The Freezer Aisle Secret That Makes Boxed Blueberry Muffins Much Better

Baking can be quite intricate. Right at the very beginning, the ingredients need to not only be right but also adequate in ratio — even for something as simple as muffins. So what happens when you don't have time to prepare properly, or if you don't have enough baking essentials in your pantry? It's boxed mix to the rescue! It's there for you when time is tight, energy is low, or you just want to skip the hassle of measuring flour and sugar. Don't worry about the lackluster taste and texture. Frozen fruits will make it all better in a flash. If you're using boxed blueberry muffin mix, for example, frozen blueberries are the add-ins you don't need to think twice about.

Don't let the frozen label fool you. Frozen berries still possess a certain freshness as they're usually picked at peak ripeness. Through the freezing process, all that vibrancy is locked in and maintained until they're ready to use. The same goes for the antioxidant compounds this fruit possesses, which is also the nutritious reason for buying frozen blueberries over fresh ones.

When baked, all that goodness is infused straight into the muffins, turning into pops of flavor delight. No more settling for the boxed mix's plain simplicity and artificial flavorings. With the blueberries' sweet-tart tang dancing in between, you can hardly tell the muffins aren't made from scratch. Fresh and hot from the oven, they've got everything you're looking for in homemade baked goods.

Using frozen blueberries for your muffins is the epitome of convenience. All you'll need to do is carefully rinse the blueberries and then dab them completely dry with paper towels. After preparing the batter, simply fold them in. Do it with a light hand, however, or you'll end up with purple streaks all over the muffins from crushing out the berries' juice.

The rest of the baking process remains relatively the same. Grease the muffin tray, pour the batter in, and bake for however long the instruction demands. Since there are some extra blueberries, you may need to bake them for around 5 more minutes. Of course, this varies from recipe to recipe, so it never hurts to check using the toothpick method.

And hey, why stop at frozen blueberries when there are so many other ingredient additions to take your muffins to the next level? The more the merrier, so don't hesitate to include other frozen fruits as well. Throw in cherries, raspberries, peaches, etc. for a summer revival any time your taste buds need it. Sometimes, even just a sprinkle of lemon zest will do the trick, or if you're looking for a touch of warmth, try ground cardamom. Forget the notion that this spice only belongs in cozy treats, cardamom blueberry muffins are much better than you think. And if you still haven't used up those frozen blueberries, consider turning them into frostings to turn the muffins into party-worthy desserts.