Make the crumb topping by mixing the sugar, cinnamon, and flour in a small bowl with a fork. Add the softened butter and cut it in until it’s crumbly. (You can also do this in a food processor with chilled butter that you’ve cut into chunks. Use the steel blade in an on-and-off motion until the resulting mixture resembles coarse gravel.)

Fill the remaining space in the muffin cups with the crumb topping. If you had batter left over and used the tea-bread pan, reserve some topping to sprinkle over that.

Bake the muffins in a 375 F. degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes. (The tea-bread should bake from 5 to 10 minutes longer than the muffins, but test it with a cake tester or long toothpick when your muffins are done. Insert the tester in the center of the loaf. If your tester comes out clean, your tea-bread is done.)

When your muffins are baked, take them out of the oven and set the muffin pan on a wire rack or a cold stovetop burner to cool for at least 30 minutes. (The muffins need to cool in the pan for easy removal.) Then just tip them out of the cups, or lift them out by the edges of the cupcake papers. Serve with salted butter for those who want it, and enjoy.

These muffins are wonderful when they’re slightly warm, but the raspberry flavor will intensify if you store them in a covered container overnight.

Yield: 12 delicious muffins with a little batter left over for several more muffins or a small loaf of tea-bread.

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

“Do you have a couple of minutes to talk?” Hannah asked, handing the muffins to Danielle.

“Normally, no. I usually have a private class right after the one that just ended, but it’s cancelled for today.” Danielle looked down at the bag. “Whatever is in here smells divine! What did you bring, Hannah?”

“Red Raspberry Muffins. Michelle made them for breakfast this morning.”

“I love raspberries! Let’s go in the kitchen. I’ll put on the coffee and then we can talk.”

Several minutes later, Hannah was seated at Danielle’s kitchen table, holding a cup of French roast coffee. “You make good coffee, Danielle.”

“It’s the coffeemaker and the pods, but thank you. I’m getting better in the kitchen, but I’m afraid I’ll never be a really good cook. And I’d never be able to make anything as luscious as these muffins!”

“I’ll tell Michelle that you like them.”

“Good!” Danielle took another bite and smiled. “Heavenly! Now I’m almost glad that Bonnie cancelled her class this morning.”

“Bonnie?”

“Bonnie Surma. She’s taking private lessons from me to learn some dance routines that she can use with the Jordan High cheerleaders.”

Hannah knew that she must have looked completely puzzled, because Danielle went on to explain.