Japanese Wineberry & Kinako Muffin Recipe

Japanese Wineberry & Kinako Muffin Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 22-25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 12 Muffins

Nutty, gently sweet kinako (roasted soy flour) plays beautifully with the tart pop of wineberries in these soft, bakery-style muffins. They’re not overly sweet and perfect with a cup of tea.

Ingredients

  • 180 g plain flour
  • 40 g kinako (roasted soy flour)
  • 120 g caster sugar
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • ¼ tsp fine salt
  • 2 large eggs (room temperature)
  • 120 ml milk (whole or semi-skimmed)
  • 90 ml vegetable or rapeseed oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 150 g fresh wineberries, gently rinsed and patted dry

Optional Toppings

  • Dust with icing sugar
  • 1 tbsp demerara sugar (for crunch)
  • A pinch of kinako soy flour mixed with the demerara (extra nutty!)
  • Add a dollop of wineberry jam to the top and serve with cream

Method

  • Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan). Line a 12-hole muffin tin.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the plain flour, kinako, caster sugar, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt.
  • In a jug or separate bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla until smooth.
  • Pour the wet mixture into the dry and fold gently until just combined. Don’t overmix—lumps are fine.
  • Fold in the wineberries carefully so they don’t break up too much.
  • Divide the batter evenly between cases (about ¾ full).
  • Sprinkle with demerara (and kinako, if using).
  • Bake for 22–25 minutes, until risen and golden, and a skewer comes out clean.
  • Rest in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool.

Tips & Variations

  • Softer crumb: Swap 30 ml of the oil for melted butter.
  • Extra nuttiness: Add 1–2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds to the batter.
  • No wineberries? Raspberries work well (same weight).
  • Sweetness tweak: Kinako is somewhat savoury, if you prefer sweeter muffins, increase sugar to 140 g.

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