Basic Muffin Recipe

soft and fluffy muffin cut open on wrapper to show texture

Use this basic muffin recipe as a base for unlimited flavor combinations! These muffins are light, fluffy and buttery. So delicious!

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Servings muffins

Calories 220kcal

Author Elizabeth Marek

Equipment

Mixer (stand or handheld)

Ingredients

4 ounces unsalted butter (½ cup) softened
5 ounces granulated sugar (¾ cup)
2 large eggs room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
10 ounces cake flour (2 cups)
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
8 ounces buttermilk (1 cup) room temperature
3 Tablespoons sanding sugar (optional for sprinkling on top)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

IMPORTANT: Make sure all your ingredients are at room temp (see notes at the bottom of the recipe)
Preheat your oven to 400ºF - Line a muffin tin with paper liners.
Sift together your flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Cream together your butter and sugar in a medium bowl with your mixer until light and fluffy
Add in your egg and vanilla. Continue creaming until pale in color
While mixing on low, add in ⅓ of your flour mixture, then ⅓ of your buttermilk. Repeat two more times until just combined. Do not overmix.
Fold in your desired mix-ins such as fruit, nuts or spices.
Fill your liners all the way to the top with muffin batter. Top with more mix-ins if desired and sparkling sugar.
Bake for 15-20 minutes or until edges begin to slightly brown and a wooden skewer comes out cleanly when inserted into the center of the muffin.
Let your muffins cool in the pan for 10 minutes then move them to a cooling rack to cool the rest of the way.

Video

Notes

Important Things To Note Before You Start

1. Bring all your ingredients to room temperature or even a little warm (eggs, buttermilk, butter, etc) to ensure your batter does not break or curdle.

2. Use a scale to weigh your ingredients (including liquids) unless otherwise instructed (Tablespoons, teaspoons, pinch etc). Metric measurements are available in the recipe card. Scaled ingredients are much more accurate than using cups and help ensure the success of your recipe.

3. Practice Mise en Place (everything in it's place). Measure out your ingredients ahead of time and have them ready before you start mixing to reduce the chances of accidentally leaving something out.

4. If the recipe calls for specific ingredients like cake flour, replacing it with all purpose flour and cornstarch is not recommended unless specified in the recipe that it’s ok. Substituting ingredients may cause this recipe to fail.

Nutrition