Description
Nostalgic “muffins that taste like doughnuts” bring classic bakery comfort straight to home kitchens. Cinnamon-sugar coated and pillowy-light, these treats deliver bakery-quality sweetness you can easily craft with simple pantry ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup milk
Leavening and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
Binding and Flavoring Ingredients:
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping Ingredients:
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Prepare the oven environment by setting the temperature to 350F (175C) and readying a muffin tin with protective paper liners or a generous coating of grease.
- Create a smooth, airy base by vigorously blending softened butter and sugar until they transform into a light, creamy texture.
- Introduce a rich, binding element by incorporating the egg, then seamlessly integrate milk and vanilla extract to enhance the mixture’s depth of flavor.
- In a separate vessel, thoroughly combine the dry components – flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg – ensuring an even distribution of ingredients.
- Gently unite the wet and dry mixtures, stirring with delicate precision to maintain the batter’s tender consistency. Avoid aggressive mixing to preserve the muffins’ delicate structure.
- Distribute the batter evenly into the prepared muffin cups, filling each compartment approximately two-thirds full to allow proper rising.
- Transfer the tin to the preheated oven and bake for 15-18 minutes, monitoring until a inserted toothpick emerges completely clean, signaling perfect doneness.
- While the muffins retain their residual warmth, delicately brush their surfaces with melted butter, then generously coat each in a fragrant cinnamon-sugar mixture for a decadent finish.
- Allow the muffins a brief moment to cool, then savor the delightful transformation from humble muffin to doughnut-inspired treat.
Notes
- Swap out all-purpose flour with whole wheat or gluten-free flour for a more nutritious or celiac-friendly version, ensuring the texture remains soft and tender.
- Reduce sugar content by using alternative sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit for a lower-calorie treat that still maintains the signature sweet flavor.
- Use dairy-free milk and plant-based butter alternatives to create a vegan-friendly adaptation without compromising the muffins’ rich, doughnut-like taste and texture.
- Add a pinch of cardamom or ginger alongside nutmeg to elevate the warm, aromatic profile and introduce a subtle complexity to the classic cinnamon-sugar coating.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 215
- Sugar: 19 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg