Blueberry yogurt muffins are small baked goods with blueberries and yogurt. Blueberries provide a healthy and sweet aspect to the muffins, while including yogurt usually creates particularly moist muffins. When blueberry yogurt muffins are baked with whole grains and low-sugar yogurt, they are nutritionally-rich and a healthy addition to most diets.
Muffins are small, individually-sized breads commonly eaten for breakfast or as a snack. Usually close in size to an adult closed fist, they resemble cupcakes, but can be either sweet or savory. This particular class of muffins is usually considered an American-style muffin, and is distinct from what are traditionally called muffins in England. English muffins are much flatter, shaped like a disc, and usually very light and porous.
Flavors of muffins are limited only by the creativity of the baker, although common varieties include wheat, bran, oatmeal, nut, banana, chocolate, and blueberry. Blueberry is one of the most popular flavors of muffin, but blueberry muffin recipes vary widely. Blueberry yogurt muffins are distinguished by the addition of yogurt as one of the liquid components in the recipe, and the yogurt usually lends a characteristic moisture and lightness to the muffin.
Yogurt usually substitutes for other dairy or oil ingredients in a recipe. In muffin recipes, yogurt is most commonly substituted for milk. The yogurt adds moisture and imparts a unique, usually fluffy, texture to the muffins. When combining the ingredients, the muffins will be fluffiest if the yogurt is folded into the mixture gently.
Using yogurt as a substitute in cooking is popular because yogurt contributes fewer calories and less fat than many of the oils and dairy products that it replaces. In muffins, including yogurt is usually a textural decision, rather than a nutritional one. Yogurt does contribute healthy calcium and protein to the muffins, but heating the yogurt during the baking process eliminates the benefits of the live bacterial cultures that normally exist within yogurt.
Depending on personal taste and desired result, several types of yogurts can be used in baking with very different results. It is important to realize that yogurt has a significant amount of sugar. Even with no sugar added, yogurt naturally contains a fair bit of sugar because it contains lactose. Many brands of store-bought yogurt contain very high amounts of sugar since many individuals prefer the taste of sweetened yogurt. The type of yogurt used in the muffin recipe will determine the ultimate sweetness of the final product.
Blueberry yogurt muffins can be a very healthy snack or breakfast option. The muffins will have the most nutritional value if they are made with whole grains and a low-sugar yogurt. The blueberries themselves are very high in antioxidants, which have a variety of health benefits. Blueberries are particularly noted for their ability to reduce inflammation. Blueberry yogurt muffins are at their best, in regard to both nutrition and taste, when the blueberries are fresh. Blueberries usually come into season in mid-summer.
