Whole wheat muffins and waffles

[kalyson]

I've been trying to make waffles and muffins that have about 50% whole wheat along with regular unbleached flour. They have a nice flavor, but seem kind of chewy and maybe a bit tough. I really try not to overmix, but am not sure what I'm doing wrong. I've been just using recipes that are for regular muffins/waffles and substituting whole wheat flour, but maybe I should be changing something else... Anyone have good recipes for this? Thanks!

[Also -- if anyone has a suggestion for a book that has good quick bread and other baking recipes, please share]

Edited October 9, 2005 by kalyson (log)

[andiesenji]

Use your 50% whole wheat flour, 1/4 regular flour and 1/4 cake flour.

However if you can get "soft" wheat flour, i.e. White Lily or Red Band.

Or go to your local health food store and get whole wheat pastry flour and use that for the half regular flour or use just it.

Arrowhead Mills and Bob's Red Mill both market excellent whole wheat pastry flour.

This flour has only a small percentage of gluten so the results are very tender. It also makes great biscuits and pie crust.

Elizabeth Alston's "Biscuits & Scones" is an excellent cookbook.

There is also Beth Hensberger's The Best Quickbreads

and Beverly Cox's Biscuits, Pancakes and Quickbreads.

( I collect cookbooks and have more than 50 just on quickbreads and etc.)

Edited October 9, 2005 by andiesenji (log)

[kalyson]

Thanks so much! Great info. I'm looking on Amazon now for those books to buy....

--K

[CanadianBakin']

This recipe is quite good. Good texture, moist but not chewy, and good flavour. They sold quite well at the coffee house I used to bake for.

Carrot Muffins (UBC Treats to Remember)

4 eggs

7 oz sugar

16-1/2 oz whole wheat flour

2-1/2 tsp baking powder

1-1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

7-1/2 oz vegetable oil

1 - 10 oz can crushed pineapple (don't drain)

13 1/2 oz carrots, peeled and shredded

1 cup chopped dates (about 6 oz)

Prepare dates and carrots. Put in a bowl along with pineapple.

Whisk together dry ingredients.

Cream eggs and sugar.

Add dry ingredients and oil alternately to egg and sugar mix. Don't overmix.

Stir in dates/carrot/pineapple mix just till combined.

Portion into 18 greased muffin cups.

Bake at 350F for 25 - 30 minutes, till a toothpick comes out clean.

**Be really sure not to overbake, they can get dry very quickly.

After cooling, I wrap them individually and freeze them so I can pull them out for breakfast on the run or a quick snack.

[kalyson]

This recipe is quite good. Good texture, moist but not chewy, and good flavour. They sold quite well at the coffee house I used to bake for.

Carrot Muffins (UBC Treats to Remember)

4 eggs

7 oz sugar

16-1/2 oz whole wheat flour

2-1/2 tsp baking powder

1-1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

7-1/2 oz vegetable oil

1 - 10 oz can crushed pineapple (don't drain)

13 1/2 oz carrots, peeled and shredded

1 cup chopped dates (about 6 oz)

Prepare dates and carrots. Put in a bowl along with pineapple.

Whisk together dry ingredients.

Cream eggs and sugar.

Add dry ingredients and oil alternately to egg and sugar mix. Don't overmix.

Stir in dates/carrot/pineapple mix just till combined.

Portion into 18 greased muffin cups.

Bake at 350F for 25 - 30 minutes, till a toothpick comes out clean.

**Be really sure not to overbake, they can get dry very quickly.

After cooling, I wrap them individually and freeze them so I can pull them out for breakfast on the run or a quick snack.

←

Thank you for sharing. I'll give that one a try! (I noticed you

have things listed as ounces -- I guess that means you are

weighing things instead of using a measuring cup?)

Edited October 10, 2005 by kalyson (log)

[CanadianBakin']

Yes, I prefer to weigh but I do have volume measurements if that is more useful to you.

[kalyson]

Yes, I prefer to weigh but I do have volume measurements if that is more useful to you.

←

I need to get a scale, it's true. If it isn't too much trouble to reprint with volume measurements, that would be great. I'm looking for a good scale, in any case, and can always use the recipe with weights after I find one, though.

[CanadianBakin']

Yes, I prefer to weigh but I do have volume measurements if that is more useful to you.

←

I need to get a scale, it's true. If it isn't too much trouble to reprint with volume measurements, that would be great. I'm looking for a good scale, in any case, and can always use the recipe with weights after I find one, though.

←

Once you get a scale, you'll never go back! It's so much easier and more accurate.

4 eggs

1 cup sugar

3 cups whole wheat flour

2-1/2 tsp baking powder

1-1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1 cup vegetable oil

1 - 10 oz can pineapple (don't have any other measurement for this)

2-1/2 cups carrots, shredded

1 cup chopped dates

[kalyson]

Yes, I prefer to weigh but I do have volume measurements if that is more useful to you.

←

I need to get a scale, it's true. If it isn't too much trouble to reprint with volume measurements, that would be great. I'm looking for a good scale, in any case, and can always use the recipe with weights after I find one, though.

←

Once you get a scale, you'll never go back! It's so much easier and more accurate.

4 eggs

1 cup sugar

3 cups whole wheat flour

2-1/2 tsp baking powder

1-1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1 cup vegetable oil

1 - 10 oz can pineapple (don't have any other measurement for this)

2-1/2 cups carrots, shredded

1 cup chopped dates

←

Thanks again! --K

[Redsugar]

A supplement to the titles recommended by Andiesenji, posted above:

Beverly Cox: Biscuits, Pancakes, and Quick Breads.

James Villas: Biscuit Bliss.

Sue Carroll: Breakfast at Nine, Tea at Four.

Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough: The Ultimate Muffin Book.

Allysa Torey: More from Magnolia.

Dorie Greenspan: Waffles from Morning to Midnight

Heidi Cusick (ed.): Scones, Muffins, & Tea Cakes: Breakfast Breads and Teatime Spreads.