Muffins, as we know them, are small cup shaped single serve quick breads that are often sweet and usually served warm. The type of muffin we enjoy is a decidedly American treat and can be traced back to the mid 1800’s. The first written recipes of American style muffins began to appear during the middle of the 19th century when pearlash was discovered. Muffins often contain fruit, nuts and spices. They may also contain meat, vegetables and cheese. They are usually eaten for breakfast or at tea, but the sheer variety of flavors available makes them an appealing addition to any meal or as a snack. The 1920’s saw the first muffin mix created by Mr. McCollum of New Brunswick, NJ. Packaged mixes were not widely available until the 1950’s. The 50’s also saw muffins being marketed as baked goods for the first time since preservatives kept them from going quickly going stale.
