The Muffin Shop has returned for this edition of a Taste of Marblehead, only this time, to actually sample muffins. After all, it is the name of the shop, so we picked out half-a-dozen of some of the shop’s best flavors, and it was definitely a treat.
I had to start out with the classic blueberry. It’s always nice to have some original flavors, but I figured I’d knock out the simplest muffins first, and keep the more exciting and flavors for last.
Nonetheless, the blueberry muffin was exactly how it should be. The muffin top was crunchy, and had just the right amount of sugar, while the inside was fluffy and bursting with blueberry flavor.
Next up was the chocolate chunk. The top was softer than that of the blueberry, which played into the chewiness of the chocolate chunks very well. Another classic done right.
As for the raspberry oatmeal, it was probably one of the most delicious flavors of muffins I have ever had. It was interesting, but delicious. The muffin almost tasted more like cornbread than oatmeal, but nonetheless, I found myself not being able to slow down, and consuming the sample quickly.
The muffin itself was dry, but that’s where the raspberry jam came in to counteract that. I will say that I accidentally consumed all of the raspberry filling on my piece of the muffin before I was finished with the whole thing. I was trying to make it last, but I guess ill just have to go back and get another one.
The lemon poppy muffin was next on my list. The first bite immediately overwhelms you with the sweet flavor of lemon, but if you’re anything like me and love all things lemon, it’s the right muffin for you.
After that initial flavor burst, your tastebuds settle in and find the rich, nutty flavor of the poppy seeds, acting as a perfect balance to the tangy lemon. It has a lighter flavor to it than that of a blueberry or chocolate chip and is in a way a bit refreshing, making it a good choice to start your day.
Now I’ll be the first to admit that I am not the biggest fan of cranberries, nor walnuts, but even I thought the cranberry walnut muffin was pretty tasty. The fruitiness of the cranberry and the walnuts complemented each other well, so much In fact that some bites tasted like Fig Newton bars that I used to eat as a kid. It was definitely not my favorite, but for someone who doesn’t eat a lot of cranberries and walnuts, I’ll give it the thumbs up.
Lastly, everything was just peachy with the peaches and cream muffin. After taking a bite, it took a little while to really get the creamy and fruity notes, but once I did, it was spectacular. The cream flavor of the muffin came first, then the slight tartness of the peach. It was a simple flavor, but in this case, simple does the trick, and it was a great taste to end my sample on.
I was amazed at not only how different each muffin looked, but the richness of each muffin and how each one was able to really embody the flavors that they were named after. I now certainly see (or taste?) what all of the hype is about at the Muffin Shop, and I will be back for more very soon.