Spiced Cinnamon Muffins

Indulge in the comforting aroma and delightful taste of these Cinnamon Muffins, a true family favorite. They are wonderfully tender, perfectly sweet, and bursting with rich cinnamon flavor in every bite. Ideal for a quick breakfast, a cozy brunch, or a satisfying snack, these muffins are sure to become a cherished recipe in your home.

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Muffins are a staple in our household, appearing on the breakfast table almost every week. Beyond these irresistible Cinnamon Muffins, our family enjoys a variety of delightful options like Brown Sugar Muffins, classic Chocolate Chip Muffins, and wholesome Banana Muffins. There’s something inherently comforting about a freshly baked muffin, and the warm, spicy scent of cinnamon wafting from the oven always brings a smile to everyone’s face.

Our family’s love for muffins runs deep, and these particular Cinnamon Muffins consistently rank as one of the most beloved. The moment their fragrant aroma fills the kitchen, signaling that a fresh batch is baking, I can see my children’s eyes light up with anticipation. It’s a simple joy that truly brightens our mornings.

I stumbled upon this incredible recipe years ago in an old, treasured family cookbook, and it has been a dependable go-to ever since. The enduring popularity of these muffins is no surprise; they embody everything you could want in a homemade treat: simplicity, speed, and an undeniable deliciousness that ensures they vanish quickly from the cooling rack.

What I appreciate most about this recipe is its reliance on common pantry staples. There’s no need for a special trip to the grocery store; when the craving strikes, or I need a quick breakfast solution, I know I’ll almost certainly have all the necessary ingredients on hand to whip up a batch. This convenience, combined with their delightful taste and texture, makes them an indispensable part of our family’s meal rotation. They are incredibly easy to mix and bake, perfect for both novice and experienced bakers, offering a comforting reward for minimal effort.

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Cinnamon Muffins

Crafting these tender and aromatic cinnamon muffins requires a handful of basic ingredients, most of which you likely already have in your kitchen. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and some helpful tips:

• **All-Purpose Flour:** The foundation of our muffins, providing structure and texture. All-purpose flour is versatile and works beautifully to create a tender crumb.
• **Granulated Sugar:** You’ll use sugar in two crucial ways in this recipe: to sweeten the muffin batter itself, ensuring a perfectly balanced taste, and to create that delightful cinnamon-sugar topping that adds an extra layer of sweetness and spice, creating a subtle crunch.
• **Baking Powder:** This is our leavening agent, responsible for the muffins’ airy and fluffy texture. For many years, I followed the original family cookbook recipe which called for 4 teaspoons. However, through recent testing, I’ve found that reducing the amount to 1 tablespoon (which is equivalent to 3 teaspoons) still yields perfectly risen and wonderfully textured muffins. This slight adjustment ensures a more balanced rise without compromising on the delightful lightness.
• **Ground Cinnamon:** The star of the show! Cinnamon is incorporated both into the muffin batter for an infused warmth and, of course, generously sprinkled on top with sugar to create that signature spicy crust. Using a good quality cinnamon will truly enhance the flavor profile.
• **Salt:** A pinch of salt is essential for baking. It’s not just about adding saltiness; it’s a flavor enhancer that balances the sweetness and brings out the depth of the cinnamon, making all the other flavors shine. I personally prefer sea salt for its subtle mineral notes, but standard table salt works just as effectively.
• **Milk:** This ingredient adds moisture and richness to the batter. Feel free to use whatever you have on hand – 2% milk is my usual choice, but 1% or whole milk will also yield excellent results. While I haven’t personally tested them, skim milk or various nut milks (like almond or oat) could potentially work, though they might alter the texture slightly. For an exceptionally moist muffin with a delicate tang, consider using buttermilk; its acidity can also react with the baking powder to create an even lighter crumb.
• **Vegetable Oil:** Oil contributes to the muffins’ tender crumb and helps keep them moist for longer. I typically use a neutral vegetable oil, but any light-flavored oil, such as canola oil or grapeseed oil, will work well. For an extra boost of rich flavor, you could even substitute melted unsalted butter; just be sure it’s cooled slightly before adding it to the wet ingredients.
• **Large Eggs:** Eggs are vital for binding the ingredients together, providing structure, and adding richness. For the best results, aim to use large eggs that are at room temperature. If you remember, take them out of the refrigerator about 30 minutes before you plan to start baking. Room temperature eggs emulsify more easily with other ingredients, leading to a smoother, more uniform batter and ultimately, a better-textured muffin.

How to Bake Delightful Cinnamon Muffins

Making these scrumptious cinnamon muffins is surprisingly straightforward. Follow these simple steps for a batch of perfectly baked treats that will impress everyone:

• **Prepare Your Dry Ingredients:** In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. Use a whisk to thoroughly blend these dry ingredients together. This ensures that the leavening agent and spices are evenly distributed, leading to a consistent rise and flavor throughout your muffins.
• **Combine Wet Ingredients:** In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together the milk, vegetable oil, and eggs until they are well combined and smooth. Ensure the eggs are fully incorporated for optimal moisture and binding.

• **Gently Mix Wet into Dry:** Create a small well in the center of your dry ingredients mixture. Pour the combined wet ingredients into this well.
• **Avoid Overmixing:** Using a spatula or wooden spoon, gently stir the wet and dry ingredients together. Mix just until they are barely combined and no streaks of dry flour remain. It’s perfectly normal, and even desirable, for the batter to appear lumpy. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour too much, which can result in tough, dense muffins instead of the tender, fluffy ones we’re aiming for.

• **Fill Muffin Tin and Add Topping:** Prepare your muffin tin by either spraying it thoroughly with cooking spray or lining the cups with paper liners. Evenly divide the muffin batter among the prepared cups, filling each about two-thirds full. In a small separate bowl, combine the remaining cinnamon and sugar for the topping. Generously sprinkle this fragrant cinnamon-sugar mixture over the top of each muffin cup. This creates a beautifully spiced and slightly crunchy crust.
• **Bake to Perfection:** Bake the muffins in a preheated oven until they are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. This typically takes between 13 to 15 minutes, depending on your oven. The clean toothpick indicates that the muffins are cooked through and perfectly moist.

Cinnamon Muffins Video Guide

For a visual walkthrough of the entire baking process, be sure to watch the helpful video demonstration above. It covers each step, from mixing the ingredients to achieving that perfect golden-brown finish, making it even easier to follow along and bake your own batch of delicious cinnamon muffins.

Storing and Freezing Your Cinnamon Muffins

Ensuring your cinnamon muffins stay fresh and delicious is simple with these storage and freezing tips:

Storing Leftovers: To keep any leftover muffins at their best, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. While they are undoubtedly most delicious when enjoyed within a day or two of baking, they will remain wonderfully moist and flavorful for up to 5 days. Placing a piece of paper towel at the bottom of the container can help absorb excess moisture and prevent them from becoming soggy.

Freezing for Later: If you’ve baked a large batch and don’t plan to eat them all at once, these muffins freeze exceptionally well, making them perfect for future quick breakfasts or snacks. Start by allowing the baked muffins to cool completely on a wire rack. Once cooled, arrange them in a single layer on a baking tray and place the tray in the freezer for about an hour. This “flash freezing” step prevents them from sticking together. After they are firm, transfer the frozen muffins to a freezer-safe bag or an airtight container. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months without losing their quality. When you’re ready to enjoy one, simply remove a muffin and let it thaw at room temperature for about an hour, or pop it in the microwave for approximately 30 seconds for a warm, freshly baked taste.

Exciting Variations for Your Cinnamon Muffins

While I firmly believe these cinnamon muffins are pretty perfect as they are, sometimes it’s fun to experiment and add a little extra flair. Here are some wonderful variations you can try to customize this beloved recipe to your taste:

• **Fruitful Additions:** Stir in a handful of plump raisins or tart dried cranberries into the batter before baking. These additions will soften during baking and add lovely bursts of fruity flavor and texture that complement the cinnamon beautifully.
• **Crunchy Streusel Topping:** Instead of the simple cinnamon-sugar sprinkle, elevate your muffins with a homemade streusel topping. Combine 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and 2 tablespoons cold butter (cut into small pieces). Use your fingertips to blend until crumbly, then sprinkle over the batter before baking. This adds a delightful buttery crunch.
• **Vanilla Boost:** For an extra layer of warmth and sweetness, add one to two teaspoons of pure vanilla extract to the wet ingredients. Vanilla enhances the overall flavor profile of the muffins, making them even more aromatic and comforting.
• **Seasonal Spice Swap:** In the autumn months, or whenever you’re craving a taste of fall, replace the cinnamon with an equal amount of pumpkin pie spice blend. This simple swap will infuse your muffins with a complex mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves, perfect for a seasonal treat.
• **Sweet Glaze Drizzle:** Once the muffins have cooled, whisk together a simple glaze using powdered sugar and a tiny bit of milk (or even a splash of vanilla extract for extra flavor). Drizzle this sweet glaze generously over the tops of the muffins for an elegant finish and an added touch of sweetness.

Discover More Easy Muffin Recipes!

If you’ve enjoyed these delectable cinnamon muffins and are eager to expand your baking repertoire, explore some of our other effortlessly delicious muffin recipes that are perfect for any occasion:

• Wholesome Classic Bran Muffins
• Delicious Apple Cinnamon Muffins
• Hearty Oatmeal Muffins with Applesauce
• Festive Pumpkin Muffins with Chocolate Chips
• Tropical Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins with Coconut

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Cinnamon Muffins

4.73 from 188 votes

Author: Deborah Harroun

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 16 servings

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

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A family favorite, these Cinnamon Muffins are tender and sweet and filled with lots of cinnamon flavor.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder*
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil (or another neutral oil)
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons sugar (for topping)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon (for topping)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Grease 18 muffin cups or line with paper liners.
2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, 1 cup sugar, baking powder, 1 tablespoon cinnamon, and salt. Whisk to combine thoroughly.
3. In another bowl, whisk together the milk, vegetable oil, and eggs. Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. Stir gently just until combined – be careful not to overmix.
4. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared muffin cups.
5. In a small bowl, combine the 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Sprinkle this cinnamon-sugar mixture generously over the tops of the batter-filled cups.
6. Bake the muffins for 13-15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Video

Recipe Notes:

*The original recipe called for 4 teaspoons of baking powder. I have tested them with 1 tablespoon (3 teaspoons) of baking powder, and they still work perfectly. The recipe has been updated to reflect the lesser amount for optimal results.

Nutrition information provided as an estimate only. Various brands and products can change the counts. Any nutritional information should be used as a general guide.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1 muffin, Calories: 188kcal (9%), Carbohydrates: 27g (9%), Protein: 3g (6%), Fat: 8g (12%), Saturated Fat: 1g (6%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 25mg (8%), Sodium: 212mg (9%), Fiber: 2g (8%), Sugar: 14g (16%)

Keywords: Cinnamon muffins, easy muffin recipe, homemade muffins, muffin recipe