Pineapple Muffins

One of the best ways to enjoy fresh pineapples is to bake cute little Pineapple Muffins out of them! Next to Blueberry Muffins, these have got to be my favorite snack. I love Pina-Colada, os I decided to combine the great flavor combo of Pineapples and Coconut to bake these baby cakes, that are delicious and filling, and don't take much preparation. You can zest them up by adding orange, lime, or even spices, but I love them as they are, with a hint of coconut essence, fresh pineapple cubes, and nice chredded coconut!

Ingredients
Makes 12-15 medium-sized muffins

1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sweetened pineapples - diced or crushed
2 tbsp shredded coconut
1 egg
*** substitute 1/4 cup vanilla or plain yogurt for an eggless version
1 cup castor sugar
1 tsp coconut essence
1/2 tsp orange extract (optional)
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup milk (or sour cream)
1/3 cup butter - at room temperature
1 tsp baking powder

Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and prepare muffins pans by greasing with non-stick spray, or line them with paper-liners.

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

Combine egg, milk, and melted butter in another bowl. Beat a little to combine everything together and make it frothy. Now add this to the dry mixture just until combined. Do not over-beat. Fold in the pineapples and the shredded coconut and gently stir to combine.

Spoon the mixture into the moulds (upto 2/3 full) and bake for 20 minutes, until the tops rise and become golden.

Let the muffins cool in the rack for 10 mins. Then gently remove then from the moulds and transfer to a wire rack to further cool for another 5-7 mins. (If you don't let them cool enough, the tops may sag, like mine did:))

Serve the Pineapple muffins, or baby cakes, as I like to call them, with some fresh Indian Chai. You can even layer it with some orange marmalade, or deck it up with whipped cream! Enjoy the taste of Pina Colada, albeit in a Muffin form!

This is my entry for the BBD#18 - Quick Breads that is currently running on this blog. You still have until April 1st to send in your entries. So bake something quick, and send it over!

Related Recipes:
Mango Streusel Cake
Low-Fat Blueberry Muffins
Eggless Cranberry Walnut Scones