sugar together 5 min., adding sugar gradually until no grainy texture remains. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition (see Note). Stir in lemon rind, marmalade, and yogurt. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Gradually add to creamed mixture, beating at medium speed. Stir in buttermilk, mixing just until moistened. 
Spoon into ungreased paper liners in muffin pans, filling 2/3 full. Bake 20 min., just until toothpick poked into the centre of a test muffin comes out clean. Remove from oven. Using a skewer, poke a few holes into each hot muffin, pouring in glaze. Yields 18-to-20 standard-sized muffins.

Note: Always add eggs one at a time when you bake. This ensures their even dispersion with the creamed butter in your recipe, giving your baked goods an excellent texture. 

To Prepare the Glaze:

3 tbsp. lemon juice

3 tbsp. orange juice

½ c. granulated sugar

Combine juices and sugar in a microwave-safe container, heating about 30 sec., or until sugar dissolves. Stir and pour over hot, baked muffins. Let stand 10 min. before removing muffins from pans. Makes 18.

A fine Microplane grater produces maximum lemon zest 

Add zest to muffin batter

In goes the secret ingredient ... marmalade! 

Decorate with a "bit o' the green" for St. Patrick's Day morning