Fresh strawberries are in season and compliment well with cardamom spice allowing each to shine in this recipe, creating a muffin that is lightly sweet, fragrant and flavorful. This muffin is also topped with a streusel of oatmeal and maple sugar, and is finished with a vanilla glaze. This recipe is very versatile and when fresh strawberries are not available, other fresh fruits in season can be substituted such as blueberries, cranberries, apples, and peaches. I think this may become my most favorite muffin recipe for summer. Many store bought muffins are overly sweet, lacking in flavor and contain unhealthy ingredients. These muffins are easy to make, contain high quality ingredients and taste amazing.

Key ingredients and Baking Tips

• Fresh Strawberries: Choosing fresh fruits in season ensures the best quality and flavor. Conventionally grown strawberries are part of the “Dirty Dozen” 2021 produce list, when possible try to choose organically grown strawberries to avoid potentially harmful levels of pesticide residue. Strawberries are very nutritious, high in vitamin C, and a good source of potassium and fiber. Strawberries contain healthy phytochemicals and are rich in antioxidants protecting the immune system from the negative effects of free radicals that lead to heart disease and cancer.
• Ground Cardamom is a very distinctive spice with origins in the ginger family. Cardamom is highly fragrant and has a unique minty and slightly sweet citrus-like flavor. It is used in both sweet and savory recipes. Clinical studies suggest cardamom may have many potential health benefits, is antibacterial, high in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. Cardamom has also shown to help relieve digestive problems. The amount of cardamom in this recipe can be adjusted to your taste and preference.
• Organic Maple Syrup and Maple Sugar contributes to the natural sweetness and flavor, limiting the amount of added sugar needed. Organic maple sugar contains vitamins and minerals calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. Maple sugar also has healing and immune boosting properties.
• Olive oil: These muffins have the flavor of real butter and the healthy goodness of olive oil. Substituting part of the butter with olive oil adds a warm rich flavor along with increasing healthy monounsaturated fats. Grapeseed oil, canola oil, or melted coconut oil can be used in place of the olive oil.
• Greek yogurt and Buttermilk keeps these muffins fluffy, moist and tender .
• Oatmeal Maple Sugar Streusel Topping: Oatmeal is included in the list of healthy ingredients in this muffin recipe, supporting your whole grain and fiber goals for the day.
• Equipment : I used a standup mixer to blend the ingredients, a 12- cup standard size muffin pan, parchment paper cupcake liners, and a ice cream scoop to portion and distribute the batter evenly in the muffin pan.
• To create perfectly domed muffin tops, first bake the muffins at a higher temperature for 7-8 minutes then lower the temperature for the remaining baking time.

Recipe

Strawberry and Cardamom Spice Streusel Muffins

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 1/2 cup fresh strawberries rinsed and cut into small pieces

Dry Ingredients

• 2 cups all purpose flour sifted
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom

Oatmeal Streusel Maple Sugar Streusel Topping

• 1/2 cup old fashioned oatmeal
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 tablespoons of cold unsalted butter cut into small pieces
• 1/4 cup maple sugar

Directions: in a small bowl mix together all the ingredients with a fork to create a crumb-like topping.

Vanilla glaze (optional) : in a small bowl measure 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla, gradually whisk in one to two teaspoons of heavy cream to create a glaze consistency.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a 12 cup muffin tin with parchment paper cupcake liners.
2. In a medium bowl whisk together, sifted flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cardamom and set aside.
3. On medium speed with an electric or standup mixer beat butter and sugar until smooth, add olive oil and maple syrup and continue to beat until light and fluffy, approximately 3-4 minutes.
4. Add vanilla, then eggs one at a time until well blended.
5. Add Greek yogurt and mix well.
6. On slow speed of electric or standup mixer, starting and ending with flour mixture alternate with buttermilk just until blended. Try not to over mix.
7. Gently fold in strawberries.
8. Using a ice cream scoop evenly distribute batter among a 12-cup prepared muffin tin. Sprinkle with streusel topping.
9. Bake in center rack of oven for 7-8 minutes, then reduce temperature to 350 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes. Bake until tops are lightly brown and muffins spring back with a light touch.
10. Allow to cool in muffin tin for 15 minutes, and then remove to a cooling rack.
11. Once cooled drizzle with the vanilla glaze if desired.
12. Store muffins at room temperature for 1-2 days or freeze for a later date.

For more muffin recipes:

Lemon Blueberry and Carrot Muffins

Rhubarb and Lavender Muffins

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins