What Are Sour Cream Muffins?

Sour cream muffins are any muffin that uses sour cream in the place of milk. These muffins can rely on the sour cream for much of their flavoring or be combined with other flavors, such as blueberry and chocolate chip. Sour cream muffins are most often homemade.

Flour and sour cream are essential to sour cream muffins. If flour is self-rising, no rising agent is needed, but other flours require a rising agent. Normally, both baking soda and baking powder are used. Eggs, butter, and sugar are also normally included, as are vanilla extract and salt. Occasionally, lemon zest is added.

Fruits, like fresh blueberries, or sweets, such as chocolate chips, may also be included in sour cream muffins. Applesauce, normally unsweetened, appears in some versions as well. Although muffins are not iced, they may include a streusel or sugar topping.

To make sour cream muffins, the dry ingredients are mixed separately and then combined. The dry are normally sifted or whisked together, and the wet are usually whisked or beaten. Then, the wet ingredients are gently combined with the dry. Any fruit pieces or sweet morsels are folded into the batter after it has been moistened.

Some versions do not combine the sugar with the dry ingredients. Instead, the sugar, along with the butter, is beaten into eggs. Then, the rest of the wet ingredients are included. Afterward, the dry ingredients are beaten into the egg mixture at a low speed.

Once the batter is complete, it is poured into a muffin pan. Each muffin form should be lined with paper cups or greased and floured before the batter is added. Muffin forms are usually filled two-thirds full to allow for rising and should all be filled evenly so the muffins can bake uniformly.

Normally streusel-like toppings include flour, cinnamon, brown sugar, and unsalted butter. If toppings are added, the butter is melted and combined with the other ingredients. Then, the clumpy mixture is chilled before being layered on top of the uncooked batter. The raw muffins can also be sprinkled with sugar or a cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Sour cream muffins usually bake between 15 and 25 minutes. They are normally golden when cooked and can be tested for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of a muffin. If no batter or muffin particles stick to the toothpick, the muffins can be removed from the oven. They should be allowed to cool before being handled.