Red Date and Brown Sugar Muffins
Soft, fluffy muffins made with caramelized red dates and warm brown sugar, baked perfectly in an air fryer. These simple treats combine the natural sweetness of dried dates with rich brown sugar for a cozy, moist crumb.
Story
These muffins are a cozy twist on classic baking, using red dates (also called jujubes) which are naturally sweet and nutritious. The dates get cooked down with a splash of water first, creating a soft, jammy base that distributes beautifully throughout the batter. An air fryer gives them a lovely gently rounded top while keeping the inside tender.
Ingredients
dried red dates
100g, pitted and finely chopped
water
80ml
brown sugar
60g
large eggs
2
cake flour
150g
baking powder
1 teaspoon
vegetable oil
50ml
muffin liners
6 cups
Instructions
1
Prep the dates
Rinse the red dates under warm water, then pat completely dry. Cut in half, remove the pits, and chop into small pieces about the size of raisins.
2
Caramelize the dates
Add the chopped dates and water to a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the water is fully absorbed and the dates are soft and sticky. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
3
Mix in the sweetener
Add the brown sugar to the warm date mixture. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely and creates a glossy, caramel-like sauce. Set aside to cool for a few minutes.
4
Add the eggs
Crack the eggs into a large mixing bowl. Pour in the date-sugar mixture and whisk until fully combined and slightly frothy.
5
Fold in dry ingredients
Sift the cake flour and baking powder directly over the wet ingredients. Gently fold with a spatula until just combined—some small lumps are perfectly fine. Overmixing makes tough muffins!
6
Add the oil
Drizzle in the vegetable oil and fold until incorporated. The batter should be thick but spoonable.
7
Fill and bake
Line your air fryer basket with 6 muffin liners. Divide the batter evenly among them, filling each about 2/3 full. Air fry at 150°C (300°F) for 18-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8
Cool and serve
Let the muffins cool in the liners for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. They're wonderful warm or at room temperature.
