These Mini Muffins Bake Up Golden + Delicious in 10 Minutes — Easy Shortcut Recipe
This baker's trick helps the muffins rise properly in the oven so they're super airy
We’ll admit we’re big fans of bite-size desserts — there’s just something so enticing about a tiny treat! And when it comes to muffins, we might actually prefer the mini version. They have all of the sweet richness of the baked good, plus are easier and faster to make. Here’s more on why mini muffins are so delicious along with our test kitchen’s easy recipe, plus a simple baker’s trick that makes sure the muffins bake up perfectly fluffy.
The basics of baking muffins
Making muffins from scratch involves mixing eggs, flour, sugar and other baking staples together to form a batter. Then, add-ins like fruit, chopped nuts or chocolate chips are folded into batter before it’s scooped into muffin cups and baked. Baking the muffins correctly ensures they have a golden brown crust and tender interior. While muffins vary in size, the miniature kind are a winner — especially if you need a sweet treat in a flash.
Why mini muffins are perfect to bake at home
When it comes to these muffins, there’s no additional prep beyond scooping the batter into mini muffin cups. This reduces the baking time since each portion of batter is small. Therefore, a batch of mini muffins baked at 375°F will be ready in about 10 to 12 minutes. You’re also stretching the batter to make around 30 small muffins versus 12 standard ones. This gives you more bang for your buck, and your sweet tooth will likely be satisfied with just a couple of mini muffins. Plus, the options for ingredients to flavor these morsels are seemingly endless.
Baker’s secret to moist and fluffy muffins
Instead of baking the batter right after mixing, Beth Baumgartner, food blogger and author of Bakery Style Muffins, rests it covered in the fridge for 15 minutes. “This allows the starch molecules to absorb and swell, creating a thicker batter,” she explains in a TikTok. You’ll end up with soft and airy muffins. Also, doing this step gives you time to grease or line each mini muffin cup for hassle-free baking.
A delicious recipe for homemade mini muffins
Our test kitchen’s Blueberry Muffins recipe bakes 30 mini treats, which are bursting with tart berries and topped with sweet coconut. The recipe uses a clever shortcut of making the batter with a pancake and baking mix like Bisquick. This takes the guesswork out of measuring the flour, leavening agents and salt while still producing tender homemade muffins. (Try Muffin Mix Pancakes as they’re also perfect to make with an all-in-one dry mix.)
Blueberry Muffins
We jazzed up store-bought pancake mix with plenty of fresh blueberries, along with a double dose of coconut for over-the-top yum.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups pancake and baking mix
- ⅓ cup sugar
- ⅔ cup milk
- 1 egg
- 2 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted
- ½ tsp. coconut extract
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
Directions:
- Active: 20 mins
- Total time: 50 mins
- Yield: 15 servings (30 muffins total; 2 per serving)
- Heat oven to 375°F. Line 30 mini-muffin cups with cupcake liners.
- In large mixing bowl, combine baking mix and sugar. Add milk, egg, butter and coconut extract; stir until combined. Fold in blueberries and ½ cup flaked coconut. Cover with plastic wrap and rest in fridge 15 minutes.
- Divide batter evenly among cupcake liners. Top with remaining ½ cup flaked coconut.
- Bake until toothpick inserted into centers comes out clean, 10 to 12 mins. Let cool before serving.
5 additional flavor ideas for mini muffins
Customize the flavor of mini muffins by following the directions for making the batter. Then, mix-and-match for any of these ingredients to create muffins that suit your taste buds!
1. Lemon zest
The zest of a lemon adds a bright zing that pairs well with the muffins’ sugary flavor.
2. Raspberries
Folding in unthawed frozen raspberries provides the treat with a floral kick.
3. Dark chocolate chips
These chocolate chips enhance the richness of the baked treat.
4. Nuts
Chopped almonds or pistachios are great add-ins that infuse the muffins with a nutty flavor.
5. Bananas
One or two mashed bananas adds a layer of natural sweetness and helps keep the muffins moist.
Read on for more recipes to whip up tasty baked treats!
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