topic Re: Blueberry Muffin Bakeoff in Kitchen

Blueberry Muffin Bakeoff

Ainhisg — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 17:31:27 GMT

In case anyone is interested, after I asked last week about a good blueberry muffin mix, these two were mentioned. So I bought both and made them today.

The four remaining on the left are the Betty Crocker mix, and the nine on the right are the Krusteaz mix. (Can you tell which one my husband liked better? lol) Per a suggestion on the Krusteaz package, I sprinkled the ones on the far right with sugar before baking, as you can probably see. Both mixes had cans of blueberries in them, but the Betty Crocker's can was larger, and the berries were slightly bigger. The BC mix called for 1/3 cup of oil, while the K mix called for 2/3 cup of oil.

I think the K muffins are slightly prettier, but my husband and I agreed that the BC had more flavor. We also liked them plain better than with sugar on top. Both mixes were slightly "flat" tasting, but I will just add a bit of salt to the BC mix when I make them for our Christmas breakfast in 2.5 weeks! We thought the BC were as good as most homemade muffins we've had or that I've made.

Re: Blueberry Muffin Bakeoff

santorini — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 17:45:19 GMT

Thank you for the review. They look delicious!

Re: Blueberry Muffin Bakeoff

Citrine1 — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 18:02:56 GMT

@Ainhisg What a helpful and thoughtful post and review!

I agree that the K muffins look slightly prettier (which would make one think that they are tastier).

Like you and your husband, I prefer my muffins without the sugar on top.

They all look delicious! Good to know that the BC muffins are tasty. I find a lot of BC products to be good!

Re: Blueberry Muffin Bakeoff

Nightowlz — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 21:14:34 GMT

I like to sprinkle muffins & quick breads with turbinado sugar. We like the crunch it gives them.

Chances are if you made less of the Betty Crocker muffins they would have been larger & pretty like the other batch.

Looks like the Krusteaz mix had more mix in the box?

I used to make box muffins long ago. We pretty much make most things from scratch now.

Yum. I love blueberry anything.

Re: Blueberry Muffin Bakeoff

SouthernBee — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 21:55:42 GMT

@Ainhisg : I have tried both brands and prefer the BC. I have added chopped pecans to the mix.

Re: Blueberry Muffin Bakeoff

Jk9 — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 22:04:19 GMT

@Ainhisg Thanks for the review. I'll keep a box on hand of the BC as a nice quick breakfast.

Re: Blueberry Muffin Bakeoff

AuntG — Sat, 07 Dec 2024 00:50:48 GMT

They both came out nice, but I'd agree with your taste test.

Re: Blueberry Muffin Bakeoff

Ainhisg — Sat, 07 Dec 2024 13:03:16 GMT

@Nightowlz wrote:
I like to sprinkle muffins & quick breads with turbinado sugar. We like the crunch it gives them.
Chances are if you made less of the Betty Crocker muffins they would have been larger & pretty like the other batch.
Looks like the Krusteaz mix had more mix in the box?
I used to make box muffins long ago. We pretty much make most things from scratch now.
Yum. I love blueberry anything.

Good morning, @Nightowlz . I actually did make less of the BC. I was using a slightly heaped 1/8 measuring cup for both mixes, and the BC mix made one less. Each cup was about 3/4 full for both brands of muffins.

The boxes were similar in weight--BC was 16.9oz and K was 17.1. The K did call for twice as much oil, though.

In the summer, I do make muffins from scratch, because here in Missouri, that is the only time blueberries are sweet. Buying them in the winter almost always guarantees either no taste or a sour taste. So in my original post, I had asked about using a mix, since I want to take muffins to a Christmas breakfast. On the original thread, a generous poster gave me a recipe using frozen berries, and I am going to give that recipe a try in the future.

Have a blessed day!

Re: Blueberry Muffin Bakeoff

Ainhisg — Sat, 07 Dec 2024 13:06:51 GMT

OP here... As an aside, when the muffins cooled, I put them in a Lock & Lock-type container. All the muffins were still tender this morning, but they did have a slightly moist top after being stored overnight. Nothing bad or that would prevent me from taking them anywhere, however.

Re: Blueberry Muffin Bakeoff

sabatini — Sat, 07 Dec 2024 18:02:46 GMT

@Ainhisg, I initially heard about BC Blueberry Muffin Mix from @gardenman awhile back. He's a baker, so I knew that if he said it was good, I could take his word for it!

Hence, I knew you'd like them best.

As an FYI, I actually prefer to use a loaf pan and make blueberry bread. The directions are on the side of the box.

I almost always have a container of blueberries in the freezer, so throw in a big handful of them, straight from the freezer and into the batter.

That BC mix is so fast and easy and good!

Merry Christmas!

Re: Blueberry Muffin Bakeoff

Nightowlz — Sat, 07 Dec 2024 22:02:06 GMT

@Ainhisg wrote:
@Nightowlz wrote:
I like to sprinkle muffins & quick breads with turbinado sugar. We like the crunch it gives them.
Chances are if you made less of the Betty Crocker muffins they would have been larger & pretty like the other batch.
Looks like the Krusteaz mix had more mix in the box?
I used to make box muffins long ago. We pretty much make most things from scratch now.
Yum. I love blueberry anything.
Good morning, @Nightowlz . I actually did make less of the BC. I was using a slightly heaped 1/8 measuring cup for both mixes, and the BC mix made one less. Each cup was about 3/4 full for both brands of muffins.

The boxes were similar in weight--BC was 16.9oz and K was 17.1. The K did call for twice as much oil, though.

In the summer, I do make muffins from scratch, because here in Missouri, that is the only time blueberries are sweet. Buying them in the winter almost always guarantees either no taste or a sour taste. So in my original post, I had asked about using a mix, since I want to take muffins to a Christmas breakfast. On the original thread, a generous poster gave me a recipe using frozen berries, and I am going to give that recipe a try in the future.

Have a blessed day!

@Ainhisg

Wonder why the K would rise more? I know when I made the BC they turn out the same way? It would be nice if they would rise more.

If you freeze your fresh blueberries will they still be sweet come winter?

I buy organic frozen blueberries. I know fresh always tastes better. Everything we grow in the garden sure tastes better then store bought.

I use frozen blueberries in muffins. I put them in a plastic baggie with 1/4 cup of muffin mixture before I add them.

Enjoy your muffins Christmas morning.

Someone else mentioned blueberry bread. Here's the recipe I use. It came from AllRecipes. It's really good. We make it a lot.

Blueberry Bread

1 ½ cups AP flour

3/4 c sugar

2 t baking powder

1/8 t salt

1/2 c milk

1/4 c oil or butter

1 egg

1/2 t vanilla

1 to 1 ½ c blueberries (I use frozen)

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a loaf pan.

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder & salt in a large bowl.

Stir milk, oil, egg, & vanilla into flour mixture until batter is just blended.

Gently fold blueberries into batter; pour into prepared loaf pan.

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 60 to 70 minutes.

I put the frozen blueberries in about ¼ cup of flour mixture & put in freezer til I need to add it to batter. I also put Turbinado sugar on top.

Re: Blueberry Muffin Bakeoff

Ainhisg — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 12:27:43 GMT

@Nightowlz I have enjoyed visiting with you! The K mix called for 2/3 cup of oil while the BC mix called for 1/3 cup, so that plus being different mixes probably made the K rise more.

I have never thought of freezing fresh blueberries. Do I just wash them, let them dry, and then freeze? I will have to try that to see what happens. Thank you for telling me how you combine the frozen berries with the mixture before adding; I had wondered about that. Thank you, too, for the bread recipe!!!

Re: Blueberry Muffin Bakeoff

charsha — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 12:45:11 GMT

I love the review on both brands. Good to have on hand as a back up. However, if possible, scratch baking is the best.

Re: Blueberry Muffin Bakeoff

sabatini — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 18:09:40 GMT

@Ainhisg wrote:
@Nightowlz I have enjoyed visiting with you! The K mix called for 2/3 cup of oil while the BC mix called for 1/3 cup, so that plus being different mixes probably made the K rise more.

I have never thought of freezing fresh blueberries. Do I just wash them, let them dry, and then freeze? I will have to try that to see what happens. Thank you for telling me how you combine the frozen berries with the mixture before adding; I had wondered about that. Thank you, too, for the bread recipe!!!

@Ainhisg, I'm not @Nightowlz, but am jumping in about blueberries! I'm sure many people do what you mentioned, but I don't.
When unloading my groceries, I just pop the whole container of fresh berries right into the freezer.
On a good day, I'll first put the container into a ziploc.
I haven't died yet!

It's so nice to always have blueberries ready to go when I want them.

ETA: Just throw the frozen berries into the batter you're using.
When making pancakes, after I've ladled the batter onto the skillet, I throw some blueberries atop each.

Re: Blueberry Muffin Bakeoff

Nightowlz — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 18:53:20 GMT

@Ainhisg wrote:
@Nightowlz I have enjoyed visiting with you! The K mix called for 2/3 cup of oil while the BC mix called for 1/3 cup, so that plus being different mixes probably made the K rise more.

I have never thought of freezing fresh blueberries. Do I just wash them, let them dry, and then freeze? I will have to try that to see what happens. Thank you for telling me how you combine the frozen berries with the mixture before adding; I had wondered about that. Thank you, too, for the bread recipe!!!

@Ainhisg

Hi, Ainhisg I have enjoyed visiting with you too.

I always wash my fruit in water vinegar solution. I just cleaned red grapes & strawberries yesterday.

I looked online to see what it says about freezing blueberries. I read info at blueberry dot org which has lots of yummy blueberry recipes. Their white chocolate blueberry cookies look good. They are purple.

I also checked Pioneer Woman's site.

It says not to wash blueberries before freezing. Blueberries have a coating on them called Bloom to prevent mold & freezer burn. Wash them after you take them out of the freezer.

Put the blueberries in a single layer not touching on a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Freeze 2-3 hrs or overnight. Store in freezer ziplock bags about 10 months.

This is the same thing I do with fresh peaches. They last about 9 months.

Some do wash them but you have to make sure they are dry or you will end up with a frozen clump.

Now I need to grow my own blueberries.

Re: Blueberry Muffin Bakeoff

Nightowlz — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 19:02:19 GMT

@sabatini wrote:
@Ainhisg wrote:
@Nightowlz I have enjoyed visiting with you! The K mix called for 2/3 cup of oil while the BC mix called for 1/3 cup, so that plus being different mixes probably made the K rise more.

I have never thought of freezing fresh blueberries. Do I just wash them, let them dry, and then freeze? I will have to try that to see what happens. Thank you for telling me how you combine the frozen berries with the mixture before adding; I had wondered about that. Thank you, too, for the bread recipe!!!
@Ainhisg, I'm not @Nightowlz, but am jumping in about blueberries! I'm sure many people do what you mentioned, but I don't.
When unloading my groceries, I just pop the whole container of fresh berries right into the freezer.
On a good day, I'll first put the container into a ziploc.
I haven't died yet!

It's so nice to always have blueberries ready to go when I want them.

ETA: Just throw the frozen berries into the batter you're using.
When making pancakes, after I've ladled the batter onto the skillet, I throw some blueberries atop each.

@sabatini @Ainhisg

I did read it said you could store in the container it comes in. I thought the blueberries would end up with freezer burn.

One article I read said it has a coating on it called Bloom. Never heard of that. Bloom keeps them from mold or freezer burn so the containers they come in should work. I don't know how they will work the longer they are in the freezer.

I have a freezer in the garage I have to manually defrost so my freezer stays a constant temp.

Freezers on the refrigerator defrost on/off so the food gets freezer burn.

Re: Blueberry Muffin Bakeoff

sabatini — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 23:06:42 GMT

@Nightowlz, they're always perfect. Never freezer burnt. That's why they're such an easy berry to have on hand.