My readers might recall these light, chocolaty muffins from my bestselling Coffeehouse Mystery A Brew to a Kill.
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As the story opens, coffeehouse manager Clare Cosi hires a sweet-natured dietitian to help lighten some of the higher calorie items on her menu.
When Lilly is brutally struck by a hit-and-run driver, Clare’s outrage propels her into tracking down the culprit; and once again, Clare is sleuthing her way in and out of trouble.
For today's recipe, I'm duplicating one of Lilly's coffeehouse menu makeovers. May you eat it with joy--and in good health!
(To get the recipe, scroll down or hit the "read more" link below...)
Cleo Coyle's
Chocolate Ricotta Muffins
Chocolate Ricotta Muffins
With a mocha variation
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Cleo Coyle has a partner in
crime-writing—her husband.
Learn about their books
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To download this recipe in a free PDF
document that you can print, save,
or share, click here.
document that you can print, save,
or share, click here.
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| Click for recipe. |
A Note from Cleo...
The star of today's recipe is, of course, the ricotta cheese, which brings creamy moistness to these muffins along with protein and nutrition.
The fat component comes not from butter but vegetable or canola oil. Another option for the fat is one I sometimes choose--extra virgin, cold pressed, unrefined coconut oil. (If you've never used coconut oil before, a helpful post on particulars and brands can be found here.)
Natural cocoa powder adds flavor but also structure to the muffins, which allowed me to reduce the amount of refined white flour in the recipe. To make these muffins even healthier, you can swap in “white whole wheat” flour instead of all-purpose, which brings more dietary fiber to your snack table.
And now for the recipe...
Cleo Coyle's Chocolate Ricotta Muffins
Makes 6 large muffins or 8 small
Makes 6 large muffins or 8 small
Ingredients
1 large egg
½ cup ricotta (whole or part-skim)
½ cup light buttermilk (shake before measuring)
3 Tablespoons oil (canola, vegetable, or extra virgin coconut)
¼ cup granulated white sugar
¼ cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup + 1 Tablespoon natural, unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 pinches of table salt
¾ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
½ cup + 1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
Variation:
For Mocha Muffins, add 1-1/2 teaspoons instant espresso where indicated in Step 1. Instant espresso is freeze-dried espresso and not ground espresso roast beans. I use this brand (Medaglia D’oro), but you can certainly use any you like.
1 large egg
½ cup ricotta (whole or part-skim)
½ cup light buttermilk (shake before measuring)
3 Tablespoons oil (canola, vegetable, or extra virgin coconut)
¼ cup granulated white sugar
¼ cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup + 1 Tablespoon natural, unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 pinches of table salt
¾ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
½ cup + 1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
Variation:
For Mocha Muffins, add 1-1/2 teaspoons instant espresso where indicated in Step 1. Instant espresso is freeze-dried espresso and not ground espresso roast beans. I use this brand (Medaglia D’oro), but you can certainly use any you like.
Chocoholics: Feel free to fold in semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips before baking (1/3 to 1/2 cup, according to your own taste). You can even “go nuts” and add finely chopped hazelnuts or walnuts.
Step 1 – Make muffin batter with one-bowl mixing method: Using a hand whisk or electric mixer, beat the egg until slightly frothy. Measure in the ricotta, light buttermilk, oil, white and light brown sugars, cocoa, vanilla extract, salt, baking powder, and baking soda (if making mocha muffin, add your 1-1/2 teaspoons of instant espresso now). Whisk well until fully blended. Measure in the flour. Mix only enough to make a smooth batter. Do not over-mix at this stage or you’ll develop the gluten in the flour and your muffins will be tough instead of tender.
Step 2 – Spray the papers: Line muffin cups with paper holders and spray the papers with non-stick spray. This is a low-fat recipe, so if you do not spray the papers, the muffins will stick.
Step 3 – Bake: This recipe makes about 1-3/4 cups of muffin batter. You can make six large muffins or eight small ones. Divide the batter among your muffin cups. Bake in a well-preheated oven at 375° F. for about 20 minutes, depending on your oven. Do not over-bake. Muffins are done when a toothpick inserted into a test muffin comes out clean (with no batter clinging to it).
TIP: Muffins will be fragile when they first come out of the hot oven. Allow them to cool in the pan for about ten minutes and transfer to a rack. If muffin edges are sticking to the paper, simply allow them to cool a bit more.
OPTIONAL FROSTING
Try finishing the cooled muffins with a dollop of Chocolate “Buttercream” Frosting (without butter or cream). What is the mystery ingredient in this chocolate frosting? (Followers of this blog already know. :))
Get this dairy-free chocolate
frosting recipe by clicking
the link above or clicking here.
F o o d i e
P h o t o s
P h o t o s
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Eat (and read) with joy!
~ Cleo Coyle
Our bestselling hardcover is
now a bestseller in paperback...
🍴
Eat (and read) with joy!
~ Cleo Coyle
☕
Our NEW Coffeehouse Mystery!
Mystery Pick of the Month! --Library Journal
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Amazon * B&N
IndieBound * BAM
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"A gripping and entertaining mystery"
--Library Journal (Starred Review)
--Library Journal (Starred Review)
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"Penetrating insights" --Kirkus Reviews
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* "Sure to delight" --Publishers Weekly
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* "Sure to delight" --Publishers Weekly
🍴
This culinary mystery includes
25 delicious recipes! To get the
Free Recipe Guide, click here.
25 delicious recipes! To get the
Free Recipe Guide, click here.
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| Click for Free Recipe Guide to Shot in the Dark. |
☕
Our bestselling hardcover is
now a bestseller in paperback...
3 Best of Year Lists
Top 10 Mysteries for Book Clubs 2017
Mystery Guild "Most Wanted" Selection
Mystery Guild "Most Wanted" Selection
🍴
This culinary mystery includes
more than 25 delicious recipes!
To get the Free Recipe Guide:
Click Here.
more than 25 delicious recipes!
To get the Free Recipe Guide:
Click Here.
* * *
Clare goes to Washington!
Join amateur sleuth Clare Cosi
as she sets out to caffeinate
our nation's capital and solve
a capital crime.
Join amateur sleuth Clare Cosi
as she sets out to caffeinate
our nation's capital and solve
a capital crime.
as she sets out to caffeinate
our nation's capital and solve
a capital crime.
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A fairy tale murder in Central Park...
"Wicked good" --Library Journal
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"Fresh and fun...clever" --Booklist
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When Clare saves the life of a young
billionaire, she may lose her own...*
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