A huge part of what’s wonderful about doing things homemade is the smell.
I was talking to my mom the other day about how great a feeling it is when your kitchen smells amazing, whether it’s fresh baked bread, chocolate chip cookies, simmering soup, or apple crisp. There is something so rewarding about having someone walk into the kitchen and eagerly ask, “Whatcha making?”, and there is also something so rewarding about throwing something in the oven, getting busy in another room, and, when the timer calls, walking back into a wall of amazing scent.
[pinit]
These muffins have a smell with that kind of impact. These are something you could bake if you’re trying to sell your house, or have coming out of the oven as your husband comes home from work or your family comes in from out of town. They smell warm, welcoming, cozy, and familiar. They smell like gingerbread men.
And with the fall and winter flavour of cinnamon-spiced gingerbread, a perfectly moist centre, and an evenly crisp top and sides, these are one special carrot muffin that lives up to the smell hype.
I often shy away from vegetable muffins, unless I’m mass producing these veggie muffins, because I am a wimp and get a hand cramp from all that grating. Carl was so kind as to buy me a super effective food processor, but I, who keep everything in its place and can direct people to specific corners of closets for the missing 8 of spades from the red deck of cards, managed to lose the piece of my food processor that is entirely necessary for the grating function. Grrr.
Also, I used to go to work and leave Carl a sweet note and an assortment of veggies to be grated, but I can’t really think of a good excuse to leave the same sweet note and assortment of veggies in his laptop bag when HE goes to work.
But I’m going to keep thinking on that one, because I think there may be a way.
In the meantime, these are totally worth a bit of grating, and are the perfect accompaniment to a bowl of healthy soup, like Butternut Squash and Jalapeno or Roasted Red Pepper and Sweet Potato, two of my creamy winter faves.
What’s your favourite kitchen smell?
- 2¼ cups all purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons ginger
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter, softened to room temperature
- ½ cup lightly packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup fancy molasses (not blackstrap)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup plain low-fat yogurt or sour cream (not fat free)
- 2 cups shredded carrots
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or spray with cooking spray.
- In medium bowl, whisk together flour, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- In large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat together butter and sugars until creamy,1-2 minutes. Beat in molasses and vanilla, then eggs, until very smooth.
- Mix flour mixture in on low speed, adding yogurt when almost combined and mixing till just smooth. Fold in carrots.
- Divide evenly over 12 muffin cups and bake for 20-25 minutes.
Hi there…the recipe for these muffins doesn’t show up. Just the file name. I’m not sure what kind of glitch it is, but I am hoping it’ll get fixed so I can try these muffins. Although I probably have to buy more molasses. :)
Ack, sorry about that! Thanks for letting me know – it’s fixed now. I have a sweet potato version of these coming up that you will have to try too, so buying the molasses will be worth it :)
Great flavour combination! Nothing smells better than baking- not even cooking. ;)
Oh wow, these look wonderful! And I agree – few things make me happier than when my husband walks in the door after a long day and says, “Ooh, it smells amazing in here.” =) I’m partial to the smell of fresh baked breads, anything chocolatey, or long-simmering soups and stews. Mmmm!
Anna….your kitchen must have smelled heavenly! I think these were definitely worth your effort! I love the pairing of carrots and gingerbread here…I can’t believe I’ve never tried that combo before…but I can’t wait to try them now!
I totally agree! It’s the best part about cooking for a living. I get to be surrounded by the amazing smells all day long and get paid to do it!
This is my kind of muffin. I need to bake with carrots more. I love them so much! They pair fabulously with gingerbread. I wish I had one of these right now. :)
I love the scent of delicious things baking in the oven! I could really use a basket of these gorgeous muffins right now!
Oh yeah smell is so wonderful for baking!
I can smell these from here.
These look soooo good! I am always looking for a good muffin recipe that I can make a double batch of to stock up my freezer. I will definitely be making these on my next freezer cooking day! Thank you for sharing the recipe I can’t wait to smell these baking in the oven:)
How is it that your posts about food and recipes always make me laugh so hard? I mean sure, the food looks good, but I come for the laughs.
Gingerbread and carrot, two of my favorites in one tasty muffin!
I love these muffins! I have a stock in my freezer right now :)