Streusel Topped Plum Muffins {Taste of Home Baking Book Giveaway!}

The main reason I adore this baking book as much as I do is that its recipes have been contributed by home-bakers from all over North America.  All of these delightful recipes can be trusted as they are each tested in the Taste of Home test kitchen.

*The chapters of The Taste of Home Baking Book overflow with easy-to-follow recipes and instruction. The book itself makes a valuable holiday gift; it comes with a free year subscription to Taste of Home (within the U.S.)
* Clear prep and bake times, and lots of how-to and step-by-step instructions with color photos to explain tricks of the trade.
*Trimmed-down favorites, specially designed for health-conscious readers or those who have food allergies, such as gluten-free options.
*There are amazing recipes from home kitchens throughout America and Canada. Filled with troubleshooting tips for the home baker, food equivalents, ingredient substitutions
*The book has a unique plastic removable sheet that you can take out and put over the recipe to keep it from getting full of flour while you are baking.
*Over 700 down-to-earth recipes that will warm the hearts of families who know the simple pleasure of gathering around the kitchen table for fresh-from-the-oven happiness.
My darling friends at Taste of Home have generously provided me with a copy of this gorgeous book to give away to one lucky reader…and a bonus is it also comes along with a year subscription to their Taste of Home magazine!! 

Here are the details on how YOU can have a chance to win this incredible book! Here’s how to enter:
1. Leave a comment on this blog post telling me what your favorite homemade treat is to bake!
2. Like Taste of Home on Facebook.
3. Follow @TasteofHome on Twitter.
4. Subscribe to the RSS feed for Cake Duchess.
5. Like Cake Duchess on Facebook.
6. Follow @cakeduchess on Twitter.
7.Tweet the following: “Enter to win the Taste of Home Baking Book Giveaway on @cakeduchess .” Then come back and let me know you did for an extra entry.
8. Tell your friends about the giveaway on Facebook with the link,  then pop back over here to let me know.

That is 8 different ways to win! GOOD LUCK! The lucky winner will be chosen on Sunday, October 30th using random.org.



Patiently waiting, I listened to Luca pleading for his turn with the topping.

Patiently waiting, I listened to Luca pleading for his turn with the topping.

Patience lasted for approximately 1 minute and 13 seconds. Then it was Luca’s turn to take charge of the yummy streusel topping.

Sprinkled and patted down nicely; Luca’s streusel toppings were the messiest which was just fine by me. Gabriella wasn’t too happy with his work and scooted him out of the way. He left with a nice handful of streusel topping to test and he exclaimed, “This is macing (amazing)!”

Streusel Topped Plum Muffins
yield: 15 muffins

 Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1-1/2 cups chopped fresh plums


TOPPING:
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon cold butter
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
1 tablespoon coarse sugar

Directions

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in extracts.
Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with cream. Fold in plums.

Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full.

Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full.

For topping, in a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour and cinnamon; cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in walnuts.

For topping, in a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour and cinnamon; cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in walnuts.

Sprinkle over batter; sprinkle with coarse sugar.

Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Serve warm. 

Thanks for stopping by to say HELLO! Hope you are having a fabulous beginning of your week.