Honeyed Date Nut Muffins

Ingredients

• 1 stick unsalted butter or margarine
• 2½ C gold-n-white flour
• 1½ t baking powder
• 1 t baking soda
• ½ t salt
• 1 C orange blossom honey
• 2 large eggs , at room temperature
• ½ C buttermilk , at room temperature
• ½ t grated orange peel
• ½ C pitted, chopped dates
• ½ C chopped toasted walnuts
• Orange Honey Spread (recipe also on website)

Instructions

1. Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375°F.
2. Grease a standard 12-cup muffin pan. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl, using a hand-held electric mixer, cream together the 1 stick of butter or margarine and honey until fluffy. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating after the inclusion of each. Add the buttermilk and orange peel, and beat to combine.
4. Stir in the dry ingredients until just combined, being careful not to over mix the batter. Fold in the dates and nuts. Divide the batter among the pre- pared cups of the muffin tin.
5. Bake until golden brown and a tester inserted into the middle of a muffin comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and turn out onto wire racks to cool. Serve with Orange Honey Spread.