Paradiso Muffins

Paradiso Muffins are a delicious variation of the classic muffin, inspired by the traditional Italian cake “torta paradiso”. Here’s the recipe for preparing soft Italian-style Paradiso Muffins.

Ingredients

• 150 g of all-purpose flour
• 100 g of potato starch
• 150 g of sugar
• 150 g of soft butter
• 3 medium eggs
• 1 packet of baking powder
• Grated zest of 1 lemon (untreated)
• A pinch of salt
• Powdered sugar (for decoration)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C (160 °C if convection).
2. In a large bowl, cream the soft butter with sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition to incorporate them.
4. Mix in the grated lemon zest and a pinch of salt.
5. In another bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, potato starch, and baking powder.
6. Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the egg, butter, and sugar mixture, mixing gently from bottom to top to avoid deflating the batter.
7. Prepare a muffin pan with paper liners and fill them two-thirds full with the batter.
8. Bake for about 18-20 minutes or until the muffins are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
9. Remove from the oven and let the muffins cool on a wire rack.
10. Before serving, dust the paradiso muffins with powdered sugar.

Trivia

The Torta Paradiso owes its name to the lightness of the batter and its deliciously delicate taste. The recipe is said to be a creation of the pastry chef Enrico Vigoni from Pavia in the 19th century. Experimenting with Paradiso Muffins means bringing a touch of this history into the modern and single-serve forms of a sweet treat that is always beloved!

Tip: These muffins are excellent on their own or accompanied by light pastry cream or a chocolate mousse. For an all-Italian touch, you could also enrich the batter with dark chocolate chips or candied fruit.