Valentine's Day Muffins

To prepare these delicious plum jam muffins, we start by gathering all the necessary ingredients. You will need 200 grams of soft butter, 250 grams of sugar, 4 large eggs, half a teaspoon of salt, 200 milliliters of milk, 300 grams of flour, a teaspoon of baking powder, vanilla essence, plum jam, and for decoration, white chocolate, colored sugar, and chocolate chips.

The procedure begins by mixing the butter and sugar in a large bowl using an electric mixer on medium speed. This combination should become a fluffy and smooth cream. Then, we add the eggs one at a time, ensuring that each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. It is essential that the eggs are at room temperature to achieve the finest texture.

Once the eggs are incorporated, we add the salt, milk, and vanilla essence. These ingredients not only enhance the flavor but also contribute to the moisture of the batter. In another bowl, we mix the flour with the baking powder, then we start to gradually incorporate it into the wet mixture using a spatula. It is important not to overmix, just enough to achieve a smooth batter.

While the batter rests for a bit, we prepare the muffin tins. They should be lined with butter and flour to ensure the muffins easily release after baking. We put a thin layer of batter in each tin, enough to cover the bottom. Then, we add a teaspoon of plum jam in the center of each portion of batter. The jam will add a delicious filling and a sweet-sour note that will blend perfectly with the batter.

After adding the jam, we fill each tin with batter, being careful not to fill them to the top, as the muffins will rise during baking. We preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius and bake the muffins for 20-25 minutes, or until they turn golden and pass the toothpick test.

After taking them out of the oven, we let them cool slightly, then we decorate them with melted white chocolate, which we can drizzle on top using a spoon. To add a pop of color and texture, we sprinkle colored sugar and chocolate chips on top. These plum jam muffins are perfect for a savory dessert or as a delicious snack alongside a cup of tea or coffee. Enjoy them with pleasure!