Honeyed Date-Nut Muffins with Orange-Honey Butter

• 1 stick unsalted butter, plus 2 teaspoons, at room temperature
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup orange blossom honey
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel
• 1/2 cup pitted, chopped dates
• 1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts
• Orange Honey Butter, recipe follows
• 1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3 tablespoons buckwheat honey
• 2 teaspoons fresh orange juice
• 1/2 teaspoon finely grated orange peel
• Pinch salt

1. Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F.
2. Lightly butter a standard 12-cup muffin pan with the 2 teaspoons of butter.
3. Set aside.
4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
5. In a large bowl, using a hand-held electric mixer, cream together the remaining 1 stick of butter and honey until fluffy.
6. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating after the inclusion of each.
7. Add the buttermilk and orange peel, and beat to combine.
8. Stir in the dry ingredients until just combined, being careful not to overmix the batter.
9. Fold in the dates and nuts.
10. Divide the batter among the prepared cups of the muffin tin.
11. Bake until golden brown and a tester inserted into the middle of a muffin comes out clean, about 25 minutes.
12. Remove from the oven and turn out onto wire racks to cool.
13. Serve with Orange Honey Butter.
14. In a bowl, combine butter, honey, orange juice, peel, and salt and, using a hand-held electric mixer, mix until fully incorporated.
15. Transfer to a decorative crock or small bowl.
16. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until slightly firm.
17. Yield: about 3/4 cup

unsalted butter, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, orange blossom honey, eggs, buttermilk, dates, walnuts, orange honey butter, unsalted butter, buckwheat honey, orange juice, salt

Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/honeyed-date-nut-muffins-with-orange-honey-butter-recipe.html (may not work)