Strawberry Muffins

I recently bought some strawberries with no plans for them... and decided to make muffins!  Strawberries are a berry... and blueberry muffins are common and popular, right?

Strawberries are often cheaper than blueberries and the prices can often dip low, so this is a great recipe to keep handy.

I'll have to go check where my strawberries are from but CaliforniaStrawberries.com says shipments from the northern California areas begin in April, peak in May or June, and continue through November and that strawberries are also grown as an annual crop in California.

I do wonder why strawberry muffins aren't as common.  Maybe it's cause you have to put extra work into slicing the strawberries so blueberries are easier...?

I just googled recipes for strawberry aqua frescas and that's what you might be seeing next!  (It sounds super simple: strawberries, sugar, lime, water, ice and some mint sprigs!)  Last summer I made strawberry popsicles and they were a hit!  Guess I have lots of ideas for strawberries after all.  :)

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Strawberry Muffins - adapted from All Recipes

1/4 cup canola oil

1/2 cup milk

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup brown sugar 

1/2 cup white sugar

1 cup chopped strawberries, plus a little more to press into the tops

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F, line muffin pan with paper liners.

In a small bowl, combine oil, milk, egg, and vanilla. Beat lightly. In a large bowl, mix flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, brown sugar, and white sugar. Toss in chopped strawberries and stir to coat with flour. Pour in milk mixture and stir together.

Fill muffin cups a little over 3/4. Take the "plus a little more" strawberries and press at least 3 small pieces into the the tops so that the red parts show.  (I like having my muffins speak for themselves what kind of muffins they are!)

Bake at 375 degrees F for 25 minutes.  Cool 10 minutes and remove from pans to cool on a plate (or a cookie rack).

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What are your favorite kinds of muffins?  Have you had strawberry muffins before (since they don't seem as common?)