Recipe: Parsnip Muffins

Looking for something new for breakfast? Tired of boring old blueberry muffins? Looking for something to do with those parsnips in the back of your fridge? Here is a brand new recipe invented this week to go with hot peppermint chocolate tea after playing outside in the snow with the kids (actually, mostly shoveling the six inches of snow off of the sidewalk). For those of you not familiar with parsnips, they are sweet like carrots but also herby. My daughter calls them "minty". However you describe them, they make a unique addition to baked goods. These muffins manage to be subtly herby, nutty and tropical all at the same time.

parsnip muffin with butter

Parsnip Muffins

Preheat oven to 400F

1  3/4 cup flour

1/4 sugar

2  1/2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (freshly grated is the best)

1 egg, beaten

3/4 cup milk (I used almond milk, but any kind of milk will work)

1/3 cup melted coconut oil (you may use any vegetable oil or melted butter instead- however the tropical note to the muffins will be lost)

1 cup grated parsnips (about 1 large or 2 medium)

Mix dry ingredients together in one bowl. Mix milk and egg together in a separate bowl. Add wet ingredients, melted oil and parsnips all at once to the dry ingredients and stir quickly to combine. Fill greased muffin tins 2/3 full. Bake 20 to 25 min. Makes 10 to 12 muffins.

pre-grated parsnips

Bonus Recipe:

Here is the recipe for the tea these were created to accompany.

Hot Peppermint Chocolate Tea  (for a 4-cup pot)

4 peppermint tea bags (or 4 heaping teaspoons dried peppermint leaves)

4 cups boiling water

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/3 - 1/2 cup sugar (to taste)

milk (to taste)

marshmallows (optional)

Steep the peppermint tea in the boiling water for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags or strain out leaves. Add sugar and cocoa powder and stir until dissolved. Serve in mugs. Add milk to taste and marshmallows if desired.

plate of parsnip muffins

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.