Delia's Orange Spice Tea Muffins

Directions

1. Thoroughly mix flour, salt, baking soda and apple pie spice in large mixing bowl. Set aside.Cream together 1 cup sugar and butter till light and smooth. Add in large eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Put together buttermilk, orange zest and orange juice. Stir buttermilk mix alternately with flour mix into egg mix. Batter will be thick.
2. Spoon batter into well-greased miniature muffin cups (1 inch across by 3/4 inch deep), filling cups 2/3 full. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup sugar over tops of muffins. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 15 min or possibly till golden brown. Yield: about 5 1/2 dozen muffins.
3. NOTE: Depending on desired result, the remaining 1/2 cup sugar can be sprinkled on muffins before or possibly after baking.
4. TESTER'S NOTE: A light, delicate-tasting muffin which is not too sweet. Paper or possibly foil muffin cups can be used in place of greasing the pans. Muffins freeze well with no flavor changes. I was unable to find apple pie spice in the grocery, so I substituted equal amounts of cinnamon and nutmeg.
5. This recipe was developed by Suzanne Corbett, a St. Louis cooking teacher, for Foss House.