Ginger A-fred

I used to have such a deep-rooted fear of ginger root that the only way I could stand the flavor of it was in the form of powder.
Now, for some bewildering reason, I can’t seem to get enough of it.
La donna è mobile*, for real, and further proof of the fact is that I also used to hate peanut butter when I first invaded the States. It should be quite obvious that it’s not even remotely close to being an issue anymore.

You’ll find that these muffins taste (and look) quite chocolatey, even though they contain a mere 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder. No one’s complaining about that over here.

Also, have you seen the size of the berries? They’re from the Joe, who apparently likes to purchase his produce from mutant-loving farmers.

Ginger Cranberry Muffins

2 cups (240 g) whole-wheat pastry flour
1/4 cup (20 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 cup (96 g) raw sugar
3/4 cup (180 ml) almond or other nondairy milk
1/2 cup (120 g) vanilla soy or other nondairy yogurt
1/4 cup (60 ml) canola oil
1/4 cup (88 g) blackstrap or regular molasses
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon (8 g) grated ginger root
2/3 cup (42 g) fresh cranberries, halved

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C, or gas mark 4).
Line a standard muffin tin with paper liners.
In a large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk in sugar. Set aside.
In a small bowl, whisk together milk, yogurt, oil, molasses, and ginger.
Fold wet ingredients into dry, being careful not to over mix.
Fold in cranberry halves.
Divide batter equally into muffin cups. Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool on a wire rack.

Yield: 12 muffins

*The woman is fickle.

59 Comments »

  1. Jes said,

    December 1, 2008 at 11:38 am

    *Drooling* And the cranberries look pretty awesome, actually.

    Reply

  2. Becks~not a rabbit said,

    December 1, 2008 at 11:54 am

    They look awesome!

    Reply

  3. VeggieGirl said,

    December 1, 2008 at 11:55 am

    HOOOOOOLY yum.

    Reply

  4. Esi said,

    December 1, 2008 at 12:11 pm

    The woman certainly is fickle! I also thought I didn’t like ginger, until about a month and a half ago. Now I am using it all the time! These are beautiful.

    Reply

  5. allularpunk said,

    December 1, 2008 at 12:12 pm

    YUM! i think i actually have all the ingredients for these at home right now, so i may make these later! great looking recipe ya got there, lady. and i dunno about women being fickle (ha), but i DO know that supposedly your taste buds change every 7 years. maybe that is to blame? i’m still waiting for mine to change into mushroom loving mode. a few years back i got to finally start enjoying things like avocados and sweet potatoes after years of hating them. ginger’s never been an issue for me though, so i’m totally excited about doing some baking for these later :D

    Reply

  6. Rosa said,

    December 1, 2008 at 12:15 pm

    Beautiful! They look fantastic!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply

  7. Shelby said,

    December 1, 2008 at 12:17 pm

    You’ve done it again! Seriously, just come a cook for me. I love all of your recipes.

    Reply

  8. jessy said,

    December 1, 2008 at 12:29 pm

    sweet jeebus! ginger, chocolate, cranberries, AND molasses?!? hot damn! you’re too awesome, Celine!

    i was thinking that those cranberries looked pretty gigantical! ahahahaa! awesome!

    Reply

  9. Gina said,

    December 1, 2008 at 12:51 pm

    Those look beyond awesome. Yumm!!

    Reply

  10. hannehanne said,

    December 1, 2008 at 1:12 pm

    Wow, what an interesting combination! Rich cocoa, spicy ginger, tangy cranberries… I’m fascinated, and very tempted.

    Reply

  11. vaala said,

    December 1, 2008 at 1:13 pm

    Ooo, beautiful! I want some :)

    Reply

  12. Courtney said,

    December 1, 2008 at 1:47 pm

    These look great…except for the ginger! Haha–I am still not a huge fan. But maybe these will be the muffins that start my conversion from a ginger hater to a ginger lover?! I will have to make them and see…

    Courtney

    Reply

  13. Nick said,

    December 1, 2008 at 2:12 pm

    The combination sounds wonderful although I’d never have thought of it. I’ll be needing some muffins soon and I think I have all these ingredients already!

    Reply

  14. Isobel said,

    December 1, 2008 at 2:26 pm

    apparently you are a genius…gingerbread + chocolate = the two greatest things ever coming together as one and I am extremely excited to make these.

    Reply

  15. Ricki said,

    December 1, 2008 at 2:28 pm

    Since I already love all those ingredients, I’m sure I’ll love them in combination! They look great. :)

    Reply

  16. Vegetation said,

    December 1, 2008 at 4:36 pm

    Yes. It has been ages since we’ve had a catch up!

    Mmmmm chocolately muffins. I love ginger, although funny enough used to hate it too! These days I put double in almost everything I put it in. Mmmmm.

    Reply

  17. Cakespy said,

    December 1, 2008 at 4:51 pm

    I’ve had a lifelong love of ginger, and this just serves to continue the love affair!

    Reply

  18. River (Wing-It Vegan) said,

    December 1, 2008 at 5:33 pm

    Awesome! Wow check out the size of those berries! YAY for mutant-loving farmers! :)

    Reply

  19. culinarycory said,

    December 1, 2008 at 5:44 pm

    I’m surprised at how dark and rich they look for only having 2 TBL of cocoa. Of course, I’m sure the molasses is helping.

    Reply

  20. bonbon said,

    December 1, 2008 at 5:50 pm

    I have so much ginger root in the freezer right now, I can’t wait to make these. All I need to get is some molasses, pit stop tomorrow evening!

    Reply

  21. kittee said,

    December 1, 2008 at 6:31 pm

    So pretty, Celine.

    xo
    kittee

    Reply

  22. lisa (show me vegan) said,

    December 1, 2008 at 7:42 pm

    The chocolate muffin dotted with cranberries is stunning. Your blog is always a pleasure.

    Reply

  23. melisser said,

    December 2, 2008 at 2:02 am

    Wow, they look SO lovely!

    Reply

  24. Sal said,

    December 2, 2008 at 3:28 am

    gorgeous – I love love LOVE the combo of ginger & chocolate.

    I made some choc-ginger muffins the other week but never would have though to add cranberries, loving that idea!! I just bought some as well.

    Reply

  25. shellyfish said,

    December 2, 2008 at 4:43 am

    You’re like the rock star of vegan goodies ma biche. Tu le sais?

    Reply

  26. Tina said,

    December 2, 2008 at 7:32 am

    Oh my, delicious recipe! Beautiful photo too!

    Reply

  27. eliane said,

    December 2, 2008 at 7:44 am

    I used to hate ginger, for me it tasted like soap. I sort of like it now, I guess it depends on the recipe.
    I can use tofu instead of yogurt, right? maybe add some sugar, and vanilla extract…

    Reply

  28. Celine said,

    December 2, 2008 at 7:57 am

    eliane: yeah, blended silken tofu does the trick. adding sugar isn’t necessary, but vanilla will never hurt.

    shelly: ohlala. me fais pas rougir!

    everyone: consider yourselves hugged. I’m in a mushy mood.

    Reply

  29. kickpleat said,

    December 2, 2008 at 9:47 am

    ooh, i’m marking this recipe for sure! i’ve got cranberries and i love fresh ginger (no fear!). yum.

    Reply

  30. Amy said,

    December 2, 2008 at 10:21 am

    OOOOOOOOOOH! Hmpf. Those are pretty as ever!!!

    Reply

  31. Joanna said,

    December 2, 2008 at 11:25 am

    girl, you KNOW these on my “muffins to bake” list. i’m a little nervous about the combo of ginger and cocoa. i’ve never had them together in a recipe- it sounds delightfully dangerous!!! haha

    Reply

  32. Sally Parrott Ashbrook said,

    December 2, 2008 at 12:35 pm

    The quality of light in your photos is always so gorgeous.

    Reply

  33. Andrea said,

    December 2, 2008 at 3:56 pm

    These sound great. My kind of muffins!

    Reply

  34. ruby red vegan said,

    December 2, 2008 at 5:42 pm

    Incredible, Celine! That’s what these muffins look like.
    I only recently discovered how wonderful fresh ginger root tastes in sweets… I need to try this recipe soon!

    Reply

  35. Diann said,

    December 2, 2008 at 7:17 pm

    I’m glad you decided to love ginger so you would make this muffin recipe. It looks so fantastic. Before I got my braces I loved to snack on Ginger Chews – very spicy and addictive.

    Reply

  36. Tim said,

    December 3, 2008 at 5:25 am

    oh, these looks to amazing! yay for ginger loving.

    Reply

  37. Jodye said,

    December 3, 2008 at 11:46 am

    I have been silently drooling over your recipes week after week now, and I must say I am so grateful that you and your blog exist. Everything you make looks delicious. I have a whole list of recipes from your blog that I’ve been meaning to try out. I am so in the mood for these muffins right now

    Reply

  38. Veggie Wedgie said,

    December 3, 2008 at 12:33 pm

    Same thing with be about ginger.Used to hate it,now I add fresh ginger to my juice. Who knew?These muffins look adorable and I have some mutant cranberries sitting in my fridge as well…What a coincidence!

    Reply

  39. Meagan said,

    December 3, 2008 at 7:24 pm

    This muffin looks awesome! I happen to have some extra TJ cranberries, so this will be the perfect thing to try out this weekend!

    Reply

  40. Juma said,

    December 4, 2008 at 1:33 am

    Ginger with cocoa or chocolate is a match made in heaven. This muffins look absolutely delicious!

    Reply

  41. Sanja said,

    December 4, 2008 at 2:27 am

    That’s funny: I feared ginger as well, now I can’t stop using it. It thought peanut butter was really gross, now I love it. Can you give me a heads up on what previously despised food we are going to like next? ;-)

    Reply

  42. Sanja said,

    December 4, 2008 at 2:28 am

    O, and those muffins look (with the recipe in mind) sound amazing!

    Reply

  43. Tami said,

    December 4, 2008 at 11:54 am

    Oh my goodness, Celine…these are perfection!

    Reply

  44. Erin said,

    December 4, 2008 at 12:06 pm

    Soda-licious!
    Have you thought about entering this in the Blogger Secret Ingredient contest? I don’t know if you’ve read about that or are interested, but if you are – let me know!

    Reply

  45. foodphotoblog.com said,

    December 4, 2008 at 3:53 pm

    I love the combo of cranberries and ginger. Nice photography also.

    Reply

  46. Celine said,

    December 5, 2008 at 2:27 am

    thanks, you guys! have a great weekend.

    Reply

  47. Erin said,

    December 5, 2008 at 1:52 pm

    Those are some GINORMOUS cranberries! Oh, the possibilities!! :)

    Reply

  48. Vivacious Vegan said,

    December 5, 2008 at 4:24 pm

    These look wonderful. My ginger-loving mom would love them. They would make a great addition to the next care package I send her.

    Reply

  49. Celine said,

    December 5, 2008 at 7:54 pm

    Erin: they scare me a little.
    VV: best daughter ever? you get the award! not because you’re thinking of including these, but for sending your mom a care package.

    Reply

  50. Sophie said,

    December 6, 2008 at 7:02 am

    I have some mixed feelings when it comes to ginger too :D. I love the smell of fresh ginger, but it is quite strong when eaten raw. Incorporating it into a baked good is a good idea, though. Your muffins look beautiful, I love the contrast of colors and flavors. It’s a very festive and elegant photo :).

    Reply

  51. Celine said,

    December 6, 2008 at 7:28 am

    Sophie, I am so not lying when I tell you I was just thinking about you this morning. we’re like, psychics, or something.

    Reply

  52. Kelly said,

    December 6, 2008 at 10:37 am

    I am always both impressed and amused with the flavor combinations you come up with. I would have never thought to put cranberries, chocolate, and ginger together but I’m guessing it tastes amazing.

    Reply

  53. Jude said,

    December 7, 2008 at 11:13 pm

    haha.. The bigger, the better, if you ask me.

    Reply

  54. Liz² said,

    December 7, 2008 at 11:25 pm

    beautiful combination, wish I had mutant cranberries to try a batch right now!

    Reply

  55. roberta said,

    December 8, 2008 at 4:11 pm

    hello, they look great, what about sub the molasses with malt syrup, do you think it could work?

    thanks

    Reply

  56. 2012ad said,

    December 8, 2008 at 10:40 pm

    I absolutely LOVE ginger. In fact, I’ve been dropping hints all over the place to my mom that I want the Ginger Rush perfume and body cream from Origins in my stocking this year. It smells like you just rolled in candied ginger. Mmmmm.

    These look FANTASTIC, though. I’m definitely bookmarking this recipe for later use! Gorgeous picture, as well. (Not that that’s a surprise, though!)

    Reply

  57. jen said,

    March 15, 2009 at 1:08 pm

    made these today and they are so amazingly good. great flavour combo, very creative! thank you for posting!

    Reply

  58. sofi said,

    December 19, 2009 at 11:09 am

    I finally had the chance to make these and they are delicious! They aren’t very sweet so I would be happy to eat them for breakfast. I had some extra batter which I poured into two 5 inch pans and whipped up some vanilla frosting to make a ginger-cranberry cake. This recipe goes very well with super sweet frosting too. Thank you!

    Reply

    Celine Reply:

    no, thank YOU for taking the time to leave some feedback.

    Reply

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