33 Irresistible Muffin Recipes

We all know that muffins are some of the most delicious and satisfying baked goods out there.

However, when it comes to baking muffins, it’s easy to get stuck in a routine of always making the same (pretty basic) recipe. 

That’s why we’ve put together this compilation of the 33 best muffin recipes available online!

Some of these are relatively traditional while others are a bit more ‘out there’, some are sweet and some are savory, but all of them are irresistible!

1. Lemon Muffins 

Lemon muffins are the perfect way to combine sweet and sour flavors, and we think this recipe showcases that beautifully. 

If you typically struggle to get the lemon flavor to come to the forefront of your muffins without watering down the batter with too much lemon juice, follow this recipe to the letter and you shouldn’t have any issues. 

One thing we especially love about this recipe is the fact that it includes instructions for a delicious lemon glaze made with real lemon juice! You won’t regret trying these out. 

2. Peanut Butter And Banana Muffins 

These peanut butter and banana muffins taste rich and indulgent, but they’re actually healthy!

The recipe is dairy-free as well as gluten-free.

Some people might have had negative experiences with gluten-free or vegan baked goods, but the beauty of adding banana to muffins is that they contribute both flavor and moisture, so you won’t even be able to tell the difference.

We appreciate that this is a versatile recipe that allows you to use the plant-based milk of your choice, although unsweetened milk is recommended to preserve the flavor. 

3. Mini Cinnamon Sugar Donut-Muffins 

If you love muffins but want to try making something a little out of the ordinary, what about these cinnamon and sugar donut-muffins? 

These muffins are exactly what the recipe says they are – a cross between donuts and muffins! They’re coated with cinnamon and sugar, and they taste absolutely incredible.

Sure, they may not be the healthiest option in our selection, but they’re perfect for when you want a sweet treat.

Bear in mind that the instructions in this recipe produce donut-muffins that are smaller than your average muffin. They’re roughly the size of mini muffins. 

4. Strawberry Muffins 

It’s notoriously difficult to make strawberry-flavored baked goods where the strawberry taste actually comes through, but that’s not the case with these amazing strawberry muffins! 

This recipe involves putting diced strawberries directly into the batter to help preserve the flavor.

This does mean that a lot of juice gets released into the batter during cooking, so these muffins don’t have the fluffy, light texture you might expect, but the moisture and density makes them a satisfying choice. 

5. Peanut Butter And Jelly Muffins 

Who doesn’t love a PB+J sandwich? We know we do, which is why these peanut butter and jelly muffins are one of our favorite bakes. 

The mashed up bananas in this recipe ensure that the muffins come out of the oven with a moist texture and plenty of sweetness, while the peanut butter is not only tasty, but an excellent source of healthy fats and protein. 

But it’s the swirl of jelly on top of each muffin that truly takes these muffins to the next level. You’ll want to make this recipe again and again!

6. Carrot Cake Muffins 

Carrot cake is delicious, but despite one of the primary ingredients being a vegetable, it’s not always the healthiest dessert option.

If you love carrot cake but want a lower-calorie version, try out this recipe for carrot cake muffins! 

The sweetness of the carrot and maple syrup in this recipe contrasts beautifully with the sharpness of the lemon zest, and the more neutral (yet rich and satisfying) flavor of the Greek yogurt topping brings it all together. 

7. Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins 

We know zucchini isn’t your average muffin ingredient, but don’t knock these zucchini chocolate chip muffins until you’ve tried them! 

This is one of our healthier muffin recipe suggestions because zucchinis are so nutritious. Not only do they contain many vitamins and minerals, but they’re also a great source of antioxidants.

The zucchini flavor itself is quite mild, but the strong taste of the chocolate chips comes through to contribute some flavor. 

One major benefit of adding zucchini to a muffin recipe is that it’s high in fiber and bulks up the mixture, so the muffins are satiating and you can make more at once. 

8. Caramel And Apple Muffins 

Caramel and apple is a classic combination – caramel apples, anyone? However, we highly recommend trying these flavors in muffin form using this recipe. 

Despite the fact that this recipe calls for making your own caramel sauce for the topping, it’s actually very easy to make in a few easy steps and doesn’t require any specialist ingredients. 

In less than an hour, you can have a dozen delicious muffins that are perfect for the fall season, or whenever you want!

9. Blueberry Bisquick Muffins 

If you love baking but don’t always have enough time to prepare everything from scratch, we recommend using bisquick, which is exactly what this recipe does. 

By using bisquick, which is a pre-prepared blend of sugar, flour, salt, and baking powder, you can cut your prep time significantly.

All you need to do is mix milk, oil, more sugar, and egg, and the blueberries into the bisquick and you have muffins that are ready to bake!

Make sure to add the blueberries at the very last moment before baking so that the juices don’t affect the consistency of the batter. 

10. Mango And Coconut Muffins 

No flavor combination says summer quite like mango and coconut, so if you’re looking for something to bake during the warmer months, try these mango and coconut muffins. 

The ingredients list in this recipe calls for spelt flour, but this can be difficult to find, so you can always substitute it for a combination of whole wheat and white flour. 

To make these muffins perfect, fold in the mango right before transferring the batter into muffin cases and sprinkle the tops of the muffins with coconut flakes before putting them in the oven. 

11. Oatmeal Raisin Muffins 

Oatmeal-based baked goods are often seen as a boring option, but these oatmeal raisin muffins will change the way you think. 

This recipe makes 12 muffins which are perfect for breakfast, dessert, an afternoon snack, or basically any time you like!

They’re not too sweet, but they don’t taste like they’re supposed to be a healthy alternative, either. In our opinion, the recipe gets the balance just right. 

12. Egg Breakfast Muffins 

While the oatmeal raisin muffins mentioned above are a great breakfast option, if you prefer to start your morning with something a little more savory and proteinous, these breakfast egg muffins are perfect. 

One thing we really appreciate about this recipe is the fact that the muffins are freezable.

This might not sound like a big deal, but the reality is that many of us don’t have the time to prepare an egg muffin from scratch before work every day, so having a stash of these in your freezer will ensure you have a healthy, delicious breakfast ready at all times. 

13. Maple Walnut Muffins 

This maple and walnut muffin recipe by Seasons and Suppers tastes like something you would buy from a bakery, but you can make them yourself in under an hour by following the simple instructions. 

The only sweetener in these muffins is maple syrup, and although you don’t need to add an excessive quantity, the sweetness truly shines.

Because of this, the maple walnut muffins are ideal for when you want something that tastes sugary without an excess of refined sugar. 

We love how the flavors of the maple syrup and the walnuts complement each other, and we think you will, too!

14. Cheddar Cheese Muffins 

Calling all cheese lovers! These cheddar cheese muffins are the perfect way to satisfy your cheese cravings and your taste for baked goods at the same time. 

This cheddar-based muffin recipe challenges the idea of muffins as a primarily sweet food. After you’ve tried these muffins, you’ll be firmly converted to the world of savory muffin recipes. 

You can find plenty of cheese recipes online, but what made this one stand out for us is the way they turn out soft and melty in the center.

You can enjoy them by themselves or serve them alongside a complementary dish like a hot tomato soup. 

15. Pineapple And Coconut Muffins 

We’ve already recommended mango and coconut muffins, but if you want another tropical flavor combination to try out next time you feel like baking, these pineapple and coconut muffins are just as delicious. 

Pineapple has so many incredible health benefits, from antioxidants that help to boost immunity to plenty of fiber for easing digestion.

This means that you can enjoy these muffins knowing that they’re actually good for you! 

Because pineapple is a very juicy fruit, make sure to follow the instructions and add the pieces right at the end along with the coconut. Otherwise, your mixture will be too watery.

16. Applesauce Muffins 

Applesauce is a great alternative to sugar or artificial sweeteners when it comes to baking, and this recipe for applesauce muffins proves it! 

With that being said, the recipe does call for cinnamon sugar, contributing extra sweetness and beautiful flavor that pairs perfectly with the apple flavor along with the cloves, allspice, and nutmeg. 

You don’t need to add many wet ingredients to this mixture because the applesauce contributes so much moisture to the recipe, so the whole process is easy to complete in just a few steps. 

17. Pecan Pie Muffins 

These pecan pie muffins are ideal for Thanksgiving, but they’re so delicious that you’ll want to enjoy them all year round. 

This recipe uses all-purpose sweetener instead of sugar, which will appeal to those who are trying to find alternatives to refined sugar.

However, you’d never know that this recipe doesn’t contain sugar from the taste! 

You can prepare the batter for the pecan pie muffins in as little as 15 minutes, and the whole process takes just 40 minutes from start to finish, so if you are making them as a Thanksgiving dessert, they won’t add too much time or labor to your preparations. 

18. Sweet Potato Muffins 

You probably wouldn’t automatically think of sweet potato as a muffin ingredient, but you’ll change your mind after you try these incredible sweet potato muffins! 

This recipe by Taste of Home takes 20 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to bake, so just 45 minutes in total. 

In addition to sweet potato, which bulks out the batter and makes these muffins a fibrous, filling option, the recipe calls for a whole range of flavorsome ingredients.

These include cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and honey, to name a few. The topping consists of just 2 ingredients: sugar and cinnamon.

Luckily, that’s all these muffins need to be some of the most delicious we’ve ever tasted!

19. Pear And Ginger Muffins 

Spice-based muffin recipes can turn out to be overpowering if you don’t combine the spices with the right ingredients. This recipe for pear and ginger muffins is an example of how to use spices in baking. 

The strong flavor of the ginger mixes with the subtle sweetness of the pear within the buttermilk batter to create the perfect balance. 

Our favorite part of this recipe, though, is the crumbly topping made from brown sugar, ground ginger, and melted butter. It adds variety of texture as well as additional flavor and really makes this recipe stand out. 

20. Cranberry And Orange Muffins 

If you enjoy a fruit-based muffin recipe but prefer strong, zesty flavors rather than pure sweetness, we recommend these cranberry and orange muffins. 

This recipe makes 24 mini muffins, with a serving size of 2 muffins, so you’ll be making 12 servings altogether. 

We’d like to point out that this is a highly versatile recipe that comes with plenty of suggestions for substitutions.

For example, you could substitute the flour for gluten-free flour or you could replace the sugar (see also ‘10 Best Sugar Substitutes For Baking‘) with honey or maple syrup. 

Taking just 10 minutes to prepare and 14 minutes to bake, these muffins can be ready in under half an hour for a quick and easy snack.

21. White Chocolate And Macadamia Nut Muffins 

If you’ve never tried white chocolate and macadamia nuts together, you absolutely should – and these muffins are the perfect way to do it. 

This recipe is easy to follow, consisting of just 9 simple steps. The ingredients are portioned to make 12 muffins, but of course, you can adjust the recipe to make more if you want.

After all, the entire recipe only takes 35 minutes from start to finish. 

These muffins taste like a delicious chocolatey treat, but they’re actually high in protein and healthy fats, so they’re also a nutritious option. 

22. Pumpkin Muffins  

During the fall season, you’ll see a lot of pumpkin-based recipes floating around, which is great because pumpkin is a delicious, fibrous fruit that also happens to be extremely versatile. 

Instead of making your usual pumpkin pie or pumpkin soup this year, why not try out these pumpkin muffins?

The recipe includes a variety of fragrant, warming spices that work beautifully with the pumpkin, and we love that the deep orange pumpkin color is visible in the finished product. 

You can also top these muffins with some chopped nuts for some extra healthful fats, crunchy texture, and flavor.

23. Coffee Cake Muffins 

If, like us, you love a slice of coffee cake, we can’t recommend these coffee cake muffins enough!

The coffee cake muffins from Crunchy Creamy Sweet are light and fluffy on the inside but have a crunchy, crumbly topping that takes the recipe to a whole new level.

In our opinion, they contain the perfect amount of moisture – not so much that they feel claggy, but enough that they aren’t dry. 

If you enjoy a crunchy texture and don’t like baking with oil, you can swap out the oil for melted butter instead.

24. Apple And Cinnamon Muffins

We’ve recommended a few fall-themed muffin recipes so far, but we’re not done yet!

After all, muffins are a delicious treat for when the weather starts to cool down, and you can’t beat an apple and cinnamon combo at this time of year. 

You can make these apple and cinnamon muffins with either plain flour or, for a slightly healthier option, wholemeal flour (which the recipe recommends).

This recipe also features instructions for making icing sugar, which you can drizzle over the tops of the muffins after baking.

If you prefer, you can leave this step out, but we think it really adds to the recipe as a whole. 

25. Avocado Muffins 

We know what you’re thinking: ‘Avocado muffins???’ But hear us out, because this is one of the best muffin recipes we’ve ever had the pleasure of testing. 

The combination of avocado, whole wheat flour, and chocolate chips provides plenty of good fats along with fiber and protein.

But these muffins aren’t just healthy – they’re sweet, moist, filling, and basically everything you could want from a muffin! 

If you’re gluten-free, you can use gluten-free flour instead of the whole wheat, and the results are just as good. 

26. Rhubarb Streusel Muffins 

Rhubarb is a wonderful ingredient to bake with if you like flavors that are sweet with just a slight tanginess. 

You can make between 12 and 18 muffins using this recipe in just 40 minutes, and the recipe states that you can use frozen or fresh rhubarb depending on your preference or what is available to you, which is the kind of flexibility we love to see when it comes to baking. 

Just make sure that if you do opt for frozen rhubarb, measure the quantity before you thaw it.

You will need to thaw the rhubarb completely before adding it to the mixture, taking care to drain it fully without completely pressing out the juice.

27. Double Chocolate Banana Muffins 

What’s better than the classic chocolate and banana combination? Double chocolate and banana, of course!

Ambitious Kitchen’s double chocolate and banana muffin recipe is indulgent without relying on added sugar.

Instead, these muffins get their sweetness from banana and honey and their richness from Greek yogurt.

The whole grains in the flour make these a satiating, energy-replenishing breakfast or snack. 

28. S’mores Muffins 

If you thought that nothing could be more delicious than toasted s’mores, think again, because these s’mores muffins from Taste of Home are another level of delicious. 

These muffins are made by preparing the batter and the marshmallow filling separately before putting a layer of batter into each muffin cup, followed by marshmallow creme.

Then, you top off each cup with more batter. This creates an incredible muffin with a melty marshmallow center. Seriously, you need to try this one!

29. Sweetcorn Muffins 

This might sound like a savory muffin recipe, but actually, these muffins are sweet, light, and fluffy. 

To make these sweetcorn muffins, you will need sweetcorn (of course), all-purpose flour, cornmeal, sugar, shortening, milk, eggs, baking powder, and salt.

It’s very simple and doesn’t require any advanced techniques, equipment, or difficult-to-find ingredients. 

Many muffins that are made with traditionally ‘savory’ ingredients don’t turn out sweet enough even if they were intended to, but this recipe shows that you can use vegetables to make desserts without depriving your sweet tooth. 

30. Blackberry Muffins 

Looking for something delicious to bake during the months of August and September? Take advantage of blackberry season to make this incredible muffin recipe, as featured in Olive magazine. 

Sweetened with a combination of caster sugar and honey, these muffins are bursting with flavor. 

You can use frozen blackberries and thaw them before using if you don’t have access to fresh blackberries.

Make sure to halve your blackberries if they’re on the larger side to ensure an even balance of batter and fruit in each muffin case. 

31. Gingerbread, Maple And Cinnamon Muffins 

This recipe for gingerbread, maple, and cinnamon muffins is ideal for fall and winter. The smell of these muffins baking is absolutely divine, and the flavor definitely won’t disappoint you. 

In addition to the batter, which contains nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon, the recipe instructs you on how to make a glaze drizzle, which brings the muffins from a 9 to a 10 out of 10!

The drizzle is super easy to make, consisting of just 3 main ingredients: sugar, maple syrup, and cinnamon. You’ll also want to get some turbinado sugar to sprinkle on the muffins at the end. 

32. Peach Streusel Muffins 

Sally’s Baking Addiction never disappoints when it comes to delicious treats, but this peach streusel muffin recipe goes above and beyond. 

Peach is one of the sweetest, juiciest fruits out there, so if you’re looking to make some wholesome, moist muffins that taste sweet without relying on lots of white sugar, this recipe is definitely one to add to your repertoire. 

The main ingredients in this recipe are peaches, all-purpose flour, cinnamon, brown sugar, all-spice, and yogurt.

Combining these ingredients with a few others creates a crumb batter resulting in a muffin that’s light and moist on the inside and crunchy on the outside. 

33. Honey Muffins 

Honey has been featured in many of the muffin recipes we’ve recommended today because it’s a fantastic natural sweetening agent.

With that being said, honey does have its own unique flavor, which means it’s not just useful as a sweetener – it can be the primary ingredient in a muffin recipe in its own right! 

This is another recipe from Taste of Home, and it claims the final spot on our list because this one truly does taste of home, comfort, and happiness. 

You only need a few ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, egg, milk, butter, and honey) and half an hour to spare to make these muffins.

The finished product is freezable and microwavable for your convenience. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What Is The Difference Between A Muffin And A Cupcake? 

All of the recipes featured in this article are muffin recipes, as opposed to cupcake recipes.

These baked goods look similar so they’re easily confused, but cupcakes usually have more sugar and almost always have frosting on top.

Muffins are often more dense and moist than cupcakes, which tend to be lighter and fluffier. 

What Is The Secret To Moist Muffins? 

If you want your muffins to be moist (after all, who wants a dry muffin?) you should prepare dry and wet ingredients separately before combining them.

Don’t overcook the muffins, and make sure not to overfill the cups before you put them in the oven. 

Are Muffins Better With Butter Or Oil?

Most baking experts say that you will achieve a more even crumb and better moisture content when making muffins with oil as opposed to melted butter.

However, several of the delicious muffin recipes in this article either recommend butter or provide instructions for substituting oil with melted butter.

Everyone has their own preference when it comes to muffin texture, and not everybody likes to bake using oil, so it’s up to you. 

Final Thoughts 

We have recommended 33 amazing muffin recipes in this guide, so we hope you’ve found at least one that inspires you to dust off your baking utensils and get mixing! 

Muffins are one of the most versatile baked goods in terms of texture as well as the types of meals they can be served at.

Whether you enjoy a high-protein breakfast muffin or a low-calorie mini muffin as a snack, there’s something here for you. 

So, which recipe will you be trying first?