Early Bird Muffins Recipes

MASTER MUFFIN RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F (218°C). Spray a 12-count muffin pan with nonstick spray or line with cupcake liners. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt together. Set aside.
• In a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on high speed until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Add the brown sugar and beat on high until creamed, about 2 full minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Add the eggs, sour cream, and vanilla extract. Beat on medium speed for 1 minute, then turn up to high speed until the mixture is combined. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
• Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and beat on low speed until just about combined. Add the milk and continue to beat on low until combined. Fold in add-ins. (See flavors/details in the notes below.)
• Spoon the batter evenly into each cup or liner, filling each all the way to the top. Bake the muffins for 5 minutes at 425 then, keeping the muffins in the oven, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (177°C). Bake for an additional 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The total time these muffins take in the oven is about 22-23 minutes, give or take. Allow the muffins to cool for 5 minutes in the muffin pan, then transfer to a wire rack to continue cooling.
• Glazed muffins stay fresh stored in the refrigerator for 1 week, unglazed muffins stay fresh stored at room temperature for a few days- then transfer to the fridge for up to 1 week.

EARLY BIRD MUFFINS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 12 cup muffin pan.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the mashed banana, bran cereal, coconut milk, egg, pineapple, brown sugar and vanilla. Let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes while you mix together the dry ingredients. You may want to mix it around a little to crush the bran somewhat as it softens.
• In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
• Add the flour mixture to the bran cereal mixture and stir just until mixed, then stir in the pecans and coconut.
• Divide the batter among the muffin tins. The recipe says ¾ full, so you should stick with that to be safe. My banana-free/extra-pineapple batter was thicker and I let the batter go almost to the top of the cups.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes (mine always take 25) or until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The muffins will be very soft and moist at first, but their texture improves a bit as they sit.

HEARTY BREAKFAST MUFFINS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease 12 muffin cups or line with paper liners.
• Mix carrots, banana, zucchini, vegetable oil, yogurt, and eggs together until fully incorporated.
• Whisk flour and baking soda in a separate bowl. Mix brown sugar, oats, coconut, pecans, cherries, cinnamon, salt, and ginger into flour mixture until all ingredients are coated in flour. Stir wet ingredients into flour mixture until just combined. Scoop batter into the prepared muffin cups.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean and edges are slightly brown, 17 to 22 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.

MORNING GLORY MUFFINS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and arrange two racks evenly spaced in the oven. Line two muffin pans with paper muffin cups.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, oil, and vanilla. Add the carrots, apple, pineapple, pecans, coconut, and raisins and stir together. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir just until combined. Scoop the batter with a standard (2 1/4-inch) ice cream scoop (I use rounded scoops of batter) into the prepared muffin cups. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Place the pans on a baking rack to cool and serve the muffins warm or at room temperature.

BASIC MUFFIN RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Line 2 muffin trays with paper muffin cases. In a large bowl beat 2 medium eggs lightly with a handheld electric mixer for 1 min.
• Add 125ml vegetable oil and 250ml semi-skimmed milk and beat until just combined then add 250g golden caster sugar and whisk until you have a smooth batter.
• Sift in 400g self-raising flour and 1 tsp salt (or 400g plain flour and 3 tsp baking powder if using) then mix until just smooth. Be careful not to over-mix the batter as this will make the muffins tough.
• Stir in 100g chocolate chips or dried fruit if using.
• Fill muffin cases two-thirds full and bake for 20-25 mins, until risen, firm to the touch and a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. If the trays will not fit on 1 shelf, swap the shelves around after 15 mins of cooking.
• Leave the muffins in the tin to cool for a few mins and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.