Yeast dough muffins filled with cheese and dried plums

Enjoy a flavorful culinary experience with these yeast dough muffins filled with dried plums! This recipe combines the fluffy texture of the dough with the sweetness of dehydrated fruits, creating a perfect dessert for any occasion. Whether you want to impress your guests or simply indulge yourself, these muffins are the ideal choice. Let's get started!

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Baking time: 18 minutes
Total time: 48 minutes
Number of servings: 12 muffins

Ingredients

For the dough:
- 200 ml warm milk
- 250 g sweet cottage cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 50 g soft butter
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 650-700 g flour type 650 (can be adjusted)
- Oil for greasing hands while shaping the muffins
- 1 full tablespoon of dry yeast

For the filling:
- Dried or dehydrated plums (a few for each muffin)

For decoration:
- Vanilla powdered sugar

Brief history
Fruit-filled muffins are a culinary tradition found in many cultures, with deep roots in the history of pastry cooking. These delicacies, with a slightly fluffy texture, are often filled with all sorts of ingredients, from chocolate and nuts to dried fruits like plums. Whether consumed for breakfast, as a snack, or dessert, muffins symbolize comfort and joy in the kitchen.

Step by step: Making the muffins

1. Preparing the dough
Start by adding the ingredients to the bread machine in the following order:
- Warm milk
- Sweet cottage cheese
- Salt
- Sugar
- Soft butter
- Olive oil
- Dry yeast

Gradually add the flour, allowing the machine to knead the dough. Type 650 flour is ideal, but make sure the dough is elastic and slightly sticky. If you notice the dough is too wet, add a little flour, one tablespoon at a time, until you achieve the desired consistency.

2. Allowing the dough to rise
Once the machine has finished kneading, spray a little oil in a large bowl, then transfer the dough to the bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place for 20-30 minutes, until it doubles in volume.

3. Shaping the muffins
Prepare the work surface with a greased silicone mat. Once the dough has risen, turn it out onto the work surface. Tear off pieces of dough the size of a golf ball. Flatten each piece, place a dried plum in the center, and gather the edges to form a ball.

4. Placing in the tray
Prepare a muffin tray with muffin papers. Spray a little oil on the paper, then place the filled dough balls in the cups. Let them rise again in a warm place for about 15 minutes.

5. Baking the muffins
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Bake the muffins for 15-18 minutes or until they turn golden on top. Allow them to cool on a rack.

6. Decorating
Once cooled, dust the muffins with vanilla powdered sugar for an attractive appearance and added flavor.

Useful tips
- Dough texture: If you use flour with a higher gluten content, your muffins will be fluffier. Type 650 flour is a good choice, but you can experiment with other types, such as bread flour.
- Alternative fillings: If you want to vary, you can also use dried peaches, apricots, or even chocolate as a filling. These combinations will add a different and interesting flavor.
- Serving: These muffins are delicious warm, but can also be served at room temperature. You can accompany the muffins with flavored tea or freshly brewed coffee for a delightful experience.

Nutritional information
These muffins contain a combination of carbohydrates from the flour, protein from the cottage cheese, and fiber from the plums, providing a nutritional balance. Each muffin has approximately 150-200 calories, depending on size and filling.

Frequently asked questions
- Can I use other types of cheese? Yes, but make sure that the chosen cheese is soft and creamy so as not to affect the texture of the dough.
- What can I do with the leftover dough? You can make small rolls or pizza with it, adding your favorite sauce and toppings.
- How do I store the muffins? Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator, and to reheat, you can use the oven or microwave.

These yeast dough muffins with cheese and dried plums are not only a simple recipe but also a wonderful way to bring a touch of joy to every day. I encourage you to experiment and enjoy every step of the process. Bon appétit!