Cherry Pie Muffins for President's Day!

By BigBinder Feb 21, 2012

Since yesterday was President's Day, why not start today off right with a fun twist on Cherry Pie; Cherry Pie Muffins! Skip the canned cherry pie filling and make your own - it's really easy!

Home Made Cherry Pie Filling (based on a recipe from My Baking Addiction)

24 ounces frozen tart cherries, thawed with excess water drained off {I might be biased - but the ones from Michigan are the best!}
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan except almond extract. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low, stirring frequently for about 15 minutes until thickened. Stir in almond extract. Cool.

Cherry Pie Muffins (based on a recipe from Babble)

2 eggs
1/2 cup coconut oil
2/3 c. organic brown sugar or sucanat
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tablespoons salt
1/3 cup milk
1/2 recipe Home Made Cherry Pie Filling
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, coconut oil, and brown sugar or sucanat. Add baking powder, flour, salt, milk and Home Made Cherry Pie Filling. Mix just enough to incorporate. Spoon into muffin tins lined with cupcake wrappers. In a small bowl, mix together with a fork butter, flour and sugar until crumbly. Sprinkle over each muffin. Bake 17-19 minutes, until the top of each muffin springs back when touched lightly. Cool slightly before serving.

Makes 12 large muffins.

Jennifer Rees is the author of The UnProcessed Kitchen, a blog dedicated to finding the best possible diet for kids with Sensory Processing Disorder. She shares wonderful recipes along with kitchen disasters and an occasional tirade against food dyes. Jennifer also authors BigBinder, a blog for parents in Grand Rapids, Michigan encouraging them to engage in cultural, culinary, and fun activities and events with their kids. She is also the Michigan Mom for MomTV.com. Reach Jennifer by email at bigbinderblog@gmail.com and she can almost always be found on Twitter @bigbinderblog..