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32 Must-Try Breakfast Muffins

32 Must-Try Breakfast Muffins

Updated July 16, 2009

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Kate Sears; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

There's just something about a pan of muffins fresh from the oven that makes everyone smile. Easy and delicious, muffins are the ultimate crowd-pleaser and make a perfect quick breakfast or snack. It's easy to get creative with muffins by adding fruit, nuts, fillings, or even going gluten-free with a few batches. No matter how delicious these muffins are, always remember to share!

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Grapefruit Poppy Seed Muffins

Credit: Gina DeSimone; Prop styling: Kashara Johnson; Food Styling: Marianne Williams

Grapefruit Poppy Seed Muffins Recipe

These delightfully tender, not-too-sweet muffins are a delicious twist on the classic lemon poppy seed combo. Grapefruit works exceptionally well in this context, as the flavor comes through delicately, without any of the citrus fruit’s signature bitterness. And the flavors of both the star ingredients of the grapefruit-Champagne glaze shine through deliciously, truly setting these beauties apart, especially in terms of brunch-worthiness. After you’ve set aside a tablespoon for the muffins, simply use the rest of your bottle of Champagne (or you can also use Prosseco) to whip up a round of mimosas.

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Roasted Strawberry-Rhubarb Muffins with Pistachio Streusel

Credit: Gina DeSimone; Prop styling: Kashara Johnson; Food Styling: Marianne Williams

Roasted Strawberry-Rhubarb Muffins with Pistachio Streusel Recipe

Featuring roasted strawberries and rhubarb, a delicate hint of cardamom, and a crisp pistachio streusel, these tender muffins say “spring” like no other. You can use frozen rhubarb when making these brunch-worthy muffins, just be sure to thaw fully and press out excess water with paper towels before roasting. Starting the oven at a higher temperature helps the muffins to brown and rise into a nice dome, and lowering it after 8 to 10 minutes allows them to finish cooking through.

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Blueberry-Sour Cream Muffins

Credit: Iain Bagwell Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Blueberry-Sour Cream Muffins Recipe

When our crumbly-crisp topping meets the light, fluffy belly of this muffin, you'll swoon.

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Cinnamon Roll Muffins

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele

Cinnamon Roll Muffins Recipe

Yeasted cinnamon rolls take hours—and they'll set you back 500 calories and 11g saturated fat. Here, we transform the delicacy into a portable muffin that's packed with whole grains, ribboned with nutty streusel, and topped with a tart-sweet yogurt glaze. The best part? It's ready in only half an hour. You can keep any leftovers in an airtight container up to 4 days, or freeze up to 1 month—although we doubt they'll last that long.

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Banana-Nut Muffins

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Banana-Nut Muffins Recipe

Pipe on a generous amount of cream cheese-honey filling into each muffin for an extra-special breakfast treat.

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Apple-Pecan Streusel Muffins

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Apple-Pecan Streusel Muffins Recipe

These muffins are simple enough to make with kids. Reheat by wrapping in foil and popping into a 325° oven for 15 minutes.

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Green Smoothie Muffins

Credit: Ryan Moriarty

Green Smoothie Muffins Recipe

A whole package of spinach gives these banana muffins their green hue.

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Buckwheat Gingerbread Muffins

Credit: Thomas J. Story

Buckwheat Gingerbread Muffins Recipe

Earthy buckwheat is blended with ginger, spices, molasses, and toasty-tasting brown rice flour to make an unexpectedly light muffin that's great with sour cream or butter. Be scrupulous in your timing with the food processor; "overprocessing buckwheat flour can make the muffins mushy," Medrich says. For more on the ingredients, see "Power Flours," below.

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Gluten-Free Vegan Banana Chocolate Pecan Muffins FTW

Credit: Photo by Allison Wonderland

Gluten-Free Vegan Banana Chocolate Pecan Muffins FTW Recipe

Waking up to an obnoxious alarm becomes slightly more bearable with dangerously fudgy muffins waiting in the kitchen. Dark chocolate, ripe banana, and pecans meld together perfectly to create rich, surprisingly healthy muffins that are perfect for a lazy weekend breakfast or take-along snack. Dana Shultz, author of <em>Minimalist Baker’s Everyday Cooking</em>, believes this chocolate lover’s dream gluten-free recipe couldn’t be any more perfect in terms of flavor combination. (Truth.) They’re so soft and chewy, this may quickly become your go-to muffin method.

Banana Chocolate Pecan Muffins

Reprinted from Minimalist Baker’s Everyday Cooking by arrangement with Avery, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, a Penguin Random House Company.

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Sticky-Bun Pumpkin Muffins

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Sticky-Bun Pumpkin Muffins Recipe

Muffin cup capacity will vary depending on pan manufacturer. Yield may increase if smaller muffin cups are used.

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Pumpkin Streusel Muffins

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Pumpkin Streusel Muffins Recipe

Pumpkins aren't just for carving! You choose—Make Pumpkin Streusel Muffins or loaves. For loaves, spoon batter into 2 greased 8- x 4-inch loaf pans, and bake 55 minutes.

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Cheese Grit-and-Chive Muffins

Credit: Cedric Angeles; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Cheese Grit-and-Chive Muffins Recipe

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Hearty Ham and Cheddar Cornbread Muffins

Credit: Gina DeSimone

Hearty Ham and Cheddar Cornbread Muffins Recipe

Outmaneuver your morning fast-food cravings with these savory grab-and-go breakfast muffins. Leftover ham comes to the rescue with day-sustaining protein; equal parts cornmeal and flour yield a not-so-bready muffin with a perfect tender crumb. Make a batch of these on the weekend and save the leftovers for breakfast all week long.

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Mini Mimosa Muffins

Credit: Photo by Gina DiSimone

Mini Mimosa Muffins Recipe

Nothing says you’ve started off the weekend strong like a mimosa. However, for those who aren’t quite ready to get tipsy at 10 am, allow us to offer a compromise in the form of a mimosa muffin. Biting into a mimosa sounds like a strange concept, but after tasting these mini muffins you’ll understand.

Mix up a classic muffin batter (sugar, flour, baking powder—the usual suspects) but leave room for some fun twists: orange zest, orange juice, and plenty of Champagne go right into the mixture. Spoon the batter into a mini muffin tin and bake off those 2-bite beauties. Of course, you could make normal-sized muffins, but then you can’t stick a toothpick through them and lay it over a Champagne flute, edible garnish-style.

Mini Mimosa Muffins

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Apple Streusel Muffins with Maple Drizzle

Credit: Randy Mayor; Food Styling: Kellie Gerber Kelley; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen

Apple Streusel Muffins with Maple Drizzle Recipe

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Carrot-Apple-Flax Muffins

Credit: Romulo Yanes; Styling: Megan Hedgpeth

Carrot-Apple-Flax Muffins Recipe

Made with carrots, apples, raisins, and cinnamon, these muffins are full of fall flavors.

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Cranberry-Cornmeal Muffins

Credit: Ryan Benyi; Styling: Jen Everett

Cranberry-Cornmeal Muffins Recipe

Studded with fresh cranberries, Cranberry-Cornmeal Muffins are both delicious and nutritious while delivering a great on-the-go-breakfast or snack.

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Yogurt Streusel Muffins

Credit: Mark Thomas; Styling: Lynn Miller

Yogurt Streusel Muffins Recipe

Tangy yogurt is a healthy addition to the batter of these tasy muffins. The spiced nut streusel topping makes this one a recipe for the books.

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Blueberry Power Muffins with Almond Streusel

Credit: Photography: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro

Blueberry Power Muffins with Almond Streusel Recipe

Jump-start your morning with these muffins, packed with B vitamins, calcium, antioxidants, and heart-healthy fats. We've made them healthier by incorporating whole wheat flour, oats, and low-fat yogurt and milk. Try substituting other berries or bananas for even more flavor combinations.

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Cranberry-Orange Muffins

Credit: Photography: Randy Mayor; Styling: Melanie J. Clarke

Cranberry-Orange Muffins Recipe

Pair tart dried cranberries with sweet grated orange rind for an irresistible muffin that's perfect for a quick, on-the-go snack.

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Pear and Walnut Muffins

Credit: Jan Smith

Pear and Walnut Muffins Recipe

The salty, crunchy nuts complement the sweet pears perfectly. For optimal flavor, use Anjou or Bartlett pears and turbinado sugar.

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Whole-Grain Bran Muffins

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Claire Spollen

Whole-Grain Bran Muffins Recipe

This classic recipe is a wholesome base for mix-ins. Try adding sunflower seeds with blueberries, or grated carrot with walnuts.

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Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Muffins

Credit: Ryan Benyi; Styling: Jen Everett

Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe

Whip up a batch of Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Muffins to have on-hand for a fast, breakfast-on-the-go. Pumpkin puree and seeds provide seasonal flavor with added sweetness from chocolate chips.

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Whole-Grain Blackberry Spice Muffins

Credit: Jan Smith

Whole-Grain Blackberry Spice Muffins Recipe

Whole-grain oats add nutritional "oomph" to this blackberry muffin recipe. We've called for apple-pie spice, but try experimenting with pumpkin-pie spice or plain cinnamon and nutmeg to make these muffins your own.

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Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins

Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins Recipe

Kids are sure to love this twist on the classic PB&J sandwich. The peanut butter flavor is mild by design, but one reviewer suggests spooning the peanut butter on top of the muffins before baking instead of mixing into the batter for a more pronounced flavor.

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Kathie's Zucchini Muffins

Credit: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro, Laura Zapalowski

Kathie's Zucchini Muffins Recipe

Delicious, satisfying, and filled with summer veggies—these muffins consistently receive rave reviews from bakers and eaters alike.

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Pistachio-Chai Muffins

Credit: John Autry

Pistachio-Chai Muffins Recipe

These healthy muffins get their unique flavor from chai tea blend and roasted chopped pistachios.

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Fruit of the Forest Muffins

Credit: Oxmoor House

Fruit of the Forest Muffins Recipe

These gluten-free muffins highlight mixed fresh berries, but you can omit the berries and use the recipe to incorporate any other gluten-free mix-ins you like.

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Banana-Nutella Muffins

Credit: Kate Sears; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Banana-Nutella Muffins Recipe

Sweet and fruity, nutty and chocolaty: these scrumptious Banana-Nutella Muffins have it all.

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Whole Wheat, Oatmeal, and Raisin Muffins

Whole Wheat, Oatmeal, and Raisin Muffins Recipe

Ramp up your fiber intake with these delicious muffins, which feature a hearty combination of wheat germ, whole wheat flour, wheat bran, and quick-cooking oats. Dates, raisins, and cranberries add just a touch of sweet and tart flavors. Pair with a glass of skim milk for a filling breakfast treat.

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Top of the Morning Muffins

Credit: Oxmoor House

Top of the Morning Muffins Recipe

Let's get healthy! A breakfast of one of these homemade gluten-free muffins, a cup of low-fat Greek yogurt, and a piece of fruit has fewer calories and more protein than one commercial gluten-free muffin.

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Jam-Filled Poppy-Seed Muffins

Credit: Kate Sears; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Jam-Filled Poppy-Seed Muffins Recipe

Kids will love biting into Jam-Filled Poppy-Seed Muffins to discover a colorful, sweet surprise inside.

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32 Must-Try Breakfast Muffins

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Grapefruit Poppy Seed Muffins

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Roasted Strawberry-Rhubarb Muffins with Pistachio Streusel

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Blueberry-Sour Cream Muffins

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Cinnamon Roll Muffins

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Banana-Nut Muffins

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Apple-Pecan Streusel Muffins

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Green Smoothie Muffins

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Buckwheat Gingerbread Muffins

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Gluten-Free Vegan Banana Chocolate Pecan Muffins FTW

Banana Chocolate Pecan Muffins

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Sticky-Bun Pumpkin Muffins

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Pumpkin Streusel Muffins

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Cheese Grit-and-Chive Muffins

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Hearty Ham and Cheddar Cornbread Muffins

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Mini Mimosa Muffins

Mini Mimosa Muffins

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Apple Streusel Muffins with Maple Drizzle

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Carrot-Apple-Flax Muffins

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Cranberry-Cornmeal Muffins

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Yogurt Streusel Muffins

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Blueberry Power Muffins with Almond Streusel

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Cranberry-Orange Muffins

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Pear and Walnut Muffins

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Whole-Grain Bran Muffins

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Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Muffins

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Whole-Grain Blackberry Spice Muffins

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Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins

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