Date apricot muffins with anise
Instructions:
- MUFFINS:
- 2 cups white whole wheat flour (8½ ounces);
- ¼ cup sugar;
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder;
- ½ teaspoon baking soda;
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon;
- ½ teaspoon ground anise seeds, preferably freshly ground;
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt;
- ½ cup chopped dried dates;
- ¼ cup chopped dried apricots;
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature ½ cup honey;
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil;
- ¾ cup freshly squeezed orange juice;
- 2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest;
- ½ cup chopped unsalted toasted pistachios.
- TOPPING:
- 2 tablespoons sugar;
- 2 tablespoons sugar;
- ½ teaspoon ground anise seeds;
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped unsalted toasted pistachios .
- Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375 F. Lightly butter a standard-size 12-cup muffin pan, preferably nonstick, or coat with cooking spray.
- To make the muffins, whisk together the white whole wheat flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, anise seeds, and salt in a large bowl. Scatter the dates and apricots on top and toss to combine. Make a well in the center. In a medium bowl, lightly whisk the eggs to blend. Whisk in the honey and then the olive oil, orange juice, and zest until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the egg mixture to the center of the flour mixture, and stir with a rubber spatula until just combined. Do not overmix; the batter should look lumpy. Fold in the pistachios. Using a 1/3-cup measure, divide the batter equally among the muffin cups (they will be almost full).
- To make the topping, combine the sugar and anise seeds in a small bowl. Sprinkle each muffin with ½ teaspoon of the sugar mixture, and top with the pistachios.
- Bake until the muffins are nicely domed and lightly golden and the tops spring back when gently pressed, about 15 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes, and then gently twist the muffins out of the pan. Eat warm or at room temperature.
- TO GET A HEAD START: These muffins freeze well for up to 1 month.
- TO VARY IT: Use chopped toasted walnuts or toasted slivered almonds in place of the pistachios.
- TO LIGHTEN IT UP: Omit the sugar in the batter for a less-sweet morning muffin—or as an excuse to add your favorite jam.…