Cake mix packets are so tempting to buy but with convenience, comes extra packaging and cost. This zero waste Muffin mix recipe in a jar is convenient and easy to prepare and store in your pantry.
These Sultana Cranberry Muffins are buttery sweet With a light crunchy top and are delicious straight from the oven.
I used to regularly purchase premade cake and muffin mix as they were a simple convenience and I didn't have to figure out anything other than follow the directions on the box. But, they come with a blend of packaging that cannot always be recycled.
A few weeks ago I actually purchased a pre-made mix without even thinking and regretted it when I opened it and remembered they have plastic inside the box!
Pre made mixes seem cheap, but don't be fooled. It is far cheaper to prepare your own and have the added benefit of complete control over ingredients. you might find this recipe is not quite at sweet and white as the store bought packs but have a depth of flavor that goes with great old-fashioned baked cakes that leave you feeling properly fed and satisfied.
This recipe makes 12 good sized muffins.
Alternatively you could bake in a loaf tin, make 6 giant muffins or 24 tiny ones and adjust the cooking time accordingly.
To make this Recipe mix in a jar you will Need:
A large jar, 200g capacity or bigger
A Measuring cup
Dry Ingredients for your Jar
1 1/2 Cups of Wholemeal Self Raising Flour
1 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Sultanas
1/2 Cup Cranberries
1/2 Cup Sunflower Seeds
Sprinkling of Cinnamon
It is quite simple to measure out ingredients and pop them into a jar and you can pre-prepare several jars at once.
Layer in jar however you like.
I did mine in this order: Flour, Cinnamon, Sugar, Sultanas, Sunflower seeds, Cranberries. Dried fruit sometimes sticks to the bottom of the jar, so don't make it the first item you put in.
The jar I used was a special edition 200gram coffee jar that I fell in love with. It seals well and is the perfect size.
Store your homemade cake mix in the pantry and they will last until the expiry date of your dried fruit.
By storing dry ingredients in a jar, you won't need to measure everything when it comes time to cook as the job is half done. You can use this method for any of your favourite homemade cakes.
Label the bottom or side of the jar with a sharpie pen including expiry date, ingredients to add and cooking time.
You can use any chopped dried fruit, seeds and nuts but as this is going to be a school lunchbox snack I've kept it nut free.
Ingredients to Add before Baking
Just like a dry cake mix, you will need to add some key ingredients.
When you're ready to bake tip your jar into a mixing bowl and stir.
Then add:
150 grams of melted or very soft butter
3/4 Cup of milk (I used Soy Milk)
2 Beaten Eggs.
>Stir well with a wooden spoon.
>Grease muffin tray with coconut oil or butter. You really don't need baking paper! Find out more in the post about how to bake zero waste.
It is a thick batter, but don't worry, it will work.
>Spoon the batter into a muffin tray making 12 evenly sized .
>Bake for 15-17 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius. Check if they are cooked by inserting a metal skewer. If it comes out clean, it's cooked.
A quick note on removing muffins from the tin...
I find they remove better if allowed to cool, however we are generally to impatient to wait so I use the end of a spatula and gently push around the sides....(Don't use metal, you can see I've previously scratched my tin by using a butter knife)
It leaves a little crumb behind, but nothing that's too hard to clean.
Once your done, enjoy eating them and reuse the jar again and again.
These will stay fresh for 3 - 4 days in a container (with a lid), and can be frozen once cooled. Head here for tips on freezing without single use plastic.
Extra Tips on Making it Zero Waste
All these ingredients can be purchased in recyclable packaging or no packaging, depending on where you live. Here are some tips to cut the waste.
>Flour and sugar can almost always be found in paper packaging which is 100% recyclable and cinnamon is usually available in glass jars. Just be sure to look on the bottom shelves
>Search health food stores or bulk store to get package free items like sulphate free dried fruits, sunflower seeds and even cinnamon >Substituting the milk with home made nut milk
>If you're feeling adventurous, you could try making your own butter and having your own backyard egg makers >Re-Use a jar you already have. Lots of items we buy come in jars, so rather than recycle them, we keep and reuse as many as we can.
Zero waste doesn't need to be hard, expensive or revolve around Mason jars. If you are trying to avoid packaged cake or cake mix, this method can help recreate your favourite treats without the rubbish.
I'd love to hear your tips for zero waste convenience foods and if you try this recipe, let me know how it went.