Authentic Montmorency Cherry Lime Streusel Muffins

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Whether you’re camping, brunching or just itching to bake something, these Authentic Montmorency Cherry Lime Streusel Muffins made with dried Michigan Montmorency Tart Cherries and fresh lime zest are sure to please.

Montmorency tart brings balance to this muffin recipe

A lot of breakfast muffins can be overly sweet. For this reason, I turned to Michigan Montmorency tart cherries to offset the sweetness. Sweet cherries simply would not work here. They would add one layer of sweetness on top of another. One of the things I love about the combination of tart cherries and fresh lime zest in this recipe is that it brings balance to these muffins. The batter still contains a fair amount of sugar, but the tartness of the cherries adds fruity complexity while the lime zest lifts and brightens the overall flavor of the bake.

Choosing the right tart cherry for these Authentic Montmorency Cherry Lime Streusel Muffins

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There are other varieties of tart cherries out there, but there is only one Montmorency tart cherry. Its unique sweet-tart flavor profile lends itself to both sweet and savory dishes. With so many varieties and brands to choose from, how can you be certain you’re getting U.S. – grown or Michigan-grown Montmorency tart cherries?

In an earlier post, I provided a primer on how you can confidently identify U.S. Montmorency tart cherries from other varieties. If you’re looking for an easy way to identify Michigan Cherry producers to support, look for these trusted brands at your local grocery store or online: Cherry Bay Orchards, Smeltzer Orchard Co. or Traverse Bay Fruit Company. To get a more detailed breakdown, I’d like to encourage you to read my post titled, Spilling the Tea on Michigan Tart Cherries. But outside of brand names, there are some other identifiers you can look for.

First, look for clear language on the packaging that indicates the type of cherry and country of origin. Domestic brands will prominently display they are Domestic- or Michigan-grown dried cherries. Look at the front and back of the package. If it says “Montmorency, USA-Grown, Michigan-grown, Product of the USA” or some other clear indicator that you’re buying American, you can feel confident you are supporting our local farmers.

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Another good way to tell U.S. Montmorency dried tart cherries from other varieties is to look at the color of the fruit. Dried U.S. Montmorency tart cherries are dark, but still retain their red color. As shown above, foreign varieties are darker – much like a raisin or prune. Look at the color of the cherries as a way to distinguish domestic from Turkish imports. However, if you’re still not sure, you have to assume they are not real U.S. grown Montmorency tart cherries. When in doubt, don’t. Instead, reach for a brand that you know and trust.

For more information on Michigan tart cherries or to find more great recipes that feature U.S. Montmorency tart cherries, visit usacherries.com.

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Authentic Montmorency Cherry Lime Streusel Muffins

Recipe by Maria Ostrander Course: Dessert, SidesCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

18

One muffin

Prep time

12

minutes

Cooking time

35

minutes

These delightful Cherry Lime Streusel Muffins are made with dried Michigan Montmorency Tart Cherries and fresh lime zest.

Ingredients

• For the muffins

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

• 2 large eggs, room temperature

• 1/2 cup buttermilk, room temperature

• 1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature

• 1 1/2 tsp. fresh lime zest

• 1/2 tsp. almond extract

• 2 cups sifted bread flour (See note below on the importance of sifting before measuring)

• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt

• 1/2 tsp. baking soda

• 1 1/4 tsp. baking powder

• 1 1/2 cups dried U.S. Montmorency Tart Cherries, roughly chopped

• For the streusel topping

• 3 Tbsp. granulated sugar

• 2 Tbsp. A.P. flour

• 1/2 tsp. fresh lime zest

• 2 Tbsp. melted butter

Directions

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a muffin tin with paper cups and set aside.
• Prepare the streusel topping
• In a small bowl, combine the sugar, flour and lime zest.
• Add the melted butter and combine with a fork until a crumbly mixture forms. Set aside.
• Make the muffins
• In a 5 quart stand mixer over medium speed, combine the butter, sugar and lime zest. Cream until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• Add the almond extract and eggs, one at a time. Mix until well incorporated and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl between additions.
• Add the buttermilk and sour cream and mix over medium low speed until thoroughly incorporated.
• In a separate bowl, combine the sifted flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Whisk together to combine.
• Rough chop the dried cherries and add them to the flour mixture to coat the cherries.
• Add the flour/cherry mixture to the wet ingredients. Over medium low speed, combine until a smooth batter forms, but be careful not to over mix.
• Divide batter evenly among the baking cups. Top with the streusel mixture.
• Bake at 325 degrees F. for approximately 30 – 35 minutes. Muffins will be light golden brown on top and a toothpick will come out dry when inserted into the center of a muffin.
• Transfer muffins to a wire rack to finish cooling. Store covered in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Notes

• NOTE: The size of your muffin papers will determine the final yield on this recipe. Larger baking cups will yield 18 medium-large muffins. Smaller, traditional cupcake baking cups will yield upwards of 22 muffins. If using a smaller muffin cup, the baking time will need to be reduced to 20 – 25 minutes.
• NOTE: It’s important to sift the flour first before measuring. Flour becomes compacted as it sits and settles. If you add the flour before sifting you are essentially adding more flour than you really need – yielding a heavy, dense muffin. Sift first then measure for the perfect texture.