Rosehip and Apple Muffins

And we're back. Again, maybe, sort of. It's been a busy summer, with a move, visitors and Little Bit starting daycare. And the pregnancy of course. We are getting closer and closer to the Littler Bit making an entrance. I have been too busy and exhausted to post, and it's been longer than I would have liked, but Hey! I'm back now, at least for a little while. We'll see how things shape up with a newborn, but that's a bridge for another time.

In preparation for the Littler One's arrival, I've been stockpiling food in the freezer, and that has included some breakfast foods for Little Bit, like pancakes, waffles and muffins that can easily be got out and reheated for him (this also allows him some variety in his breakfasts while I can have my porridge most days).

It's that season again in the hedgerows and on the hillsides, and in the gardens of those who don't deadhead their roses. Rosehips are ripening, and I decided to use some rosehip purée to trial a new muffin recipe. Here it is.

Ingredients:

1 1/4 c flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 c oats

1/2 tsp allspice

1 c sugar

1/2 c veg oil

1 egg

3/4 c Rosehip purée

1 1/2 c apple, coarsely grated

2 tbsp cacao nibs

1/2 c walnuts, chopped

1 -2 TBSP dried orange peel

1) Mix together dry ingredients. Gradually add in wet ingredients and mix well, then the apple, orange peel, cacao nibs and nuts. Combine.

2) Spoon into muffin cups, and bake at 180°C for 45 minutes.

I am really pleased with these, and apparently so was Little Bit as he inhaled 2 and a half muffins as soon as they were cool enough to touch. I feel like the flavours were very nicely balanced, and the muffins were lovely and moist. Hurray for a new rosehip recipe!

I also decided to try something new with this recipe and baked these in the air fryer. It is not something I've ever done, but I've seen a lot of chatter about using air fryers for different things on online foodie groups. In light of rising energy prices and all, these are supposed to be more efficient than traditional ovens. I baked the muffins at a slightly lower temperature, 170°C, for 14 minutes in the air fryer and they came out beautifully. I had to bake them in two batches, but that still took only 2/3 of the bake time. New method available! Yay!