Coffee cake muffins are a delightful twist on the classic coffee cake, offering all the same delicious flavors but in the form of individual muffins. These treats have a soft, fluffy interior and a crumbly, cinnamon-sugar topping that adds a touch of sweetness and texture. The best part? You can prepare and bake these muffins in under 30 minutes, making them an ideal option for busy mornings when you want a homemade snack or breakfast.
The batter is made with a perfect mix of flour, baking powder, and a hint of brown sugar, ensuring a light and fluffy texture with just the right amount of sweetness. Adding melted butter to the mixture enhances the flavor, creating a rich, moist muffin. Whether you’re starting your day with a cup of coffee or enjoying them as an afternoon treat, these coffee cake muffins are sure to become a favorite.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
If you’ve ever baked or tasted a traditional coffee cake, you know it can be a bit time-consuming with all the layers and intricacies involved. Coffee cake muffins, on the other hand, are the perfect solution to this dilemma. Here’s why you’ll love this recipe:
- Quick & Easy: These coffee cake muffins come together in just under 30 minutes. You can enjoy homemade muffins without the long wait.
- Perfect Texture: With a light, fluffy interior and a buttery, crumbly topping, every bite is a delight.
- Versatile: You can make them as sweet or as cinnamon-spicy as you like, and they’re customizable with nuts or fruit if desired.
- Great for Any Time of Day: Whether you’re serving them for breakfast, brunch, or a snack, they’re always a hit.
- No Mixer Required: This is a simple, no-fuss recipe that doesn’t need a stand mixer or hand mixer. Everything comes together with just a whisk and a spoon, starting with the batter made from flour, baking powder, baking soda, and a hint of brown sugar. Add in melted butter for extra flavor and texture.
Recipe Overview
This coffee cake muffin recipe is perfect for busy mornings, but it also doubles as a great recipe to make for a cozy afternoon snack. Here’s what you need to know about this recipe at a glance:
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Servings: 12 muffins
- Difficulty Level: Easy
- Dietary Information: Can be made dairy-free or vegan with simple swaps.
Ingredients
For the Muffins:
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg (or flax egg for vegan version)
- 1/2 cup buttermilk (or plant-based milk for dairy-free)
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted (or coconut oil for dairy-free)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Streusel Topping:
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (or coconut oil for dairy-free), softened
Equipment
- Muffin tin (12-cup)
- Mixing bowls
- Whisk
- Spoon or spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cooling rack
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Muffin Tin
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or lightly grease the cups with non-stick spray. This will prevent the muffins from sticking to the tin after baking.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon. Make sure to sift or whisk the dry ingredients to remove any lumps.
Step 3: Mix the Wet Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar, egg (or flax egg for vegan), buttermilk (or dairy-free milk), melted butter (or coconut oil), and vanilla extract until well combined.
Step 4: Combine the Wet and Dry Ingredients
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Be careful not to overmix. The batter should be slightly lumpy.
Step 5: Make the Streusel Topping
In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and softened butter (or coconut oil) until the mixture forms small crumbs. You can use a fork or your fingers to blend the ingredients until you achieve the desired crumbly texture.
Step 6: Fill the Muffin Tin
Spoon the batter into the muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full. Evenly distribute the streusel topping over each muffin, pressing down slightly to ensure it sticks to the batter.
Step 7: Bake the Muffins
Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for about 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean. The muffins should be golden brown on top.
Step 8: Cool and Enjoy
Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy while they’re still warm, or store them in an airtight container for later!
Pro Tips
- Don’t Overmix the Batter: When combining the wet and dry ingredients, stir gently. Overmixing can result in dense muffins.
- Customize the Topping: Add chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans to the streusel topping for an extra crunch, or try adding a handful of chocolate chips to the batter for a sweet twist.
- Vegan or Dairy-Free: Swap the egg for a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 tablespoons water, let it sit for 5 minutes to thicken) and use plant-based milk and coconut oil to make these muffins vegan and dairy-free.
- Check for Doneness: Since oven temperatures vary, always check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of a muffin. It should come out clean or with a few crumbs attached.
Variations You Can Try
While the classic coffee cake muffin recipe is delicious on its own, here are a few variations you can try to mix things up:
1. Fruit-Filled Muffins
Add fresh or frozen berries (blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries) to the batter for a fruity twist. Just fold them in gently before spooning the batter into the muffin tin.
2. Pumpkin Spice Muffins
For a seasonal flavor, replace the cinnamon with pumpkin pie spice and add 1/2 cup of canned pumpkin to the wet ingredients. These are perfect for fall!
3. Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake Muffins
Mix in a cup of chocolate chips for a delicious chocolate-coffee cake hybrid. The richness of the chocolate pairs beautifully with the spiced muffin batter. Don’t forget to top with a sweet topping of brown sugar and a bit of melted butter for a crumbly finish.
4. Gluten-Free Coffee Cake Muffins
Use a gluten-free flour blend in place of the all-purpose flour to make these muffins gluten-free. Just be sure to add 1/2 teaspoon of xanthan gum if your flour blend doesn’t already contain it.
Conclusion
Making coffee cake muffins in under 30 minutes is easier than you think! With simple ingredients like flour, baking powder, and melted butter, and just a few steps, you can enjoy fresh, homemade muffins that are the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and buttery goodness. Whether you’re making them for breakfast, brunch, or a snack, these muffins are sure to become a favorite in your baking repertoire.
Don’t forget to experiment with different variations, toppings, and add-ins like brown sugar to make them uniquely yours! And most importantly, have fun baking. These coffee cake muffins are a delightful treat that you can enjoy year-round, and they’re sure to impress anyone who takes a bite.
