Arthritis-Friendly Recipe: Hot Cross Muffins

These make a lovely breakfast or tea time treat split and smothered with butter. They have all the flavour of hot cross buns but are much easier to make if you have arthritis. There is no egg to crack, no dough to knead and no cross to pipe. I find silicone muffin cases easiest to use as they don’t need to be placed in a heavy muffin pan and are very easy to peel off. If filling muffin cases is too fiddly, make a tea loaf instead and bake for 10 minutes longer – it will taste just as good.

Ingredients:

250g (10oz) plain flour (you can use gluten-free if you prefer)

150g (6oz) caster sugar

75ml sunflower or rapeseed oil

200ml tea (exactly as you would make it to drink)

1 drop lemon extract (you could use the zest of a lemon if you prefer – I just find extract easier)

75g (3oz) sultanas (or dark chocolate chips for those who won't eat dried fruit!)

2 tsp mixed spice

2 tsp baking powder

Makes 12 muffins (or one large loaf cake)

Preheat the oven to 180C. Tip all the ingredients into a large bowl or jug and mix either by hand or using a machine until just combined.

Spoon or pour the mixture into 12 muffin cases.

Bake for 20 minutes or until well risen and golden. Allow to cool slightly and then serve.

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