Medjool Date & Pecan Muffins

When reading Costco Connections magazine I saw a recipe for Gooey Medjool Date & Pecan muffins. As I like both dates and pecans I thought I must try the recipe. I love those big, sweet Medjool Dates. They are much larger than the Deglet Noor ones and seem to have thinner skins. I believe they are sweeter too. I also really like pecans, with a crunchy but soft texture and a great taste.

These Medjool Date & Pecan Muffins are so easy to make, as are most, if not all muffin recipes. The list of ingredients is not too large either.

Ingredients

It starts with Medjool dates, though the same volume of other dates is ok too. Then, the other star of the show is the pecans, most of which are chopped. Some halves of pecans are saved to be placed on the top too. After the two main ingredients for taste and flavour the recipe also has flour, milk, egg, butter, sugar, baking powder and salt.

Process

The process is very straightforward. Soak the dates in boiling water for a short while. Then mash or process them, until you have a paste. Set the paste aside for later.

Put all the dry ingredients into a large bowl and mix them together, incorporating the chopped pecans too. Mix the egg, butter and milk. Add it to the dry ingredients until just about incorporated. Spoon batter into the muffin cases, but only about half the mixture. Top that with a heaped teaspoon of date paste. The spoon the remaining batter over the paste to encase in completely.

After that the muffins are ready to bake. The baking takes only about 15 minutes. Once they are out of the oven cool the muffins on a wire rack. Then add a dab of the remaing paste onto the top of each muffin. Press half a pecan into the paste on each muffin. Then they are ready to serve.

Result

The muffins tasted so good, with the soft, sweet and fruity date paste mixing so well with the crunch of the pecans, along with the cakey texture of the muffins.

Another great muffin recipe is Banana Muffins With Crunchy Top

Medjool Date & Pecan Muffins

Recipe by (From Costco Connections Magazine)Course: Muffins, RecipesDifficulty: Easy

Servings

12

servings

Prep time

20

minutes

Cooking time

15

minutes

Ingredients

• 12 large Medjool Dates, pitted and chopped(about 225g when chopped_

• 100ml(6 tbsp+2 tsp) boiling water

• 300g(2 cups, based on scooping packed flour into a 250ml cup) plain flour

• 8g(2 tsp) baking powder

• 150g(3/4 cup) caster sugar

• 90g(3/4 cup) chopped pecans

• 12 pecan halves

• 50g(3 1/2 tbsp) melted unsalted butter

• 220(2/3 cup + 1/4 cup) milk

• 1 medium egg(large in the USA)

• 1.5g(1/4 tsp) salt

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/390F and line a muffin pan with paper cases.
• Soak the chopped dates in the boiling water for a few minutes.
• Process or mash the dates and water into a smooth paste and set it aside.
• In a large bowl place the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt and mix them together
• Add the chopped pecans and mix them until distributed.
• In another bowl whisk the egg, butter and milk together.
• Pour the wet mixture into the dry and gently stir it until just about combined.
• Spoon half the batter, equally, between the 12 paper cases.
• Place a heaped teaspoon of date paste onto the batter.
• Cover the paste entirely with the remaining batter.
• Bake the muffins for 15 minutes, until they have risen well and a skewer poked down the side, avoiding the paste, come out clean.
• Place the muffins onto a cooling rack and leave them to cool.
• Place a small dab of date paste onto the top of each muffin and top that with half a pecan.