This recipe yields a muffin that is almost impossibly light and fluffy, with olive oil and decadent ricotta lending a moist richness that’s impossible to find in a standard-issue coffee shop muffin. You don’t taste the olive oil at all in the finished recipe … just a light silkiness that really sets this muffin apart.
While fruit-studded muffins certainly have their place, you can’t beat the subtler, complex flavors of a good chai-style tea … and they translate beautifully into muffin form. We use classic elements from Indian cuisine as the inspiration for this muffin: cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, allspice, nutmeg and cloves. To really take these muffins over the top, we wholeheartedly recommend making a quick compound butter with a few extra shakes of these same spices (as well as a little extra honey) and spreading the finished chai butter on your freshly-baked muffins.
Want to dial up the healthiness quotient of these muffins? You can substitute white whole wheat flour for the all-purpose flour … just use the same amount listed below. And perhaps the best bonus of all? You won’t believe how good your kitchen smells after baking up a batch of these scratch-made muffins.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper muffin liners.
In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine olive oil, honey, vanilla and eggs. Beat by hand or on low speed until combined, then add ricotta cheese. Stir a few more times, then add all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, allspice, nutmeg, cloves and salt. Mix until combined with no lumps.
Divide the batter evenly between the 12 muffin cups. Bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick or knife inserted into the middle comes out clean. Allow to cool slightly, then serve warm or at room temperature.
Sign up to receive the latest updates on City of Hope news, medical breakthroughs, and prevention tips straight to your email inbox!
Keep an eye on your inbox for the latest City of Hope news and research breakthroughs. If you have previously subscribed to receive email communications, your preferences have been updated.
© 2022 CITY OF HOPE and the City of Hope logo are registered trademarks of City of Hope. City of Hope strongly supports and values the uniqueness of all individuals and promotes a work environment where diversity is embraced.