Nutella Filled Cinnamon Sugar Muffins

Christmas is in 9 days. I repeat, Christmas is in 9 days. Where the hell has the time gone? I am running out! With a trip to Scotland booked in from December 21st to December 27th, I am very limited with the time I have left, to shop, bake, see the Hobbit and generally exist along the way. However, it’s time for my second Festive Baking recipe. And you guessed it, it involves cinnamon. Although what you may not have  expected was Nutella. And what you may also not have expected, with it being festive, is that they are muffins. Cinnamon topped and Nutella stuffed Muffins, yum. What makes these different as well is that they use a slightly different flour to the usual plain white. I used a plain wholemeal, which made them slightly heavier but also works great on a cold night and compliments the Nutella and Cinnamon really well.

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The recipe only makes a few, 9 to be exact, but can be very easily doubled (and will be later this week when I am baking for a party). Speaking of the party, I’m also baking a couple of my Cranberry and Orange loaves, as well as some Reindeer pretzel cookies! It is the day I finish work for Christmas, so it’s safe to say that I’ll undoubtedly be a little worse for wear before it’s done. I’m also starting to plan in bakes for when I’m up at my parent’s cottage on Mull next week.

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Nutella Filled Cinnamon Sugar Muffins
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Serves: 9
Ingredients
  • 5 Tablespoons or 75g unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 100g granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 120ml milk
  • 190g plain wholemeal flour
  • 1 and ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 8 teaspoons Nutella
  • Cinnamon-Sugar Topping
  • 50g granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 45g unsalted butter
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 220°C(200°C fan) and grease a muffin tin (I used butter but a spray will work just as well).
  2. Cream together the sugar and the butter, on a medium speed.
  3. Mix in the egg, beating well, before mixing in the vanilla and the milk.
  4. Gently mix in the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. When mixing these together be careful not to over-mix them. Do it until only just combined to avoid a heavy mixture.
  5. Divide up the batter into the muffin tins. Do this by putting one heaped tablespoon in to each hole. On top of each of these, place a dollop of Nutella. Cover with the remaining batter.
  6. Bake at 220°C for 5 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 175°C(155°C fan) and bake for a further 13-17 minutes
  7. Allow the muffins to cool for about 5 minutes.
  8. While they are cooling, mix together the sugar and cinnamon. Melt the butter (either in a microwave or a pan).
  9. Take a muffin, dip the top in to the butter and then dip it in to the sugar mix to top it.
  10. Place upright on a cooling rack until they are cooled properly.

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Cinnamon Swirl Chocolate Chip Loaves

December is here. That means one thing. Cinnamon. On everything. The festive season is great, mainly due to the food. I always put on a ridiculous amount of weight. But man is it worth it. I’ll be baking my Cranberry & Orange Loaves as gifts for a bunch of people, but other than that I’ll be keeping things fairly themed. These Cinnamon Swirl Chocolate Chip Loaves are just as delicious. They have just enough cinnamon for it not to overpower everything. The recipe, which I found on Sally’s baking addiction (the things she can do with cinnamon!) is fantastic. So I thought I’d kick off my festive baking with this. The loaves are perfect to go with a cup of hot tea or coffee. They are warming and moist.

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I haven’t much more to say about these (I’m having a bit of writer’s block at the moment), other than you really need to try them.

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Cinnamon Swirl Chocolate Chip Loaves
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Ingredients
  • 250g all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 120g mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 150g light brown sugar (or dark brown)
  • 50g granulated sugar
  • 240ml buttermilk
  • 80ml vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • For the Cinnamon Swirl
  • 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • ⅓ cup (65g) granulated sugar
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 175°C(155°C fan) and grease a loaf tin (I used butter but a spray works just as well.
  2. Mix together the ingredients for the swirl and set aside.
  3. Mix together the flour, salt, baking soda and chocolate chips until combined, set aside.
  4. Whisk the sugars and egg together until there are no lumps of brown sugar left.
  5. Whisk in the buttermilk, oil and vanilla.
  6. Slowly pour the wet ingredients in to the dry. Mixing until they have only just combined. Be very careful not to overmix as it will lead to a very tough bread.
  7. Pour the first half in to the prepared pan. Using about ¾ of the cinnamon mixture, cover the top evenly.
  8. Add the rest of the batter, using the remaining cinnamon on top along with any extra chocolate chips, if desired.
  9. Cover (very) loosely with foil and bake for between 45 minutes and 1 hour. It can take anywhere between this time. It’s done when a tooth pick inserted in to the center comes out clean.
  10. Allow to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
 

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