So easy but so lovely - Lemon-Blueberry-Muffins and my first try using rolled fondant

(scroll down for the german recipe)

Although I have to admit that regarding cakes and pies I am a real chocolate fanatic, I cant stay away from berries this summer. Whether strawberries, raspberries or blackberries, all of them will be found time by time in my kitchen. The race leader this year: definitely blueberries! They are so easily combineable.

Therefor you wont be surprised that I now tried an amazing recipe created by  Jeanny (which I amended a little) already for the second time within 2 weeks. The first time the lucky ones were my colleagues from work, that could enjoy this recipe baked in a loaf pan. This time, I used this recipe as basis for my first use of rolled fondant. Don't cakes covered in it look soooo cute? I decided to try muffins. And I think the result turned out to be really adorable...

Lemon-Blueberry-Muffins

(for ~16 muffins)

Ingredients for the muffins:

• 240g flour (+ a little flour for the preparation of the blueberries) 

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 125g butter

• 180g sugar

• 1 tablespoon lemon zest

• freshly squeezed lemon juice

• 3 eggs

• 125ml milk

• 150g blueberries

Ingredients for the cover:

• 1 pack rolled fondant (I chose light rose)

• 50g butter

• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence

• 125g powder sugar

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 175°. Mix flour, baking powder and salt. In a microwave safe bowl melt butter. Stir in sugar, lemon zest and lemon juice until foamy. Add eggs slowly to buttermixture. Add milk and stir. Now add the flour mixture and mix until smooth. Roll blueberries in flour and add to dough. Now fill the dough into the muffin cups (almost entirely to the top). Bake for ~ 15 minutes (test with a skewer). Remove muffins from the oven and let cool.

For the cover melt the butter and let cool. Add the vanilla essence and the powder sugar and stir until smooth. Roll out fondant on top of an even surface covered with a little flour (~2-3 mm thick). Cut out circles slightly bigger than the muffin (I used a wine glass upside down). Now place a little of the butter creme on top of the muffin (not to far on the outside). Then place the rolled fondant circle on top and press lightly onto the muffin. Optional: place decoration flowers or similar on top of the fondant layer).

Zitronen-Blaubeer-Muffins
(für etwa 16 Muffins)

Zutaten:

• 240g Mehl (+ etwas Mehl für die Vorbereitung der Blaubeeren)

• 1TL Backpulver

• 1/2 TL Salz

• 125g Butter

• 180g Zucker

• 1 EL Zitronenabrieb

• frisch gepresster Zitronensaft von 2 Zitronen

• 3 Eier

• 125ml Milch

• 150g Blaubeeren

Zutaten für die Fondanthülle:

• 1 Packung Rollfondant (ich habe helles rosa genommen)

• 50g Butter

• 1 TL Vanille Aroma

• 125g Puderzucker

Zubereitung:

Ofen auf 175° Umluft vorheizen. Mehl, Backpulver und Salz mischen. In einer mikrowellenfesten Schüssel Butter schmelzen, dann mit Zucker, Zitronenabrieb und Zitronensaft schaumig rührern. Eier nach und nach zufügen. Milch ebenfalls zugeben. und alles schön vermischen. Mehlmischung zufügen und rühren bis ein homogener Teig enstanden ist. Die Blaubeeren kurz in Mehl wenden und unter die Teigmasse heben. Nun den Teig in Muffinförmchen füllen (fast komplett bis zum Rand füllen) und ca. 15 Minuten backen (Stäbchenprobe). Muffins aus dem Ofen nehmen und abkühlen lassen.

Für die Fondantunterlage die Butter in der Mikrowelle schmelzen und abkühlen lassen. Das Vanillearoma und den Puderzucker zufügen und rühren bis eine glatte Masse entsteht. Den Rollfondant auf einer glatten, bemehlten Unterlage ausrollen (ca 2-3mm dick). Kreise ausstechen, die ein bisschen größer sind, als der Muffin (Ich habe ein umgedrehtes Weinglas benutzt). Ein wenig Buttercreme auf den Muffin schmieren (nicht zu viel an den Rand). Jetzt den Rollfondantkreis auf den Muffin legen und leicht andrücken. Optional: Dekoration auf dem Fondant platzieren.

Soooo cute, aren't they?

Amsterdam - a long weekend in the dutch capital

As I recently moved to the Netherlands, I definitely had to visit the capital. With the famous red light district and numerous coffee shops Amsterdam has its own specific reputation. However, the city has much more to offer.

In addition to a visit to the "Anne Frank House" and the Amsterdam Dungeon we enjoyed a town canal cruise at night, as well as a general discovery tour through Amsterdam's streets and alleys. And one evening our way led as well through some of the many streets of the red light district.

But Amsterdam has as well many beautiful buildings. Lots of nice restaurants, cafes and shops scream for strolling and relaxing...

nice start in the day

Since this visit took place in the rather cold season of this year, I definitely plan to visit Amsterdam in the summer.