Who doesn’t love the humble muffin? A cake that you can eat for breakfast–what’s not to love? But sometimes muffins can feel a bit boring. It’s one of those foods that’s become so popular it doesn’t feel special. There’s nothing wrong with chocolate chips but there is a whole world of other flavors out there just waiting to be devoured with a cup of coffee. Muffins are one of the easiest cakes to make and are great to make with children. Here are seven of my favorite recipes you can make at home. I suggest you make a double-batch as they are guaranteed to disappear before you know it.
1. Peanut Butter Chocolate Zucchini Muffins (Vegan)
Peanut butter and chocolate are tried and tested flavor buddies and these Peanut Butter Chocolate Zucchini Muffins are the perfect treat. If you’ve never tried zucchini in cakes, then you are missing out. Zucchini adds a lovely moistness which works particularly well with chocolate. This muffin is moist, chocolatey and made with whole wheat flour so you can get the day off to a good start. To top it all off, they’re vegan so it’s a great recipe to have up your sleeve for vegan guests.
2. Cream Cheese-Filled Pumpkin Muffins
If you’re a pumpkin lover then you have to try these out. These muffins are made with pumpkin purée, flavored with just the right amount of pumpkin pie spice, and filled with deliciously tangy cream cheese. They are so simple to make yet look stunning. These are definitely a great bake if you want to impress guests.
3. Pull Apart Bacon French Toast Muffins
These comforting muffins, studded with tasty bacon surprises and smothered in maple syrup, are great for the morning after. A cross between french toast and muffins, they are a cinch to make in a hurry. You don’t even need baking scales–they are that simple. If bacon’s not your thing then replace it with sausage, or try chunks of banana with a sprinkling of cinnamon. These beauties would also make a superb brunch dish and can be frozen in advance and simply crisped up in the oven when your guests arrive.
4. Egg, Turkey & Stuffin’ Muffins {with Blender Sage Hollandaise}
If you have a few too many leftovers lingering in the fridge after Thanksgiving or Christmas, then this recipe is a deliciously easy way to use them up. Time it just right and you’ll have a deliciously runny egg yolk as well as lashings of hollandaise sauce to mop up.
5. Gooseberry Crumble Cheesecake Muffins
These muffins hide a cheesecake surprise in their centre and the crumbly streusel-style topping adds an extra layer of texture. The tartness of the gooseberries and the tang of the cheesecake offset the sweetness of the muffins, so they’re beautifully balanced and not overarchingly sweet. This is another recipe that is really simple to make but looks impressive.
6. Potato Chocolate Muffins
If you have leftover mashed potato, then you’re in luck because these Potato Chocolate Muffins are a great way to use it up. The potato makes these muffins deliciously moist. Why not take them to another level with a drizzle of chocolate sauce? These are great for packing in lunchboxes for an extra special lunch time treat.
7. French Breakfast Puffs
If regular muffins are a bit on the stodgy side for your taste, then these perfectly sweetened, light and airy muffins topped with cinnamon sugar won’t let you down. These buttery treats are the perfect accompaniment to a cup of coffee and will make your house smell divine. They are best eaten slightly warm (if you can resist that long of course).
Featured photo credit: Gooseberry Crumble Cheesecake Muffins / Stuff and Nomsense via flickr.com
