To put sugar on top of muffins for a delightful crunchy topping, the simplest method is to sprinkle it on before baking.
Adding Sugar for a Crunchy Muffin Top
A popular technique for achieving a sweet, slightly caramelized crust on the top of your muffins is to apply sugar before they go into the oven. This method, as highlighted in the reference, ensures the sugar partially bakes into the surface, providing a lovely texture and flavor contrast to the soft muffin crumb.
Steps to Add Sugar Before Baking
Follow these simple steps to get that perfect sugary finish:
- Prepare Your Muffins: Have your muffin batter ready and poured into the muffin tin liners.
- Sprinkle the Sugar: Simply sprinkle a dusting of your chosen sugar type on any sweet baked goods before placing them in the oven. Ensure the sugar is distributed relatively evenly over the top of each muffin.
- Bake as Directed: Place the sugared muffins into the preheated oven and bake according to your recipe's instructions.
Why This Method Works
When you sprinkle sugar on top of muffins before baking:
- The heat of the oven causes the sugar to bake into the top layer of the muffin.
- The sugar does not completely dissolve or melt away.
- What remains after baking is a wonderful caramelized crunch on top.
This pre-bake application is a straightforward way to enhance both the texture and sweetness of your muffin tops, creating that desirable bakery-style finish.
