After gorging myself on cherries every night for the past few days, I finally decided to bake something while I still had a few on hand. I didn’t want to make anything too decadent or sweet today so I my turned to muffins, or as I like to think of them “almost cupcakes”.
I have a good go to recipe for muffins, which has seen a quite a few variations over the years, and has yet to fail me. The muffins were perfect, a delightful crumb, not too sweet with just a little bit of crunch on the exterior.
Feel free to change them up a bit, but the base recipe is a keeper and should be filed away for further use.
I hope you enjoy these as much as we did!
These little muffins truly are a wonderful treat, they freeze well an can provide a much better start to your day then some store made over processed version. If you don’t have cherries try peaches, nectarines, or berries…..just try them.
*one thing I do is measure out all my dry ingredients and have a few sets made up in zip-lock bags ready to go. That way when I stumble out of bed, its not such a chore to make the muffins and have them ready for breakfast by the time my wife gets up. If you have fruit to prep do it the night before too!
I would like to thank everyone for the well wishes, I think I have gotten rid of my last bit of summer flu, and things are definitely looking better! Our heatwave finally broke today, after reaching temps of 103 last week 87 is looking darn good!
My new blog is taking shape, hopefully it will be finished within the next few weeks, I’m really getting excited!!
And of course I will be in Asheville on August 12th and 13th for the Asheville Wine and Food Festival and would love to see you there. If your within driving distance, I can promise you a great time for very little money! Food glorious food, and local beers and wine! Stop by our website to get your tickets, click on the link for more information. You can also email me with any questions.
I hope everyone is taking advantage of all the delicious fresh produce that is in our markets, and if your lucky enough to have a farmers market in your area that’s even better. Local produce is always a better choice!
That’s about it for today my friends.
Thanks for stopping by, stay cool and stay full!
Cheers
Dennis
Cherry Vanilla Muffins
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Author: Chef Dennis
Recipe type: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Serves: 6
Ingredients
- 1½ cup (180 g) all purpose flour
- ½ cup (100 g) sugar
- ½ tsp (2.5 g) salt
- ½ tsp (2.5 g) baking powder
- ½ tsp (2.5 g) baking soda
- ½ cup(120 g) low fat Greek yogurt
- ½ cup (120 ml) vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 Tbsp (15 g) vanilla powder or pure vanilla extract
- 1 lemon zest (grated) and a good squeeze of juice
- 2 cups (300 g) sweet cherries (fresh or frozen) pitted and cut in half
- ½ cup (75 g) granola for topping
Instructions
- Mix all your dry ingredients together in one bowl (including Vanilla Powder)
- Lightly beat the eggs and add in the Greek Yogurt, oil, lemon zest, and juice from the lemon. Mix all these ingredients until well blended.
- Add wet mixture to dry mixture and mix just enough to blend.
- Fold in the Cherries into the muffin mix. (donot over mix; it will make the muffins tough)
- Sprinkle the tops with granola.
- Bake for 25-30minutes at 350 degrees until the tops are golden brown.
- This will yield 6 large muffins or 12 small muffins
Lovely!
Muffins are one of those things that I just have difficulty capturing, They are so tasty but I just really struggle getting how beautiful they are. NOT YOU! You have me wanting to drive to the store right now to buy some cherries! Great job!!
Beautiful muffins! I love the use of the yogurt.
I'm suddenly craving a muffin now
These looks great!!
I would love a muffin with a cup of coffee. Yum!
These muffins look wonderful and since it's raining today in Seattle I feel like I should be eating one this afternoon.
Another winner, Dennis. Now I need to go buy some cherries
I love the fresh and delicious cherry halves in those muffins! I have also been enjoying bags and bags of cherries. I think tonight is the night to change it up and enjoy those wonderful cherry muffins!
Now that is a muffin I could love. With the cherries…oh yes!!
These might make me buy some cherries. Typically they are on the bottom of my list on fruits to consume.
However these muffins look phenomenal.
These muffins look wonderful!! I love the tip to measure out the ingredients so that you can make them in the morning. Amazing!
Fantastic muffins! Cherries never last long enough in my house to bake with! I may have to salvage (read hide) a few so I can try out these muffins!
Glad you're feeling better, Chef! Those are gorgeous, gorgeous muffins. I'm saving the recipe for when a baking mood strikes.
These look great. I love cherries and muffins.
My brother-in-law has lots and lots of cherries right now from his Okanagan cherry trees. I'm going to send the recipe over.
Have a great week, Chef Dennis!
Those muffins look fantastic! Love the use of yogurt in muffins!
Have a wonderful week, Chef dennis!
Que delicia. Magnificos.
Saludos
Cherry Vanilla muffins, yuuummm!!! Yes! This recipe certainly looks worth trying=) Thanks for sharing!
I love muffins! I always have them in my freezer. These with cherries look amazing! And I love that you put greek yogurt in there – kind of makes you feel better about all the calories
I have never seen muffins being made with greek yoghurt. I can just picture the moistness and soft texture it would give to the muffin. I love cherries – make the most amazing desserts and also are so beautiful and just perfect for photography! I have bookmarked this recipe and will make this sometime soon.
Thanks for sharing.
Those look beautiful. I have cherries AND we're taking tomorrow off to work on the house. Might be a plan here
Glad you're feeling better.
Glad you're feeling better, Dennis, and that the weather has cooled off a bit for you.
I can see why these are your "go to" muffins! The ingredients look perfect. I will be trying these!
Oh yeah .. i am eating cherries non stop .. make cake , jam and yet I am eating non stop ! May be should also make that gorgeous muffins you made.
I absolutely love cherries. I cannot stop munching them too. I had 3-4 punnets at least already. They're so sweet this season. Beautiful muffins chef!
These are gorgeous muffins, Dennis…great idea to keep a supply of dry ingredients ready to go. I'd love these to start my morning
No doubt in my mind about how delicious these are. I love cherries and have to give this a try! Way to go, Dennis!
Beautiful muffins. Think I need another trip to the market so I restock my cherry supplies. I must make these. I love the pics too.
Cherries are one of my favorite fruits. I don't get to them very often and they are very pricey here. Nice muffins! Never actually seen a cherry muffin before.
These look fantastic, Dennis. I find it hard to bake with fresh fruit when it's at its peak because I just want to eat it all fresh! So I know how you feel gorging on those berries.
These muffins are beautiful! I love the combination of cherry-vanilla. But those cherries…wow! I can't wait to try these! : )
These muffins look so moist and tasty! Fresh cherries are hard to resist, but I am glad there was some left so you could bake these. Simply delicious.
What a great idea to have the dry ingredients ready to go in ziploc bags! Your muffins look amazing–love the topping!
I've eating cherries (mostly Rainier cherries) like crazy. This is such a great idea to get good use of them!
I had cherries for amorning snack. And almost cried when I ate the last one. I love them, with all my heart. These muffins look fantastic!!! I love that you used greek yogurt in them!
That looks so luscious…I wish I had one right now.
yummy pictures! making me want them ASAP
These muffins looks absolutely delicious and your pictures are gorgeous! Love this recipe!
These muffins look so good, cherries are even on sale this week at the store! Perfect!
I didn't get past the bit about preparing the dry ingredients ahead of time so the muffins are ready when your wife gets up. Is there a gene for this? If so, can I get one implanted in MY husband?
I think I'd fall over dead if he got up early and made me a muffin. (I don't have to worry about dying early.)
These cherry vanilla muffins look fantastic!
So glad to hear you're feeling better! I bet it was these muffins that fixed the flu
They sound delightful… Cherry-Vanilla? Yum! Thanks for sharing, Chef Dennis! Can't wait to see your new blog 
Well, I'm glad you had enough cherries left over for these – they're beautiful!
I also like the addition of lemon… isn't it amazing how it brings a sparkle to fruit?
Lovely and delicious – as always! Like many others – this one just has to be buzzed – they're too yummy not to!
Don't you just love using granola for a muffin topping? It is one of my favorite ways to top those golden domes. Thank you for sharing another tasty treat with me today. Your culinary creativity inspires me in my own baking endeavors. I hope you had a good Monday. Smiles and love this week!
They look gorgeous AND good for you as well! Love the Greek yogurt in it!
I like using yogurt and oil in muffins these cherry muffins look delicious and colourful
How wonderful! I have a bag of cherries waiting in my ref. and I might give this a try. These look terrific. I had just made Double Chocolate Muffins, but they don't measure up to your Cherries! Thanks for sharing the helpful tips, too!
These muffins look wonderful!!
Dennis, I'm not exactly a muffin fan & I'm changing my mind. I wanna try yours! Hahaha! Those cherries make them look soooooo tempting!1
These are gorgeous, Dennis. I haven't done a granola topping for my muffins before. I need to try that. Thanks for the idea. It sounds delicious.
Awwwesome cherry muffins. I love the fact that you used greek yoghurt for this muffins. They give moistness to the muffins. And by the way your photos are getting better each day. Good clicks and you have managed to once again inspired me to bake them. Have to hunt for some fresh cherries for this…though it is pricey over here , I still prefer fresh ones to canned ones
Thanks , Piggy Chef Dennis for sharing this recipe with us 
Have KIV it ! Have a nice day !,
Elin
Oh I bet the added vanilla flavor just brings these muffins to a whole new level! Glad to hear you're feeling better too Dennis!
These muffins sound so yummy! Great recipe! I love trying cherries in new things
I have about 2 pounds of cherries in my kitchen right now… this will have to be one of the recipes I use!
I love all this fresh fruit! These muffins look delicious. It's time to get some cherries. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Those muffins are so pretty! And how sweet that you make muffins for your wife in the morning – could you put in a call to my husband? That would be great
BTW, have you tried roasting your cherries first? Roasted cherries are pretty much my new favorite thing 
These muffins are great, Chef Dennis! My mother just bought some cherries and I don't usually eat cherries but, I do eat muffins! And what a clever idea to have pre-made baggies of the dry ingredients. Perhaps that is what I should have done for my banana bread because instead, they were sitting in a bowl on the counter for over a week! My poor mother… trying to work around it with the limited space there was, haha. So glad that you're feeling better!
A cherry muffin sounds perfect right now for breakfast. Tummy's a grumblin'. Yummy! I like your idea of pre-made baggies of muffin mix. Glad to hear you are feeling much better. Best you got that out of your system before the Food and Wine Festival.
Now you got me thinking about cherry & muffins:) Haven't been baking for few days now because our oven's out of commission
& cherries are abundant here ( though still expensive ) but will bake that one once we have a new oven 
Well done , chef 
Love the texture!! Great recipe for morning breakfast or snack. Thank you for the recipe.
Have a great week
Look at those cherries!!! Gorgeous! Oh I so have to try these. I can smell them now!
Lots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma What's For Dinner
http://www.mawhats4dinner.com
Gorgeous muffins…inside and out. Love that crunchy top.
Chef Dennis – This yummy looking cherry vanilla muffin is almost jumping out of my monitor. Looks really mouth watering. Thank you for sharing.
ray
They are so so so perfect for breakfast (or any time of the day for the matter)! Beautiful!
Beautiful! I love the lemon zest and I really love the big pieces of cherry. Yum!
Holy mother of muffins!! Look at those cherries…wow! That's one amazing muffin.
I have taken advatage of so many berries!
I am so picking up some cherries on Thursday when I go shopping now.. You hit this out of the park Chef Dennis! Love this!
BELEZA! And a great flavor profile (I especially love the lemon zest to cut some of the sweetness). Can't wait to see your new site!
Dennis, These muffins look amazing, cherry and vanilla are my favorite flavors!
Love the idea of cherry muffins, scrumptious!
Your lucky wife – having you make them before she gets up! Love the addition of yoghurt and the granola topping. You are right this is a keeper – will try soon – that's if I can stop eating all the cherries too!
How sweet of you to make these muffins for your wife! They look totally scrumptious! I just bought some cherries and I can't wait to try them! Thanks for another great recipe for the "Chef Dennis" file.
I have been gorging myself on cherries lately, too! I love them, and I have been looking for good cherry recipes. These muffins look great! I love that you measure out dry ingredients ahead of time…great idea!
So glad to hear you're feeling better; summer flu sounds awful.
These muffins, on the other hand, are anything but; they look delicious! I love cherry season!
All muffins are delicious, but these are exceptional. I love the addition of greek yogurt and the crumbly crunchy topping..truly outstanding. Thanks for the recipe!
You never cease to amaze me!
Chef Dennis
Your muffins look divine! I have a muffin base recipe I usually use but I am going to have to try yours out.
Glad to hear you are feeling better!
Arlene
Your cherry muffins look fantastic! I especially love the lemon zest and granola topping
Glad you are feeling better and that it is cooling down where you are!
The muffins look wonderful! Muffins are fairly easy to make vegan. I can't wait to try them.
These look incredible – gorgeous pics. Congrats on top 9
WOW. these look fabulous. i love cherries in baked goods. i would love to veganize this recipe!
what a great idea to have your dry ingredients already measured and ready for the morning. That makes breakfast so easy and quick
Congrats on top 9 today, they are beautiful
hmmm almost cupcakes! what a fantastic recipe, I really will try this out! what a lucky lady your wife is!
i must admit i've been gorging on cherries too!!!! what a wonderful recipe to consider using the rest of these cherries with…..fabulous!
These muffins look wonderful! I might try them with some whole wheat flour and a few oats thropwn in for extra fiber. I love that granola topping!
OMG! These are AMAZING!!! The only changes I made were substituting whole wheat flour for the white and substituting unsweetened applesauce for the oil 1:1. That helped the calorie and point count since I am on weight watchers. The came out super moist and delectable!! So good! Thank you for a delicious recipe. Finally I found someone that posts great recipes that actually come out the way they say!
Thanks Sara! I do try to make sure my recipes work. I use a lot of them at school to teach my girls, and after years of being a reclusive chef who never shared anything, I decided to share all my secrets to make sure someone could replicate what I made at work or home. I’m happy to hear it worked out with your substitutions!
Thanks
I loved them so much, I’m making them again! And following you on pinterest. I’m glad you have decided to share you wealth with the world, so to speak. You are obviously very talented!