Strawberry Muffins With Strawberry Butter

Photo: Jo Ann

Ingredients

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups butter, softened and divided

1/4 cup strawberry preserves

1 1/2 cups sugar

4 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

1 cup whole buttermilk

2 cups fresh strawberries, coarsely chopped

1 cup cold butter, cut into small pieces

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup quick-cooking oats

Preparation

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with paper liners. In a small bowl, combine 1 cup softened butter and the preserves, stirring until smooth. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat remaining 1/2 cup softened butter with sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. In a medium bowl, combine 3 cups flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and lemon zest. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture alternating with buttermilk, beating until smooth after each addition. Fold in fresh strawberries. Spoon batter evenly into prepared muffin cups.

In a small bowl, and using hands, combine cold butter, remaining 1/2 cup flour, brown sugar, and oats until mixture resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle oat mixture evenly over strawberry batter. Bake for 15 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks. Serve with Strawberry Butter.