frozen berries

[kelebek]

ok sorry if this has been asked before but I am going to ask again....

If I make muffins with frozen muffins do I have to defrost them?

Thanks in advance

[ss_storm]

If I make muffins with frozen muffins do I have to defrost them?

Thanks in advance

You mean frozen berries?

I don't...normally I just get out what i need and sit them in a bowl on the bench while I do the rest of the muffin mix. By the time they are ready to be mixed in they are fairly defrosted anyway, the muffin mix just gets berry colour all through it! I think I have read somewhere you can sit them on paper towel to absorb some of the extra moisture and the colour won't run so much, but I like the swirls of red/black (depending on the type of berries!) through the muffins.

[kelebek]

yes I meant make muffins with frozen berries... serves me right for watching Private Practice at the same time as being on BB

[Laranna]

Yep I do the same as ss_storm. Take what I need out of the freezer first and they are pretty much good to go by the time I've mixed up the batter. mmmm blueberry muffins....

[butterfly_warrior]

I've done it several times - straight from freezer to muffin mix and then to the oven. It works fine. The colour does run a bit, but they taste good!

BW

[kelebek]

cool, I lashed out and brought a packet but didn't really know what to do with them, might have to do some cooking in the next few days

[ss_storm]

They are also yum in an apple crumble, I make mine from scratch with slices of granny smith apple, mix in a little bit of raw sugar and some berries (either mixed berries or raspberries), put on the crumble topping and yummo! again, the colour does run a bit (so end up with red-tinged apple) but it tastes good and is something a bit different!

[Laranna]

Oh yes, they are delish in an apple crumble especially the raspberries I drain the juice from the apple and raspberry mixture after it's heated on the stove and then cook the juice in another pan with a little more sugar until it thickens and drizzle over the top of the crumble and icecream.

[ktgirl]

Yum the crumble idea sounds great. I always have frozen raspberries in the freezer. On most days I have a yoghurt for morning tea and when I want something a little extra I just get some berries out and let them defrost on some paper towel and then mix them in with the yoghurt...yummy.

Just another idea for you to use them up.

[mrsmac]

I make raspberry and white choc muffins with frozen berries, I use them straight from the freezer.

[smiles4u]

... i buy the box of frozen mixed berries from Aldi (very cheap)

Also i buy the vanilla cake mix from there (OMG, the raw batter is to die for) and pour it into to each muffin hole then DD loves to pop all frozen one blueberry, one raspberry & one strawberry into each muffin batter in it's tin. They don't completely rise but they are so YUMMY (especially when warm)

[Kitt3n]

..... and when you serve the muffins you can put a few leftover berries into a jug of water to serve, it looks so lovely!

[Hollybolly]

I think it depends on what you're going to make with them if you're doing it straight from the freezer

I haven't had a problem with muffins, cakes etc - but I did make biscotti once & it never cooked properly (the frozen berries gave it too much liquid) - but thats because it has to be dough (like bread).

I think if you're making anything like biscotti or something that has to stay relatively dry, just thaw them or drain them on a paper towel first to take most of the moisture our first

[entreat]

Muffins you should use them frozen to limit the 'running' of the colour, especially blueberries. Fresh berries never run (unless you squish 'em), but defrosted berries will turn the whole muffin purple!

Incidentally I made a Mocktail last night:
In a tall glass: handful frozen raspberries (or mixed berries also work very well), a couple of torn mint leaves, lots of ice, topped with Sparkling apple juice.