Easy Cinnamon Muffin Recipe

Ready for the best cinnamon muffin recipe EVER? These little gems of deliciousness are just like little cinnamon sugar donut holes, but without the deep frying involved! Each little muffin is the perfect bite for a quick breakfast or late night snack.

As a busy momma with family members eating breakfast at all different times of the morning, muffins are my go-to breakfast item to have on hand for a quick meal on the go. They grab a couple, along with some fruit and yogurt, before rushing out the door for school, work, or activities.

The base for this cinnamon muffin recipe comes from my favorite muffin base that I have added different ingredients to and created dozens of different variations on. The recipe always creates the most tender, moist, and fluffy muffins that are perfect with your morning cup of coffee.

FAQs About Cinnamon Sugar Muffins

How does the cinnamon sugar stick to the outside of the muffins?

I have seen other recipes that have you dip the baked muffin in melted butter before rolling them in cinnamon sugar but that is unnecessary. All you need to do is roll them in the sugar mixture as soon as they come out of the oven. The heat and moisture on the outside of each muffin will allow the sugar to stick perfectly. If you wait until they are room temperature, the sugar won’t stick.

My muffins turned out tough. What did I do wrong?

The key to tender muffins every time is to barely mix the batter after you’ve added the all purpose flour. It is why the recipe has you mix flour in very last. If you combine the flour too much, gluten begins to develop and the best cinnamon muffins quickly begin taking on a bread-like texture instead. Save that for the cinnamon rolls!

If you’ve used an electric or stand mixer, switch to a rubber spatula for the final step of folding in the flour. Use a large bowl for big, gentle folds and only fold until most of the flour is absorbed. You want lumps and streaks of flour still showing.

Can I make these as full-sized muffins instead?

Absolutely! This is a cinnamon muffins recipe that can go big or small very easily. Just make a few adjustments:

• Double this recipe as listed for 12 full sized muffins.
• Use either muffin liners or silicone muffin cups
• Just dip the top of the muffins in the small bowl of sugar
• Bake for 25 minutes instead of 12 as the recipe states

Recipe variation suggestions

If you have been here at MKE long enough, you know I always encourage my readers to try variations of recipes to make it personalized for them. Here are some suggestions for these easy cinnamon muffins:

• Add extra spices to the dry ingredients before mixing them with the wet ingredients. Nutmeg, cloves, and all spice would be delicious.
• Add a bit of cream of tartar to the dry ingredients for more of a snickerdoodle cookie flavor.
• Fold in some finely chopped apple with the flour at the end for some apple cinnamon muffins.
• Add some streusel onto each of the muffins before going into the oven for cinnamon streusel muffins.

How long do these muffins last?

If you are lucky enough to have some leftovers, store them in an airtight container and they will be good for 5 days on the counter. In fact, I think they taste even better and have a better texture on day two!

If you want to freeze them, place them in a single layer on a cookie sheet then into the freezer. Once they are frozen, store them in a freezer bag or container for 3-4 months.

How do you make cinnamon sugar?

It couldn’t be more simple! You just have to combine sugar with a few teaspoons cinnamon. Get a medium bowl and combine 1/2 cup sugar with 2 tablespoons of cinnamon. If you like yours extra cinnamon-y, add another teaspoon cinnamon.

How do I know what the muffins are done baking?

Yes, you can use a cake tester in the center of the muffin and see when it comes out clean, but I like a more simple method. Try gently tapping the top of the muffins a little bit. If they bounce back, they are done! Try this next time instead.

And don’t skip that part of the instructions that say to heat oven to 350 degrees. Preheating gets you a perfect result every time.

Easy Cinnamon Muffin Recipe VIDEO

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