How to Use Frozen Fruit in Muffins (Without Spoiling the Texture)

Good news: yes, absolutely! Frozen fruit works great in muffins and can even become your best ally for cooking quickly, 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 things to know to avoid muffins that are too wet or fruit that falls 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 directly frozen fruit helps to:

✓ keep their shape
✓ prevent them from giving back too much water
✓ limit that they crush into the batter
✓ Reduce the chances of the whole batter getting colored (hello completely purple muffins!)

For small fruits such as blueberries or raspberries, they are gently incorporated at the very end.

Mix as little as possible

Once the fruit is added, stir just enough to distribute it. Overworked batter can result in more compact muffins and crush fruit. At MUFF, we always like to remind people that a few strokes of the spatula are all it takes.

Add a few minutes of cooking time as needed

Frozen fruit cools the dough slightly. As a result, your muffins can sometimes require an extra 2 to 5 minutes of baking. The best test is always the same: insert a toothpick in 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 and then drain off the excess water before using. Otherwise, they can create very wet areas in muffins.

Some ideas for customizing our blends

• Double chocolate → add 1/2 cup of frozen raspberries for a chocolate-raspberry version.

• Banana + Chocolate → add 1/2 cup of frozen strawberries for an inspired version of the strawberry-banana classic.

• Wild blueberries → add 1/2 cup of frozen raspberries for a "berries" version.

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

• Cinnamon + raisins → add 1/2 cup of frozen blueberries for a "berry" version.

• Muesli + cranberries → add 1/2 cup of frozen pears for a sweet and comforting version.

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

Happy cooking!

Virginia :)