Blue Ribbon Recipe ~ Strawberry Muffins with Strawberry Butter

Here are the strawberry muffins with the strawberry butter that my twin sister prepared for the 2012 King Arthur Flour Muffin Baking contest at our local fair. She won the first place blue ribbon and a $75 gift card from King Arthur Flour. This recipe comes from Bobby of blogchef.net. He was kind enough to allow me to  post this recipe on my blog, using my own photos. Visit his blog, he has some wonderful recipes. Thanks Bobby, for allowing me to share your now, blue ribbon recipe!

Strawberry Muffins with Strawberry Butter

1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup milk
½ cup butter, melted
1 cup fresh strawberries, chopped and lightly tossed in 2 tablespoons of flour
Streusel
¼ cup chopped toasted pecans
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ cup all purpose flour
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Strawberry Butter
½ cup butter, softened
½ cup fresh strawberries, chopped
1 cup confectioners’ sugar, powdered sugar
¼ cup toasted pecans, finely chopped

~ Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. and grease the bottom and sides of 18 muffin tin cups. Mix together all ingredients for the streusel and set aside. 
~ For the muffins mix together 1 ¾ cups flour, 2/3 cup sugar, and 2 teaspoons baking powder.
~ In a separate bowl mix ½ cup milk, ½ cup melted butter, 2 beaten eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Gently mix this mixture into the flour mixture. Do not over mix. Fold in lightly floured chopped strawberries.

~ Pour muffin batter into your tins and top with the streusel mixture. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
Test with a toothpick for doneness.

~ Allow muffins to cool for 10 minutes before removing them from the pan or else they will stick. Finish cooling muffins on a wire rack.

~ For the strawberry butter thoroughly mix ½ cup butter and 1 cup powdered sugar. Fold in chopped strawberries and toasted pecans. Chill until needed and soften before serving. Enjoy the strawberry butter with the warm strawberry muffins. 

               * Recipe Source : Blog Chef *

Blue Ribbon Recipe ~ Nana's Special Pumpkin Muffins with White Chocolate Vanilla Butternut Icing

Her are the pumpkin muffins that I prepared for the King Arthur Flour Muffin Baking Contest at our 2012 local fair. I won a second place ribbon and a $50 gift card from King Arthur Flour. The recipe is the same recipe used for Nana's Pumpkin Cake. I think it makes wonderful muffins also.

Nana's Special Pumpkin Muffins

In a large bowl, beat :

4 eggs

2 cups sugar

1 cup vegetable oil
Sift together :

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Beat into creamed mixture and stir in :

2 cups  pure pumpkin

1 teaspoon vanilla

~Pour muffin batter into paper lined regular size muffin pan.

~Bake at 350 degrees F. for 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

~Cool muffins on wire rack completely before frosting them.

Nana's Special White Chocolate Butternut Icing

4-oz. cream cheese, softened

1/2 stick butter, softened

1 cup white chocolate chips, melted

2 cups confectioners' sugar

1-1/2 -2 teaspoons vanilla butternut flavoring, to taste

~ In a large bowl combine cream cheese and butter until well blended and creamy.

~ Add melted white chocolate chips, mixing well.

~ Gradually add confectioners' sugar until desired consistency is reached.

~ Add flavoring and mix well.

* Recipe Source: Dana's recipe adapted from Nana's pumpkin cake recipe *