Chaga is up there with my favourite things to forage. Rare enough that seeing a potential black lump in the distance is enough to set the heart a-pounding for sure. Although there is a bunch of medicinal properties that make it all the rage at the moment personally I'm quite keen on the flavour - cooking in particular ways helps to bring this out. Think vanilla and cork... slightly bitter. Works wonders with both walnuts and chocolate so the following muffins are essentially the perfect match!
Chaga & Spelt Muffins
Oven 180ºc/Gas Mark 5
Ingredients
200g Spelt Flour
200g Golden Caster Sugar
200g Butter or Marge
4 eggs
50g Roughly Ground Walnuts
2 Tablespoons Finely Ground Chaga
2 Teaspoons Mixed Spice
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder (or gluten-free)
Milk (to loosen)
Method
Weigh flour, sugar, butter, eggs, chaga, spice and baking powder into a large bowl and whisk until well combined.
Still through walnuts.
If required add a little milk to loosen until dropping consistency (this is where the mix will drop off an upside down spoon in more than 1s but less than 5).
Spoon into muffin cases and bake for ~20 minutes.
Allow to cool & serve.
Wonderfully simple but a perfectly balanced recipe that is sure to impress!