How to use frozen fruit in muffins? (without ruining the texture)

Frozen fruit works wonderfully in muffins and can even become your best ally for quick cooking, without compromising on taste.

Wild blueberries, raspberries, cranberries, strawberries or banana pieces: frozen fruit makes it possible to prepare homemade muffins all year round, even out of season.

But there are a few tips to know to avoid soggy muffins or fruit that sinks to the bottom.

Add the fruit… still frozen

The reflex is often to take the fruit out in advance to thaw it. However, for muffins, the opposite is generally recommended.

Adding the fruit directly frozen helps to:

✓ keep their shape
✓ prevent them from releasing too much water
✓ limit them from crushing in the batter
✓ reduce the risk of the entire batter becoming discolored (hello completely purple muffins!)

For small fruits like blueberries or raspberries, gently incorporate them at the very end.

Mix as little as possible

Once the fruit is added, mix just enough to distribute it. Over-mixing the batter can result in denser muffins and crushed fruit. At MUFF, we always like to remind people that a few strokes with a spatula are enough.

Add a few minutes of cooking if necessary

Frozen fruit slightly cools the batter. As a result, your muffins may sometimes require 2 to 5 minutes of additional cooking time. The best test is always the same: insert a toothpick into the center. It should come out clean (or with a few crumbs).

Small exception: large pieces of fruit

For large frozen strawberries, peaches, or banana pieces, sometimes let them thaw slightly then drain excess water before using them. Otherwise, they can create very moist areas in the muffins.

Some ideas to customize our mixes

• Double chocolate → add ½ cup of frozen raspberries for a chocolate-raspberry version.

• Banana + chocolate → add ½ cup of frozen strawberries for a version inspired by the classic strawberry-banana.

• Wild blueberries → add ½ cup of frozen raspberries for a "berry" version.

• Apple Crumble → add small pieces of frozen peaches for a "summer compote / pie" version.

• Cinnamon + Raisins → add ½ cup of frozen blueberries for a "berry" version.

• Muesli + Cranberries → add ½ cup of frozen pears for a soft and comforting version.

Our mixes are designed to be simple, but also easy to customize. A few frozen fruits, a little creative touch and you have a whole new version to discover.

Happy cooking!

Virginie :)