Today's Orange Cranberry Crunch Muffins are made with White Lily brand self-rising flour, a soft wheat flour popular in the South. I generally use all-purpose, but this week I switched to self-rising and am loving the results.
Benefits of Self-Rising Flour
In America, it seems most bakers use all-purpose flour mixed with a combination of baking powder and/or baking soda. However, in other countries self-rising flour is more common. And while I personally like the idea of controlling the amount of salt and leavening that goes into a recipe, self-rising flour has some real benefits.
In Bakewise, food scientist Shirley Corriher describes self-rising flour as "a perfectly uniform blend of leaveners" and gives ways in which it can eliminate common problems of home bakers such as uneven mixing. She also notes that millers have more leavening acids available than home cooks, so they can adjust flour/leavening blends in more ways. In other words, self-rising flour does all the work! And there's another benefit. If you use a self-rising flour such as White Lily, you're getting the added bonus of soft winter wheat.
To sum it up, if you run across Self-Rising White Lily you should give it a try. Maybe in these muffins? If you're an orange fan, you will love them. The texture is perfect, plus the muffins rise a little higher than others.
Martha in KS
If we can't get White Lily, what do you recommend - cake flour, or a mix with AP? And of course I'll have to add baking powder. Thanks
Chewthefat
Clearly your daughter is a brilliant actress, since I doubt the real Annie would have turned down such a sunshine-y muffin! 😉
gloria
I love orange and almonds plus I have a bag of cranberries. These go on my list.
I just found White Lily flour for sale on a South Carolina site. It is not available at any of the Walmart stores near me 🙁
Kate @ Only Cake Pops
A powerful hit of orange, a big crunch, and a soft cake. Sounds pretty darn good to me! I do sympathise with Fuzz though - orange is one of those flavors where I find it hard to get past one item.
Holiday Baker Man
Tasty little bombs!