Basic Muffin Recipe

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This basic muffin recipe is simple yet soft and buttery. The simple muffin base is easy to make and it can be flavored with a variety of mix-ins. You’ll be sinking your teeth into buttery, soft muffins in no time!

plain muffins on a white plate

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I’m adding to my baking basics series with a plain muffin recipe that is great as it is or flavored with your favorite mix-ins. Try making cranberry orange muffins with this recipe. It’s superb!

Muffins fall into the “quick bread” category and are essentially flavored pancake batter that’s baked in muffin tins.

The traditional ratio for muffins and quick bread is 2 parts flour, 2 parts liquid, 1 part egg, and 1 part butter.

I’m not a fan of muffins baked this way because they are too soft and spongy. I prefer my muffins to be dense but soft in the middle and crisp on the top.

I started with the basic muffin ratio and adjusted the ingredients until I achieved the texture I prefer.

Why this basic muffin recipe works

  • The recipe follows the muffin method. The dry ingredients are mixed together in one bowl. The wet ingredients are mixed together in another bowl. Then, the two are mixed together just until combined.
  • The right amount of liquid is used to achieve a dense muffin that isn’t dry.
  • The batter is sturdy enough to support anything you’d like to add in. Blueberries, strawberries, lemon zest, and orange zest are just a few examples of mix-ins. I’ll leave more details on the variations down below.
Basic muffins on a marble cake stand

Basic Muffin Ingredients

Plain muffins call for standard pantry ingredients. You most likely have these on hand already. Let’s go over what you need…

  • Flour: All-purpose flour is what I used to develop the recipe.
  • Leavening: Baking powder is my choice of leavening for this muffin base.
  • Salt: Because no recipe is edible without a pinch or two of salt.
  • Butter: I prefer unsalted sweet cream butter when making muffins.
  • Sugar: Only a little sugar is used.
  • Eggs: You need 2 large eggs.
  • Milk: I used whole milk for the muffins but you can also use buttermilk.
basic muffins with one broken open so the inside is visible

How to make Basic Muffins

This recipe is so quick and easy, you could do it with your eyes closed! Not really, but you know what I’m trying to get at here. You need two bowls, a whisk, and a spatula. That’s it!

The Batter – A Basic muffin batter shouldn’t be too sweet. A good rule of thumb is to use as much sugar as butter. And take care not to over mix when combining the ingredients.

plain muffins on a marble stand

Step 1: Combine the dry ingredients

It’s as easy as it sounds. Place the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl and use a whisk to stir until everything is well combined.

Important note: Make sure you properly measure the flour before you begin. Don’t scoop the flour out of the container with the measuring cup. Flour compacts and you’ll end up with too much flour this way.

Instead, fluff the flour with a fork and lightly spoon it into the measuring cup. Use the back of a knife to level off the cup.

dry ingredients for basic muffins

Step 2: Combine the wet ingredient

The eggs and milk must be at room temperature. Set them out 30 minutes to 1 hour before you begin making the muffins.

I prefer to use melted butter that has cooled. It’s important to let it cool so it doesn’t scramble the eggs when you mix them together.

In a large bowl, add the melted and cooled butter, eggs, and milk. Use the whisk to stir until everything is well combined.

wet ingredients for basic muffins

Step 3: Combine the wet and dry ingredients

Dump the flour mixture into the butter mixture. Use a silicone spatula to fold the two mixtures together just until all the flour is moistened.

You want to be extra careful here because over mixing will result in a tough, chewy muffin. Once you see no visible streaks of dry flour, stop stirring!

It’s okay if the batter is lumpy. That’s completely normal for muffins.

basic muffin batter in glass bowl

Step 4: Bake

Line a muffin pan with paper liners or you can lightly grease the muffin cups.

Divide the batter evenly between 12 muffin cups and bake for 20-25 minutes. The muffins are done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached.

unbaked muffins in muffin tin

Tips for making the best muffins

  1. You can use oil instead of butter but keep in mind that the texture of the muffins will be much softer.
  2. A combination of oil and butter works well! Use ¼ cup of oil and ¼ cup of melted butter.
  3. Make the muffins gluten-free by using Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour.
  4. Buttermilk, sour cream or yogurt can be used in place of whole milk. If you wish to use Greek yogurt, you’ll need to thin it with water first. I’ll leave detailed instructions in the recipe down below.
close up of a basic muffin

Variations to try

You can mix in different extract flavors, your favorite fruit, nuts, even savory options. The possibilities are endless with this base recipe, but here are a few to get you started:

  • Blueberry Muffins – Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Stir in ¾ cup to 1 cup of fresh blueberries. Raspberries and diced strawberries also work well.
  • Cranberry Orange Muffins – Replace ¼ cup of the milk with orange juice. Stir in 1 tablespoon of orange zest. And fold in ¾ cup to 1 cup of fresh cranberries.
  • Apple Cinnamon Muffins – Use brown sugar instead of white sugar. Add 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Fold in ¾ cup to 1 cup of diced apples. Any tart baking apple works great!
  • Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins – Replace ¼ cup of the milk with fresh lemon juice. Stir in the zest of 1 lemon. And stir in 1 teaspoon of poppy seeds.
  • Chocolate Chip Muffins – Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Stir in ¾ cup to 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips. Coarsely chopped baking chocolate will work great also.

If you like this basic muffin recipe, try these others:

Basic Muffin Recipe

4.59 from 831 votes
basic muffins with one broken open so the inside is visible
This basic muffin recipe is simple yet soft and buttery. The simple muffin base is easy to make and it can be flavored with a variety of mix-ins. You’ll be sinking your teeth into buttery, soft muffins in no time!
Jen Sobjack
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 12

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (260 g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) milk, room temperature
  • ½ cup (114 g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons coarse sugar, optional

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a muffin pan with paper liners; set aside.
  • In a small bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk the milk, butter, and eggs together until well combined.
  • Add the flour mixture and stir with a silicone spatula just until combined.
  • Divide the batter evenly between the muffin cups and sprinkle the tops with coarse sugar if using.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached.
  • Transfer muffins to a wire rack to cool completely. Muffins are best the day they are made but they can be stored for later use.

Notes

  • You can use oil instead of butter but keep in mind that the texture of the muffins will be much softer. Choose a flavorless oil like vegetable oil, canola oil, coconut oil, peanut oil, or safflower oil.
  • A combination of oil and butter works well! Use ¼ cup of oil and ¼ cup of melted butter.
  • Make the muffins gluten-free by using Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour.
  • Buttermilk, sour cream or regular yogurt can be used in place of whole milk. If you wish to use Greek yogurt, you’ll need to thin it out by mixing ¾ cup of Greek yogurt with ¼ cup of water.
Variations
  • Blueberry Muffins – Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Stir in ¾ cup to 1 cup of fresh blueberries. Raspberries and diced strawberries also work well.
  • Cranberry Orange Muffins – Replace ¼ cup of the milk with orange juice. Stir in 1 tablespoon of orange zest. And fold in ¾ cup to 1 cup of fresh cranberries.
  • Apple Cinnamon Muffins – Use brown sugar instead of white sugar. Add 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Fold in ¾ cup to 1 cup of diced apples. Any tart baking apple works great!
  • Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins – Replace ¼ cup of the milk with fresh lemon juice. Stir in the zest of 1 lemon. And stir in 1 teaspoon of poppy seeds.
  • Chocolate Chip Muffins – Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Stir in ¾ cup to 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips. Coarsely chopped baking chocolate will work great also.
Make ahead tip
  1. Store the muffins in an airtight container and at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to 1 week.
  2. The muffins can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw one or all of the muffins in the refrigerator overnight. Or place a single frozen muffin in the microwave for 40-60 seconds.

Nutrition

Serving: 1muffin | Calories: 204kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 115mg | Potassium: 125mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 301IU | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutrition information provided is for convenience and as a courtesy only. It is not guaranteed to be accurate because nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For precise nutritional data use your preferred nutrition calculator and input the exact ingredients and brands you used in the recipe.

Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American

4.59 from 831 votes (785 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




223 Comments

  1. Nigel Galashan says:

    Thanks for this fantastic recipe. Precision recipes make for precision results!

  2. Trying these with some (awful) pumpkin spice wine, because I hate wasting anything, but it’s pretty undeniable. I’m hoping the spices will go well in a muffin, so I subbed in wine and cream for the milk and added a little almond extract… thanks for having a basic recipe that is easy to play with!

  3. 5 stars
    I tried these today, in a gluten free recipe. I used the all purpose gluten free flour you find at Sam’s (with the photo of a pizza on the front). I following the recipe EXCEPT I substituted a quarter cup of truvia in for the sugar, and used country crock instead of butter. My add ins were a teaspoon of vanilla, a teaspoon of cinnamon, and a half teaspoon of nutmeg. They are SO FLUFFY and delicious!!

  4. I made choc chip mini muffins, cooked at 180°c for about 7 min in the air fryer.I would probably only cook for for 5min next time.
    I also made choc chip mini loaves which took about 9 min at 180°c
    This recipe turned out well for me, and I’m notoriously bad at baking. So I’d definitely use this recipe in the future

    1. Jen Sobjack says:

      I’m so glad to hear the recipe worked in the air fryer!

  5. So what can I use instead of sugar? I was looking for a basic muffin recipe for use of *anything*, not just sweet things. I wanted to make something with cheddar and tomato.

    1. Jen Sobjack says:

      Unfortunately, this recipe requires sugar.

  6. I thought about prepping the dry ingredients and keeping in pantry for future use,(my kiddos live muffins) Have you done this? How much would I use?

    1. Jen Sobjack says:

      I’ve never done this before.

  7. Hello! Thank you for these super helpful tips!
    If I wanted to make these jumbo sized what would I alter?
    Thank you!
    Joelle

    1. Jen Sobjack says:

      You would just use a jumbo muffin tin and adjust the bake time. They will take longer to bake since they are bigger so keep a close eye on them.

  8. 5 stars
    Did the basic muffin and spooned some blueberry compote on top (had made the prior day) — Perfect, fluffy, I followed the directions very closely, didn’t over beat, did the room temperature thing, etc

  9. 5 stars
    I made the chocolate chip version and it is great for beginners. They are soft in the centre and have crunchy shells. Amazing recipe.

  10. 5 stars
    I did the recipe and it was an easy an delicious experience!