I first fell in love with these in the late 80’s at a little bakery on the Oregon coast.

Sailor Jacks

Ingredients:

Muffins:

Ingredient Quantity

Flour 2 cups

Baking powder 1 1/2 teaspoons

Baking soda 1/2 teaspoon

Salt 1 teaspoon

Cocoa powder 1/3 cup

Cinnamon 1 1/2 tablespoons

Cloves 1 tablespoon

Nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon

Allspice 2 teaspoons

Ginger 1 teaspoon

White pepper 1/2 teaspoon

Unsalted butter, softened 1/2 cup

Brown sugar 1 1/4 cup

Eggs 3

Buttermilk 2/3 cup

Molasses 1/2 cup

Hot water 1 cup

Raisins 1 cup

Icing:

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Ingredient Quantity

Powdered sugar 2 cups

Vanilla extract 1 teaspoon

Water 2-3 tablespoons

Instructions:

Preheat oven and prepare muffin tins: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Thoroughly grease two muffin tins.

Sift dry ingredients: In a small bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, and white pepper until well combined.

Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, mix the softened butter and brown sugar until light and airy.

Add wet ingredients: Mix in the eggs one at a time, followed by the molasses and buttermilk.

Combine wet and dry: Slowly mix the sifted dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

Add hot water and raisins: Gently mix in the hot water until the batter is smooth. Stir in the raisins.

Fill muffin tins: Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin tins, filling each cup a little over halfway full.

Bake: Bake for 20-24 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.

Prepare icing: While the muffins are baking or cooling slightly, mix together the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and water in a small bowl until smooth and the desired drizzling consistency is reached. Add more water, one teaspoon at a time, if needed.

Ice the muffins: Drizzle the icing over the muffins while they are still warm. Alternatively, you can dip the tops of the warm muffins directly into the icing.

Cool and serve: Let the muffins cool slightly before serving.

Enjoy!