Gadgets: The Original Muffin-Top Tin
I'm going to make a confession: when it comes to muffins, I'm one of those really strange people who almost prefers the bottoms. Almost. That may explain my reaction when I received a pan that specializes in making just the crusty, puffy tops: "Mini quiches! Dainty gratins! Individual fruit tarts!" The possibilities offered by the large bake-able wells seemed infinitely more diverse than just muffin tops, and I eagerly started compiling recipes that would fit the mold.
In an attempt to eat dinner before dessert, I started with individual quiches loaded with baby spinach, Swiss cheese, and turkey bacon. By the time I'd layered my ingredients and was ready to pour in the egg mixture, a pang of skepticism hit--were they too full? Would they spill over? Imagine my relief 45 minutes later when I pulled out perfectly golden mini-quiches, each in a crisped shell that just contained all its fillings.
It was such a success that I vowed to make individually sized everythings for my next dinner party--gingersnap crusts to fill with figs and mascarpone! Potato gratin with even more cheese than my overloaded quiches! (Maybe not in that order.) Before I got too worked up about it, I switched gears and whipped up a strawberry-flecked batter for my muffins.
As I played with my pan, I learned an important lesson about making muffin tops: Leavening is key, and though you can find substitutions online, it's best to stick with the exact recipe if you want to guarantee fluffy, crackly results. Though eventually the pan yielded just what we wanted, I realized that I was much more excited about its non-conventional uses (though I suppose my love for muffin bottoms may have made that an obvious predisposition).
If I could rename the gadget, I'd call it the Make-Really-Cute-Individual-Portions-of-Everything-You-Love pan, but I'm not sure how well that would go over. Let's face it--I may not need muffin tops on a regular occasion, but the boundless other possibilities definitely make this an entertainer's new secret weapon.
The Original Muffin Top Tin is available for $19.95 at The Spoon Sisters
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12 Comments:
This looks similar to my yorkshire pudding pan, except wider. This would make nice and big yorkies for Sunday dinner!
italicsandserif at 10:23AM on 08/27/09
no pics of your mini-quiche? :(
oh, and i also like muffin bottoms best.
gastronomeg at 10:52AM on 08/27/09
These are actually really great to make homemade hamburger buns in. My mother has been making GF rolls and they come out perfect!
tarahtot at 11:00AM on 08/27/09
Muffin bottoms FTW!
emgroff at 11:01AM on 08/27/09
i also came looking for pics :(
_greenbean at 12:01PM on 08/27/09
ask and you shall receive--will post pictures of the next gadget escapades :)
loving the other suggestions so far!
Nikki Goldstein at 12:06PM on 08/27/09
but you can just use a regular muffin tin...just don't fill it all the way to the top.
gargupie at 1:25PM on 08/27/09
but you can just use a regular muffin tin...just don't fill it all the way to the top.
gargupie at 1:26PM on 08/27/09
i dont know about these pans ...
i dont think its the same as an actual muffin top .. nothing beats a real one!
sorry, i just think its a tad gimmicky
Deeberry at 2:13PM on 08/27/09
If you just dolloped circles of muffin batter on a regular sheet pan, do you think they might come out sort of like domed tops anyway?
There was an opportunity here to post the Muffin Top song clip from 30 Rock, and it was missed :)
Michele Humes at 3:31PM on 08/27/09
Ohhh, Michele, way to bring back a good tv memory! I was actually planning on referencing that Seinfeld episode where Kramer opens the bakery that only sells muffin tops, and he gives the bottoms to the homeless, but it worked its way out somewhere along the line.
As for dollops of batter--I think the batter is too loose to hold its shape properly. That said, I've never tried, so if you do, definitely report back!
Nikki Goldstein at 4:20PM on 08/27/09
These always confused me, because there will always be a bottom to the muffin top, it's the part that touches the pan and cooks differently.
sammyjrae at 3:41PM on 08/30/09