Discovering Muffin Break: A Hidden Gem for Coffee and Muffin Lovers

In the bustling world of coffee shops and bakeries, it’s rare to find a spot that perfectly balances quality, variety, and a cosy atmosphere. 

Muffin Break, a chain that has steadily grown in popularity across the UK, stands out as a beacon for those in search of delicious muffins and a comforting cup of coffee.

A Brief History

Muffin Break first opened its doors in Canada in 1989. However, it was the brand's expansion to Australia and subsequently to the UK that truly cemented its place in the hearts of many. The first UK store opened in 2001, and since then, Muffin Break has been on a mission to provide freshly baked goods and high-quality coffee to its customers.

The Muffin Break Experience

Walking into a Muffin Break café feels like stepping into a haven of warmth and comfort. The inviting aroma of freshly baked muffins, pastries, and bread fills the air, creating an immediate sense of homeliness. The décor is modern yet cosy, with comfortable seating arrangements that make it an ideal spot for a quick coffee break, a casual catch-up with friends, or even a quiet place to work.

The Muffins: A Delightful Variety

As the name suggests, muffins are at the heart of Muffin Break’s offerings. The chain prides itself on its wide variety of flavours, catering to all tastes and dietary preferences. From classic blueberry and chocolate chip to more adventurous options like lemon and poppy seed or raspberry and white chocolate, there is something for everyone. Muffin Break also offers a range of healthier options, including gluten-free and vegan muffins, ensuring no one misses out on the experience.

Beyond Muffins: A Full Menu

While muffins are the star of the show, Muffin Break’s menu extends far beyond. The café offers a selection of freshly made sandwiches, wraps, and salads, making it a great spot for lunch. Their pastries and cakes are also a hit among regulars, often tempting customers to indulge a little more.

Coffee: Crafted to Perfection

A good muffin deserves an equally good cup of coffee, and Muffin Break does not disappoint. The chain sources its coffee beans from ethical suppliers, ensuring a rich and robust flavour in every cup. Whether you prefer a classic cappuccino, a smooth latte, or a strong espresso, the skilled baristas at Muffin Break are dedicated to crafting the perfect brew to complement your muffin.

My wife loves their coffee. Whilst I like their coffee, I absolutely adore their milkshakes which are the best I have ever tried. Also, do be aware their cakes, etc are actually baked in branch. 

Commitment to Sustainability

In today’s world, sustainability is more important than ever, and Muffin Break is committed to doing its part. The chain has implemented several eco-friendly practices, such as using biodegradable packaging and encouraging customers to bring their own reusable cups with a discount incentive. Additionally, Muffin Break sources ingredients locally where possible, supporting local farmers and reducing their carbon footprint.

Community Involvement

Muffin Break prides itself on being more than just a café; it’s a community hub. Many locations host local events and offer spaces for community groups to meet. This sense of community involvement is a cornerstone of the Muffin Break philosophy, creating a welcoming environment where everyone feels at home.

Conclusion

Muffin Break is more than just a place to grab a quick coffee and a snack; it’s a destination for quality, variety, and community. With its wide range of delicious muffins, expertly crafted coffee, and a commitment to sustainability and local engagement, Muffin Break has truly carved out a special place in the hearts of coffee and muffin lovers across the UK. Next time you’re in need of a coffee break, why not make it a Muffin Break?

https://muffinbreak.co.uk

How to Make Utterly Delicious Super Thick Milkshakes at Home

There's something really, truly indulgent about a super thick milkshake. The kind that requires a bit of effort to suck rather than merely sip through a straw, delivering a rich and creamy taste with every mouthful. 

Making these at home is easier than you might think, and with a few simple tips and tricks, you can create milkshakes that rival those from your favourite diner.

Ingredients You'll Need

To make the perfect thick milkshake, you'll need:

Premium Ice Cream: Opt for full-fat, high-quality ice cream. The creamier the ice cream, the thicker your milkshake will be. Vanilla is a classic base, but feel free to experiment with chocolate, strawberry, or any flavour you love.

Whole Milk: Full-fat milk adds to the richness and thickness. You can also use double cream for an even thicker consistency.

Flavourings and Add-ins: Depending on your desired flavour, you might need syrups (chocolate, caramel, etc.), fresh or frozen fruits, biscuits, or even sweets.

Ice Cubes or crushed ice (Optional): Adding ice can make your milkshake colder and slightly thicker, though it can dilute the flavour if too many ice cubes  are added.

Toppings: Whipped cream, sprinkles, chocolate chips, or crushed biscuits for an extra treat.

Equipment

Blender: A powerful blender is essential for achieving the right consistency.

Measuring Jug: For accurately measuring your ingredients.

Tall Glasses: To serve your masterpiece.

Straws and Spoons: Thick straws or even a spoon for enjoying your shake.

Step-by-Step Guide

Chill Your Glasses: Pop your serving glasses in the freezer for about 10 minutes before you start. This helps keep your milkshake cold for longer.

Prepare Your Ingredients: Measure out 3 large scoops (about 300 ml) of your chosen ice cream. If you're using fruits, chop them into small pieces.

Blend the Milkshake:

Pour 120 ml of whole milk into your blender.

Add the ice cream. If you want a fruit-flavoured shake, add your fruit now.

Blend on a low setting to combine the ingredients, then increase to a higher speed until smooth. If your shake is too thick, add a little more milk. If it’s too thin, add another scoop of ice cream or a few ice cubes and blend again.

Add Flavourings:

For chocolate shakes, add 2 tablespoons of chocolate syrup or 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder.

For a biscuit shake, add 3-4 crushed biscuits to the blender.

Blend again until smooth and well combined.

Taste and Adjust:

Give your milkshake a taste and adjust the sweetness or thickness as needed. You can add a bit of sugar, honey or more flavourings if desired.

Serve Immediately:

Pour your thick milkshake into the chilled glasses.

Top with whipped cream, sprinkles, chocolate chips, or any toppings you fancy.

Enjoy:

Serve with a thick straw or a spoon, and enjoy your delicious creation.

Tips for the Perfect Thick Milkshake

Use Less Milk: The less milk you use, the thicker your milkshake will be. Start with a small amount and add more if needed.

Double Cream Option: For an ultra-thick milkshake, substitute half of the milk with double cream.

Pre-Freeze Ingredients: If you're adding fruits or other mix-ins, freeze them first to maintain the thickness.

Experiment: Don’t be afraid to mix and match flavours. Peanut butter, Nutella, and malt powder are excellent add-ins for unique shakes.

You can even make special festive shakes for Christmas using ginger, cinnamon, etc.

Creating super thick milkshakes at home is a fun and rewarding experience. With these tips, you’ll be able to craft deliciously indulgent shakes that are perfect for any occasion. Enjoy experimenting with different flavours and toppings, and treat yourself to a homemade milkshake that’s truly unforgettable.

I'm officially joyful! Aldi launched Ballycastle that tastes exactly like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups!

Fans of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (like me!) will be thrilled with the news Aldi is launching a totally new Ballycastle flavour, the Milk Chocolate & Peanut Butter Cream Liqueur (£7.49, 70cl) which will  be in stores from Thursday 29th June.

It's a luxurious blend of Irish whisky, rich chocolate and salty-sweet peanut butter notes, fans will be certain to notice flavour similarities to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, but with a nifty alcoholic twist.

Serve it neat, with ice or why not create your deliciously boozy milkshake?

Ingredients:

100ml Ballycastle Chocolate & Peanut Butter Cream Liqueur

100ml Cowbelle Chocolate Fudge Milk

500ml water

60g The Pantry Cocoa Powder

Moser Roth Milk Chocolate, shaved

Peanuts to garnish

Method:

In a small saucepan, boil 250ml of water then remove from heat and add The Pantry Cocoa Powder 

Stir to dissolve and then add the remaining 250ml cup of water 

Once it's cool, add the Ballycastle Chocolate & Peanut Butter Cream Liqueur to the mixture and leave to infuse

Once successfully infused (this will take ten minutes) shake all the ingredients up in a cocktail shaker with ice. 

Pour into your preferred glasses and top up with whipped cream, grated Moser Roth Milk Chocolate and the peanuts!

The latest addition follows the success of Aldi’s Ballycastle Hazelnut Chocolate Cream Liqueur (£7.49, 70cl), which was noted as a delicious alcoholic twist on the much-loved spread, Nutella.

The supermarket’s Ballycastle range has scooped a series of awards. The Specially Selected Irish Cream (£7.99, 70cl) landed a ‘Great Value’ accolade in the 2022 prestigious Which? ‘Irish Cream Liqueur’ taste test, whilst the Ballycastle White Chocolate Cream (£7.49, 70cl) and the Ballycastle Chocolate, Caramel and Hazelnut Cream (£7.49, 70cl) BOTH won medals at this year’s International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC).

Aldi’s Ballycastle Milk Chocolate & Peanut Butter Cream Liqueur is available in-stores and via Click & Collect nationwide from Thursday 29th June.

Actually, when I make this milkshake, I'm seriously thinking of adding some Reese's Peanut Butter Cups into the mix! 

A shopping trip to our nearest Aldi is certainly on the cards for next Thursday!

Get Your Hands on £10,000 with the YAZOO Shake Squad

YAZOO has launched a Facebook competition offering fans of the milkshake brand a chance to enter and win one of eight weekly cash giveaways of £250 and a grand prize of £10,000. The winners of the weekly cash giveaways will all receive their cash in time to shake up their weekend!

Entrants are encouraged to upload a photograph of their own Shake Squad style pose which will be voted for by other Facebook users in order to win. To find out more visit www.facebook.com/yazoo or follow @TheShakeSquad on Twitter.

The new competition supports YAZOO’s new TV ad, ‘What A Difference A Shake Makes’, which is running from Monday across a number of terrestrial and digital TV channels for three weeks and features ‘The Shake Squad’.

The Shake Squad is a crack 1970’s style undercover cop team, hell bent on bringing fun to the nation’s streets. As a sworn enemy of anything mundane, they’ll stop at nothing to get a laugh and to brighten up someone’s day, just like a bottle of YAZOO can do. They’re ready to give Britain a real shake up - which in today’s serious world is exactly what it needs.

With a campaign slogan of ‘What A Difference A Shake Makes’ the new campaign highlights the lift YAZOO gives you when you need it most, a treat for that afternoon lull, a handy snack on-the-go, or a thirst quenching accompaniment with sandwiches at lunch time.

Shaken Udder Celebrates The Best Of British

This summer the country will be swept along on a wave of patriotism, thanks to the Jubilee, the Olympics, the European Football Championships and of course Wimbledon. To show its true colours Shaken Udder has re-designed its milk churn bottles to feature the Union Jack, bunting and its funky cow has even been crowned!

Shaken Udder’s Strawberry Stash milkshake is made with all natural ingredients including creamy, whole, British milk and real strawberries – what sums up Britain in summer better than strawberries and cream?

Co-founder of Shaken Udder Jodie Farran explains: “With all the excitement this summer we thought we should celebrate being a British milkshake. All our shakes use only the best-quality, fresh, British milk and only the very finest natural ingredients, like real strawberries, Belgian chocolate pieces, and the real vanilla beans that you can see in the shake”

Now available in Waitrose, Tesco and Sainsbury's nationwide.

How it all began…
Jodie and Howie met at agricultural university in 2003, both sharing a passion for fab food, groovy tunes and the great outdoors. With buoyant post-grad enthusiasm, the pair made plans to start their own business, but weren't quite sure what that might be. Then, whilst dancing away at V festival, Howie had a sudden craving for a fabulous, thick, fresh chocolate and banana milkshake.

He closed his eyes visualised a rather funky cow, loads of fresh fruit, great chunks of chocolate and lashing of fresh milk. So in 2004, Shaken udder milkshakes was born as a top-notch event based brand, bringing fresh, tasty and healthy milkshakes to festival goers across the country.

The pair travelled far and wide to all the major music events (what a hardship) and served up 1000s of fresh creamy thick shakes. On tour, Shaken Udder's loyal fan base grew. Seeking them out at each event, people started asking where they could get there milkshake fix 365 days of the year.

In search of a place for their funky cow brand, Howie and Jodie took a long, hard look at the retail shelves and were thoroughly disappointed with what they found. Marvellous milk was being ruined with ingredients like modified maize starch, butter milk powders, e-numbers, artificial flavours and, what's more, they tasted like plastic fruit glue! So that was it, the pair decided to give milk what it deserved and create Britain’s best milkshake….