It’s official. I’ve found myself on the road to being a Crazy Doll Lady.
Which is a slightly more creepy, way less stinky, second cousin to a Crazy Cat Lady.
What exactly makes a Crazy Doll Lady anyway? I mean, I think it’s pretty safe to assume that a Crazy Cat Lady meets at least one of the following criteria:
Owns a cat (hopefully, amiright?) and posts incessant photos of said cat on various forms of social media, while allowing it to lord over their life completely.
Cats are good at that. Lording. They excel at the lording.
OR
Owns three or more cats and no other pets. Also allowing the lording.
Or maybe not. It’s the ‘crazy’ part that is hard to define.
It’s okay. We’re all crazy here.
Anyway, though, there’s still a sort of general consensus on what a Crazy Cat Lady is, but when does it become crazy to have dolls.
Is it an age thing? Like, at six years old, you aren’t crazy if you have four or five dolls…you aren’t even crazy if you have 20 or 30. You’re just six. Totally normal.
But at 30 years old, does it make you crazy to have even one doll? Six? Or is it when you get into the double digits?
WHO KNOWS THESE THINGS?!
Because what started out innocently enough with an adorable Merida doll…
…has not so slowly morphed into me suddenly googling doll hair care (and actually caring for said hair), painting custom stands for a doll to perch upon, and standing in the toy aisle at target…the lone adult woman…trying to decide between this doll or that one, FOR MYSELF. I like to think the other customers assume I’m buying a gift for my adorable niece or something, but I’m pretty sure they sense the truth. They give me a wide berth.
Exhibit A:
All my research paid off. I may be heading for Crazytown, but look at that hair!
Exhibit B:
Pretty much the cutest doll ever. She needed a place to sit on my desk. So I made her one. Not crazy…SMART.
I don’t have an Exhibit C, because I’d rather not have photographic evidence of myself agonizing over a doll selection.
In my defense, I only own six dolls. In my further defense, FOUR of them were gifts from the Hubster and the kiddo. It’s like they want me to be weird (not that I need their help).
However, I now own six dolls. All acquired since this past Christmas. Before that, I haven’t owned a doll (outside of an old Cabbage Patch from my childhood) since I was…12? Maybe 13 years old.
Listen, it’s not like I sit around playing dolly with them, okay? Give me some credit…
Let’s just change the subject… I made some muffins. Cause I’m a grown up.
Lemons and raspberries. They’re like peas and carrots. Except yummy.
I found all these gorgeous red raspberries for a fab price. It was a sign.
So I made muffins.
Lots of muffins were made.
Muffins covered in a sweet-tart lemon glaze, then rolled in zesty lemon sugar. Because I could.
These muffins are sweet and fragrant with all that lemon pizzazz, soft and tart with bright raspberries, and utterly irresistible with all that zesty sugar coating the tops.
They’re pretty much the happiest muffins in all the land, and they’re definitely gonna make your people happy.
Oh, and hey, they’re just right for a tea party. For real people, not dolls. Seriously.
Enjoy!
Raspberry Lemon Muffins
Makes 12 standard or about 32 mini
Ingredients
FOR THE MUFFINS
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalte butter, melted
1 1/4 cups sour cream
1 1/2 cups raspberries
FOR THE GLAZE
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1/4 cup lemon juice
To make the muffins: Preheat the oven 350 degrees. Grease a muffin pan; set aside.
Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of the flour mixture to the raspberries, and toss to coat; set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk the egg and the sugar together until the mixture is thick and thoroughly combined. Stir in the lemon zest until evenly distributed. Slowly whisk the butter into the mixture until combined. Add half the sour cream, whisking until just combined, repeat with the remaining sour cream.
Add the flour to the sour cream mixture and fold with a spatula until the batter comes together. Add the raspberries and very gently fold the mixture until the berries are evenly distributed (do not overmix).
Evenly divide the batter in between the cups of the muffin pan (about 3 tablespoons of batter per cup, for standard muffins, or about 1 1/2 tablespoons for minis). Bake standard muffins for 20-23 minutes (minis for 15 minutes), or until very light golden brown in color, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer the muffins to a wire cooling rack and allow to cool for 5 minutes before glazing.
To make the glaze: While the muffins are baking, combine 1/2 cup of the sugar and lemon zest in a bowl until the zest is evenly distributed; set aside.
In a small saucepan set over medium heat, combine the remaining sugar (1/4 cup) and the lemon juice, bring to a simmer. Stir occasionally to dissolve the sugar and continue simmering until the mixture becomes syrupy.
Generously, brush the tops of the muffins with the lemon glaze. Once all of the muffins are glazed, dip the top of each muffin into the lemon sugar, being sure to get them covered well. Serve warm.
Recipe by Darla
Wow! So, I saw the picture you posted of these on fb and hustled over to grab the recipe. They are in the oven as I type this and they smell amazing. I didn’t have your good fortune of finding yummy raspberries but I do have about 20# of blackberries hanging out in my freezer so I subbed. I gotta say, I have made several recipes from your site and you have yet to let me down! Plus, you’re adorable and nerdy and I really can’t get enough of that ♥ And, I think you have to get into the double digits with your dolls or treat them like “real” babies before you become a crazy doll lady. I don’t personally have any dolls but my daughter got one of those crazy expensive American Girl Dolls for Christmas so I have been sewing dresses, building tiny furniture and crafting little polymer clay confections (some based on pictures from your site) for her since then so I don’t think a custom stand is weird at all. AnyWho, thanks for being awesome and keep it up!
I had to come back and let you know that after making these a couple days ago I have made them 2 more times at the request of the fam. The first batch was gone in about an hour and my husband asked me to make them for his birthday (Apr. 10) then my daughter asked if I could make them with strawberries for her friends b-day so she could surprise her at school. This recipe is fantastically versatile. The strawberry batch tasted just like strawberry lemonade. Can’t wait to try them with raspberries, as written, lol.
I love lemons and raspberries together! These look amazing. And you’re never too old for dolls 😀 My mum is 41 and she has loads of dolls and she takes their hair out and then threads new hair for them, they look amazing 😀 She also has loads of collectable dolls which will be handed down to me eventually 🙂 I love dolls, I still have all of my dolls from when I was a kid and I still get them out sometimes to look at them! Definitely not alone 🙂
These scream spring! I cannot wait to find some good raspberries and whip up a batch!
About the doll thing….I wouldn’t say you are a crazy doll lady yet because most were gifts, if you had bought them I think that would be a different story! Either way love you and these muffins!
Watch out grocery I am coming, and I will look through all of the raspberry cartons until I find perfect berries!
xoxo M
These look so lovely!!
I love your stories! I don’t think you’ve reached Crazy Doll Lady status yet. If the next photo you post is of you wearing a baby sling with your doll in tow, then you may need to seek some help.
I also love lemon in any form! I’ve never had lemon and raspberries, though, so I will definitely be trying this!
Those muffins look like Spring! I have some frozen raspberries in the freezer…would they work? They were frozen individually, not in any syrup or juice.
I just may have to make these for Mother’s Day. Sooooo yummy sounding and looking!
You are not a crazy doll lady yet…don’t worry.
This look amazing! Muffins are so under rated.
You make me laugh out loud. Love the muffins!
I have 4 of the mini Lalaloopsies that are mine and they hang in my office–the green jello girl, the ice cream girl, the cinnamon roll girl and the cherry pie girl. I LOVE THEM. LOVE.
Those muffins look AMAZING. Can’t wait for raspberries to get cheap here. Seeing as how it’s snowing right now, it will probably be a while. Sigh.
Just know when you are in the doll aisle at Target, know that I am probably at Target in the same aisle. I am 51. ;D
The thing is I am on the verge of becoming a crazy cat lady and I am only 18! My family has 2 cats whom I baby and then they promised me the moment I get a job (I am holding them to this!) that I can adopt a kitten a cute cuddly one that hopefully doesn’t bite or steal my craft ribbon (what is it with cats and craft ribbon?!).
Up until a few years ago and that is only because they have become creepy all of a sudden, I collected littlest pet shop I mean they are so cute! I have them on display in my room and I can’t wait until my nieces and nephew (I’m an aunt to less than a week old triplets) are old enough to play with them. I also have all my old fairy castles from when I was young though I got rid of my barbie and bratz dolls (I wasn’t into them much to be honest, little dolls and animals were my thing). I am a mix of the two haha!
Also you are not bad 🙂 my sister loves doing her dolls hair and she is almost 15 and doesn’t intend to stop any time soon. Plus I know guys who are 22 and 26 who love my little pony (I am ashamed to know them, they claimed they were giving it up as they got girlfriends but they haven’t).
You’re having a tea party with your dolls right now, aren’t you? Woodland creatures help you clean your house. You sing and birds perch on your finger. It’s just too adorable. We’re all mad here.
I don’t think you’re a crazy doll lady. Your dolls are adorable and I would totally love to have them too. Is that a Belle doll for exhibit A? Because I would love to own a Belle doll, and the Merida is way too precious to get rid of 🙂
And your muffins are absolutely gorgeous, just so you know 😉
I think if you have a dedicated doll room, that tips the scale to crazy doll lady. Up until that point, though, you’re a totally normal girl to love dolls and buy them for yourself, no matter what age you are. May we never get so grown up that we aren’t still drawn to the doll aisle at Target like a moth to a flame!
And also, these are the prettiest, most delicious-looking muffins I have ever seen. I LOVE lemon and raspberry together, and I’m making them as soon as possible!
It’s ok. I’m not a crazy doll lady… yet. Is it weird to have dolls in high school? Lol, I don’t play with them or anything; its just that my room decor is all about ballet, and I have a bunch of dolls dressed in tutus accenting my desks/bookcase. American Girl dolls, Corelle dolls, even creepy porcelain dolls. All my friends are scared when they come in my room/ 🙂 Those look great by the way.
I love raspberries and I love muffins, so this sounds like a perfect combination for me! Yum!!
These muffins look delicious, I am soooo ready for summery lemon flavor!
My 6 year old just got rid of half of her Barbies/Princesses. She was able (after halving) to keep 35 dolls! I guess that makes me crazy mommy lady!
Your post totally cracked me up!!! 🙂 With only six dolls, you’re definitely NOT a crazy doll lady… I guess I’ll just go and hide right now. I don’t even know how many dolls I have AND I’ve acquired them in the last few years… I love cats, too. I’d be a crazy cat lady if I was home enough to give them love. Dolls don’t require being fed.
Those muffins look delicious! I LOVE raspberries and lemon. 🙂
Your muffins look absolutely perfect! Nothing wrong with being a crazy doll lady!
Yum! Love the combo of lemons and raspberries… perfect for spring!
Ummm…I have around 70 Barbies in their boxes!!! I just bought Katniss the other day! I want Peeta too. I didn’t even know they had them. I bought a Katniss for my daughter to play with and one for myself to keep in the box. Am I crazy doll lady status?! 😉
I don’t like raspberries, but I’ll happily substitute either blueberries or blackberries. Yum!
So these look GORGEOUS. The colours, the flavour, the smells. All of it is just to die for. And I think it’s perfectly acceptable to have a doll fetish.
Maria xx
http://www.cheekypinktulip.blogspot.com
Oh Darla, these look yummmmmy!!
I made these last week and they were AMAZING! Probably the best muffins I have ever made. The consistency is PERFECT!
Question – I just made a batch for this weekend and want to know about the lemon glaze…can it be made in advance or will it crystalize if left in the fridge? I am going to be somewhere where I won’t be able to make it there and last time I made these, the lemon sugar got absorbed into the muffins before they were ever served. I’d like to do the glaze and sugar part right before serving, but can’t make the glaze then. Is there any way it would keep in the fridge overnight, or for a few hours? Thanks!
I made these last night – doubled the lemon zest and added a few more raspberries and added white choc chips – amazing! Loved the texture! Will definetly be baking these again – great recipe!
Darlaaaaaa these muffins are out of control!!! I love them. I’m not telling how many I ate. Seriously, you would never gain any respect for me. I love your doll story, I’m glad I’m not the only freak out there with weird fetishes. Wait did I just say that? 🙂 I blogged about your muffins today, barely changed a thing. SO SO GOOD! Thanks for the recipe 🙂 http://thefoodcharlatan.com/2014/01/24/raspberry-lemon-muffins-ovenart-bakeware-review-giveaway/
Do you think this recipe could be made as a loaf cake? I use a 8.5 by 4.5 loaf pan.