Muffin perfection (Finally)

[dede]

I have always had problems with making muffins and cupcakes, they have never turned out as good as I have wanted them too, They have either rose to much and overflowed into a mess or they would collapse when I took them out of the oven and then they become sticky within a few hours.
  so I did a google search and found a few tips that actually worked and I ended up with perfect (well much better) Muffins.
Firstly I used a higher Temp of 170 (Usually I cook everything at 150 as my oven burns everything otherwise) apparently a lower temp will cause the mixture to keep rising and over flow.
and secondly I didn't open the oven at all for the first 15 minutes, this stops them from collapsing.
They rose beautifully and didn't over flow and no stickiness.
There was quiet a few other tips I found when making muffins and they were very useful.
I do love Google.

[JulieO]

They look lovely dede.  Would love one with a cuppa now. 

[judydawn]

So pleased for you dede - success from now on.

[dede]

Thanks Girls, I was so pleased I just had to share lol. Im like a little girl at christmas time.

[Very Happy Jan]

They look lovely dede. Gotta love success

[dede]

Mind you I havnt tried them yet. They may taste horrible . But at least they look ok 

[trudy]

They look great Dede

[maddy]

Mind you I havnt tried them yet. They may taste horrible . But at least they look ok 

LOL....that made me giggle 

Ovens can be a funny thing, and big cause of failures    Best invest in an oven thermometer too.....you may find it's out quite a bit.
I can't place anything in the middle racks...it has to sit on the lower portion, as it tends to burn anything higher.
Re muffins:  I find it's too easy to over beat in the TM, and they really only need to be just mixed together, and no more.  Cupcakes I find are good to mix in thermie, but I prefer the old bowl and spoon for muffins 

[Lellyj]

I agree with Maddy.  Get an oven thermometer, it might be your oven thermostat that is no accurate which is why things may be burning at 160.  All ovens have their own little personalities!

I thought my oven took hours to heat as it seemed for ever  before the light to say it had reached temperature came on . . . when I got my thermometer, I realised that the oven would reach temperature way before the light went out--so the thermostat on the oven must be dodgy.  Now I've got the thermometer which hangs on the shelf, I can just see when it's at temperature through the door.

I hope that your muffins tasted as good as they look!

[Dreamer]

Muffins are the one thing that I cannot cook they never turn out right, I have tried everything!!!!

[CreamPuff63]

Isn't it wonderful when you find out a couple of secrets that will really make a difference. I also read recently to get evensized muffins to use the 1/3 cup measure. they look lovely dede.

[Lellyj]

Using an icecream scoop is a good way to get even sized muffins.  A smaller one is good for cookies.

[dede]

I'm sitting here eating a muffin now and they taste great. So I am double happy.
As for my oven it has a hidden element in the bottom and I hated it when I first got it as everything would burn. It took me some time to work it out, I cant cook anything on the bottom shelf at all only the top half of the oven. And I placed the grill tray right down the bottom to help distribute the heat better. I so wish I had spent an extra couple hundred dollars and got a better oven. Oh well I'm not changing it now. I just have to deal with it.

[cookie1]

Well done dede. You are the new Queen of muffins.

[meganjane]

Good work Mandi!

I normally cook muffins at around 200 in my oven. I put the paper pans into a silicone muffin tin which has much deeper holes than the paper pans. Then, I fill to the top of the paper and they rise right above it, but are still supported my the sides of the 'tin'. I get gorgeous high rise muffins that way.