Lunch Box Hits: Organic Berry Muffins

Hello to our conscious parents and mini chefs! As we get our heads back into the fall systems and organization, it’s the perfect time to incorporate some wholesome, organic goodness into our lunch boxes.

Today, we’re diving into a fun recipe that your kids will love: Organic Berry Muffins. Packed with fresh, organic berries and made with natural ingredients, these muffins are not only a hit with the littles but also a nutritious option for breakfast, recess - or even a sweet treat.

Why Organic?

Choosing organic ingredients means opting for produce and products that are grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or genetically modified organisms. Organic foods often have a richer taste and are planet-positive, like you. Plus, they’re a great way to teach your little people about making healthy and earth-conscious choices.

Ingredients

• For the Muffins:

  • 1 ½ cups organic all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup organic granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup organic brown sugar, packed
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 large egg (choose locally produced when you can!)
  • ½ cup organic milk (again, try for local!)
  • ¼ cup organic coconut oil (or another organic vegetable oil)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (always go authentic!)
  • 1 cup organic mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are a favourite at this house; ideally fresh but frozen also works)
    
    

• For the Topping:

  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. Preheat and Prepare:
   Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with organic paper liners or lightly grease it with organic oil.

2. Mix Dry Ingredients:
   In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. This step ensures that the leavening agents and spices are evenly distributed throughout the muffins.

3. Combine Wet Ingredients:
   In another bowl, beat the egg. Add the milk, coconut oil, and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.

4. Combine Mixtures:
   Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing, as this can make the muffins dense.

5. Fold in Berries:
   Gently fold in the organic berries. If you’re using frozen berries, don’t thaw them—this helps prevent the batter from turning blue or purple. Quick tip: toss them in a little flour first to get a better mix.

6. Prepare the Topping:
   In a small bowl, mix together the organic sugar and ground cinnamon. This will give your muffins a delightful, sweet crust.

7. Fill Muffin Cups:
   Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tin, filling each cup about 2/3 full. Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar topping evenly over each muffin.

8. Bake:
   Bake in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. The muffins should be golden brown and slightly domed.

9. Cool and Enjoy:
   Let the muffins cool in the tin for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. These muffins are perfect served warm or at room temperature.

Fun Baking Activities for Kids

• Measuring and Mixing: Let your kids measure and mix the ingredients. They’ll love getting involved and seeing how each step contributes to the final product. If you have a kitchen scale, I've gotta say: kids LOVE weighing things and learning about how that part works.
• Berry Prep: If you're using fresh berries, let kids help wash and toss the berries with a little flour to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the muffins.
• Stirring: If you're not using your KitchenAid, let the little ones do the stirring - I often will let my kiddos mix the dry ingredients in a bowl while I'm doing the wet ingredients in the mixer, and then they get to help add their dry mix in. (Obviously watch out for little fingers!)
• Topping Fun: Allow your little ones to sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar topping on the muffins before baking. Honestly, the more the better. ;)

Not only are these muffins bursting with the natural sweetness of organic berries for the perfect lunchbox snack, but they also offer a great opportunity for family bonding in the kitchen. Enjoy baking these wholesome treats with your kids and savour the delicious results!