Custard Apple Berry Muffins

It’s been so wonderful working with Australian Custard Apples and visiting the farms in my region. The kids have enjoyed cooking in the kitchen with me and experimenting with various original recipes I have been able to create over the autumn and winter months.

Custard Apples are a great source of dietary fibre, helping you keep nice and regular. One serve of custard apples contains 3.75g of dietary fibre, which is 11% of the daily target for Australian adults.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup raw sugar
• 1 chia egg (mix 1tbs with 2.5 tbs water until a gel forms)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup non-dairy milk (coconut, soy or almond)
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 custard apples, peeled and seeded
• 1 1/2 cups mixed berries (fresh or frozen)

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 200C degrees. Line 12 muffin pan with paper liners or lightly grease the pan.
2. In a large bowl whisk together all the dry ingredients.
3. In a medium bowl mix together the milk, chia egg, coconut oil, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Pour wet into dry and mix until just combined. Don't over mix and add custard apples and berries and lightly fold them in.
4. Divide the batter evenly in the prepared muffin tin. Bake 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown and test a muffin with a toothpick to ensure the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan.

Custard Apples are pale green with knobbly skin, and have soft, sweet flesh with brown seeds.

The best time to enjoy the fruit is during autumn and winter, making custard apples a sweet and tropical treat during the colder months of the year.

Tips to choose a custard apple:

Opt for ones that are pale green and firmer

Ripe custard apples will give slightly under pressure when squeezed, similar to an avocado

Custard apples have a fragile exterior, so a couple of spots or blemishes on the skin are normal, and the flesh inside will still be great quality

Once the skin has turned purple or black, they are past their best eating quality

Tips to store a custard apple:

If you buy a custard apple that is firm to the touch, store in your fruit bowl to allow them to ripen. This usually takes a few days

To speed up the ripening process, place your custard apple in a paper bag with a banana

Once ripe, it is best to store custard apples in the fridge and enjoy within three days

To enjoy, remove from the fridge and let it sit for around five minutes to get the best taste. 

Happy Friday and enjoy your weekend.

xxDani