Cherries are one of the many delicious fruits of the summer. Cherries are ripe and in season starting in April and ending sometime in July or August. They contain lots of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.
1. Antioxidants. Cherries are known to be very high in antioxidants, which is what gives them their bright red color. These compounds will help protect your cells against free radicals that play a role in heart disease, cancer, and other diseases.
2. Other benefits. Cherries are a great source of potassium, and have been linked to reducing inflammation, and total cholesterol which may aid in the prevention of heart disease.
3. Serving size. There is no exact guideline for how many cherries to have. It is suggested that 1-2 servings per day can help you get some of the benefits found in research. A serving of cherries =
1 cup frozen
1 cup canned
1/2 cup dried
1 cup juice
1 ounce or two tablespoon juice concentrate
Information gathered & adapted from:
https://fruitsandveggies.org/stories/iv-for-021511-shari-steinbach/
Chocolate Cherry Coconut Scuffins
Scuffins are a blend between a muffin and a scone.
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose baking flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup coconut oil, at room temperature
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
2 large eggs
1 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 1/2 cup dried cherries, roughly chopped
3/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips, roughly chopped
For Glaze Topping
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons cherry jam
1 tablespoon cream or milk
Preparation
1.Preheat oven to 350° F. Prepare two 24-cup mini muffin tins with muffin liners or non-stick cooking spray.
2.In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and fine salt. Set aside.
3.In a large bowl, using a hand mixer, mix together the three different sugars, coconut oil and butter. Beat on high until well combined, about 4 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Add the yogurt and almond extract and beat on medium-low to incorporate.
4.With the mixer on the lowest speed, add the dry ingredients and mix just until the batter comes together. Fold in the cherries, coconut and chocolate chips.
5.Using a small scoop, fill the prepared muffin tins about three-quarters of the way full. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, about 10-15 minutes. Place on the wire rack to cool for 10 minutes.
6.To make the glaze, combine all glaze ingredients in a small bowl. Mix with spoon until now lumps of powdered sugar are visible and mixture is smooth. Thin with more cream, if needed, for a drizzling consistency. Enjoy!
Serving Size: 1 Scuffin, yields 24.
Nutrition Information per Serving: 10.9 grams total fat, 7.8 grams of saturated fat, 29.3 grams carbohydrate, 0.8 grams fiber, 3 grams protein, 170 milligrams sodium, 83 milligrams potassium, 16.4 grams sugar
Recipe adapted from:
https://cookeatshare.com/recipes/chocolate-cherry-coconut-scuffins-800612
