“I first fell in love with these in the late 80’s at a little bakery on the Oregon coast.”
Sailor Jacks are wonderfully spiced and deeply flavored muffins, reminiscent of gingerbread or spice cake. 1 The combination of cocoa powder and a medley of warm spices creates a unique and comforting treat. Topped with a simple vanilla icing, they are a delightful snack or dessert.
Ingredients:
Muffins:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Flour | 2 cups |
| Baking powder | 1 1/2 teaspoons |
| Baking soda | 1/2 teaspoon |
| Salt | 1 teaspoon |
| Cocoa powder | 1/3 cup |
| Cinnamon | 1 1/2 tablespoons |
| Cloves | 1 tablespoon |
| Nutmeg | 1/2 teaspoon |
| Allspice | 2 teaspoons |
| Ginger | 1 teaspoon |
| White pepper | 1/2 teaspoon |
| Unsalted butter, softened | 1/2 cup |
| Brown sugar | 1 1/4 cup |
| Eggs | 3 |
| Buttermilk | 2/3 cup |
| Molasses | 1/2 cup |
| Hot water | 1 cup |
| Raisins | 1 cup |
Icing:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Powdered sugar | 2 cups |
| Vanilla extract | 1 teaspoon |
| Water | 2-3 tablespoons |
Instructions:
- Preheat oven and prepare muffin tins: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Thoroughly grease two muffin tins.
- Sift dry ingredients: In a small bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, and white pepper until well combined.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, mix the softened butter and brown sugar until light and airy.
- Add wet ingredients: Mix in the eggs one at a time, followed by the molasses and buttermilk.
- Combine wet and dry: Slowly mix the sifted dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Add hot water and raisins: Gently mix in the hot water until the batter is smooth. Stir in the raisins.
- Fill muffin tins: Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin tins, filling each cup a little over halfway full.
- Bake: Bake for 20-24 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
- Prepare icing: While the muffins are baking or cooling slightly, mix together the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and water in a small bowl until smooth and the desired drizzling consistency is reached. Add more water, one teaspoon at a time, if needed.
- Ice the muffins: Drizzle the icing over the muffins while they are still warm. Alternatively, you can dip the tops of the warm muffins directly into the icing.
- Cool and serve: Let the muffins cool slightly before serving.
