Strawberry Citrus Muffins

Refreshing with a hint of citrus, these moist muffins are naturally sweetened by fresh strawberries. 

Let me tell you why you’re going to love these strawberry citrus muffins. They make a wonderful snack or breakfast and they are my choice for healthier muffins.

A touch of lemon and orange adds a unique, refreshing flavor. The strawberries add lots of natural sweetness. Half of the flour used in the recipe is white whole-wheat flour to make it healthier, but you can substitute part or all with all-purpose flour if you prefer. If you are looking for a stronger citrus flavor, replace 1/4 cup of the buttermilk with 1/4 cup orange juice (in addition to the 2 tablespoons that are already in the recipe).

To make the muffins, start by mixing the granulated sugar with the lemon and orange zest. Combining the two first instead of just mixing them with all the other ingredients really brings out the citrus flavor (total trade secret. Shhh). Then, in one bowl, mix all the dry ingredients, including the sugar mixture. In another bowl mix all the wet ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon or a rubber spatula. Number one rule in muffins making is to not to overmix the batter. The more you mix, the heavier and tougher the muffins will be. Mix just until all combined, then fold in the strawberries gently.

I made these muffins twice so far. The first time I made them just the way the recipe below suggests and it was fabulous. The strawberries are the dominant flavor, which is a good thing. The second time I made them, I replaced some of the buttermilk with orange juice. Humm… and added 1/3 cup of white chocolate chips. Yes, I added chocolate to a healthy muffin. It was only 1/3 cup and worth every calorie. But hey, don’t let me ruin your diet. Stick to the recipe and you won’t regret.