Simple Blueberry Muffins Recipe (2024)

By Nancy Harmon Jenkins

Simple Blueberry Muffins Recipe (1)

Total Time
About 45 minutes
Rating
4(3,090)
Notes
Read community notes

This recipe first appeared in The Times in a 1986 article by Nancy Harmon Jenkins that extolled the virtues, and the many delicious applications, of summer berries.

There's nothing fancy about this muffin – it's mostly flour, eggs, butter and blueberries. But that's the beauty of it. It's the perfect sort of baking project to tackle on a lazy weekend morning.

This recipe calls for blueberries, but feel free to substitute almost any ripe and sweet berry.

Featured in: THE BERRIES: FROM FOOL TO FLUMMERY

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Ingredients

Yield:1 dozen muffins

  • 2cups sifted all-purpose flour
  • 1teaspoon salt
  • 4teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼cup sugar
  • 2eggs, well beaten
  • ¾cup milk
  • cup melted butter
  • 1cup blueberries
  • 3tablespoons flour

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (12 servings)

172 calories; 7 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 2 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 24 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 6 grams sugars; 4 grams protein; 162 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Simple Blueberry Muffins Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease 12 muffin cups with a little butter.

  2. Sift together flour, salt, baking powder and sugar.

  3. Step

    3

    Combine eggs, milk and melted butter. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Do not try to beat until smooth because the muffins will be tough and grainy.

  4. Step

    4

    Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of flour over blueberries, and turn to coat well. Stir into batter, mixing just enough to combine.

  5. Step

    5

    Fill muffin cups about two-thirds full.

  6. Step

    6

    Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until muffins are brown and pull away from the sides of the tin.

Ratings

4

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3,090

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Cooking Notes

Blue Jay 58

Good, but not quite enough sweetness in these muffins to outweigh the salt for us. Would definitely try again but decrease the salt and increase the sugar (and we are not fans of overly-sugary foods).

Matt

Nice and simple, came out soft and not greasy. I used 1/3 cup of sugar as others said the 1/4th wasn't enough. the 1/3 cup did the trick for me! Will be making this again and trying out different variations

Babettey

I did a quick comparison of the blueberry muffin recipes and chose this one: partially for simplicity and ease (cooking with a 3 year-old) and partially for the least amount of sugar (other recipes may have three times as much!--see recent NYT piece on That Sugar Film). The balance is just fine for us, with the butter and blueberry flavors dominating. I did sprinkle just a little sugar on the tops before baking, to give the muffins a nice glazed crust. The three-year-old, and others, approve.

Mary Porter

Two discerning teenaged boys finished the lot within the hour.
Made the following modifications:
unsalted butter, and 1/4 tsp kosher salt; substituted 1/2 cup of flour with wholewheat. Increased milk and butter by about one 25% Doubled the sugar and put a bit on top (thanks to other note). Sifted all the excess flour off the blueberries (only use one tbsp flour in the first place). Lovely light and moist with a brown crunchy top, but can still taste baking powder...........

Evelyn

I added a tsp of lemon zest which adds a nice perk.

MrsT

These are much less sweet than typical blueberry muffins, but we like them. I sprinkle 1/4 tsp turbinado sugar on each one before baking, which adds a sweet crunch, and I increased the amount of blueberries to maybe 1 1/4 cup. Also, 20 minutes at 450 degrees is too long--15 minutes is perfect.

With my changes, and using cooking spray instead of butter for the muffin tin (and 1% milk), each muffin came to 158 calories.

Rebecca

This is almost identical to the Berry Muffin recipe in my old(1941) Boston Cooking School Cook Book - aka Fanny Farmer. These are real muffins not the sweet cake like things that pass as muffins today. For speed in the morning do all this ahead: measure and sift dry ingredients, dredge berries (Maine wild blueberries if you can get them), all other ingredients measured and on the counter. Yes, it is safe to leave milk and uncracked eggs out overnight.

Linda

1/3 C sugar1 1/4 C blueberriesCook 15 minutes

K

These are more like a biscuit texture than a muffin, but still pretty good. Added lemon zest and a quarter cup of brown sugar; still not overly sweet.

Michele Caplan

I'm with the Blue Jay on the salt. I didn't have any vanilla, so I substituted the rind of one lemon and 2.5 to 3 pieces of candied ginger. I also doubled the blueberries and put them into the dry mixture before I added the wet. This keeps the berries from dropping to the bottom. The secret to great muffins is to not over mix. Not all the flour is going to be incorporated. Be brave. Mix less than you think.

Caitlin

I ventured from my usual recipe and gave this one a shot. I'd probably give it 3 stars. If I were to make it again I'd do the following:- Oven at 375, unless you want really brown muffins.- 1 1/2 -2 cups blueberries.- Add a pinch of cinnamon or lemon zest. They were a little lackluster on flavor for my family.

Jessica D.

I subbed whole wheat flour for about half of the white flour. Added cinnamon. These definitely were not super sweet, the fruit provides most of the sweetness that you'd be wishing for in a muffin. Topped the muffins with some brown sugar before baking for a nice crunch. Next time may add some lemon zest and cardamom.

Ephraim

Followed recipe as written except for using 2% milk (because that's what I had). I wouldn’t change a thing. They’re sweet enough, with a texture like a light biscuit or scone. They're *not* sugary, gummy, or sticky like store-bought muffins.

Megan

I made these and next time I'll cut the salt in half and add an additional tablespoon of sugar. Otherwise they baked up nicely.

Mike

This recipe can easily be modified to be vegan! I used acuafaba for eggs and almond milk for regular milk, they turned out great! With blueberries I added a touch of lemon zest! For slightly lighter muffin replace 1/4 cup of flour with rice flour!

TC

I think it’s been said several times but this needs more sugar. Maybe 1/3 to 1/2 cup? Especially if your berries aren’t the sweetest. (Note: I don’t like especially sweet desserts)

alex

not sweet at all- more of a biscuit than a muffin. needs twice the sugar and butter, additionally lemon zest.

PK

This is my family's favorite blueberry muffin recipe, it's quick and easy. People complain about it not being sweet enough but the blueberries add extra sweetness. Can add cinnamon and nutmeg, sometimes I also add some chocolate chips to it. Perfect combination.

Nora

I used 1/3 c of sugar and wish I had done 1/2 c. Sprinkled with turbinado. Added vanilla and lemon zest. Maybe less baking powder. I felt like I could taste it.

riri

Worst blueberry muffin recipe I’ve ever tried. They were super salty and bitter my whole family turned their nose up at it. Waste of time and ingredients unfortunately.

Jennie

Too salty and too thick. Still quite edible (with that much butter!), but not light soft fluffy muffins.

Chris

I opted to bake at 375 for 25 mins and they are perfectly moist with light browning across the top. Swapped in buttermilk + increase sugar to 1/3 per comments, i imagine 1/2 cup would be fine! Don't be worried if your batter looks dry, it will be, but these moisten right up. Not sweet, as everyone writes, but they are delicious. The butter really brings out a fullness to the muffin that is typically lost to sugar in the blueberry muffin.

Lisa D.

I've made this recipe several times, because it's so low-key. I add about a 1/4 tsp. of cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. vanilla, 1/2 tsp. lemon rind or zest. I also top them with a sprinkling of vanilla sugar before baking to give them crunchy tops. The finished muffins also freeze very well!

Mike

These are not very good. They need more sugar. My whole family rejected them, including me.

Sarah G.

Pretty solid muffin. Definitely more of a breakfast muffin than a dessert muffin (even with 1/3 cup sugar instead of 1/4 cup). I was worried they would be dry but the crumb is pretty moist. Super easy to make so I'm sure I'll make them again eventually. Next time I'd add a bit of cinnamon or lemon zest to spice it up.

Ross T.

Followed the recipe exactly and enjoyed them. Yes, they aren’t your overly sweet bakery muffin, but that is why I enjoyed them. I loved the crisp edges, smeared with a bit of butter, they were a nice little snack. Only adjustment would be to add a bit more blueberries.

Deb

The texture was more like biscuits, which was fine. But otherwise I thought they were pretty bland. Maybe more blueberries, definitely more sugar, maybe lemon zest and/or vanilla would make them more interesting.

Deb

1/2 spelt flourMaybe more blueberriesMaybe vanilla, more sugar

Suzanne

-1 pint blueberries-1/2 cup sugar-1/2 tsp. fine salt (chunky salt doesn't disperse as well)-sprinkle 1 tbsp. salt on top of muffins before baking-oven 450FI make these every weekend for my family, and these adjustments really make a difference. Recipe is a little too salty and not sweet enough. More blueberries is always a plus. Hotter oven=crispier muffins. I also prefer to paint the muffin tin with melted butter rather than using paper liners, so that you get a crispy outer layer.

Barbara

I enjoy this type of simple muffins for Breakfast with a side of yogurt and more berries. It feels healthier as not too rich or sweet. A great canvas to add butter or jam if you choose to indulge!I added some coarse brown sugar on top before baking for added sweetness and crunch. It does the trick, while keeping the recipe low on sugar.

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Simple Blueberry Muffins Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to high muffins? ›

Chilling your muffin batter overnight in the fridge is the BEST thing you can do for amazing muffins. It makes them more moist, tender, and TALLER! It's very similar to chilling cookie dough, which if you know me you know I'm obsessed with chilling cookie dough.

Is it better to use oil or butter in muffins? ›

Oil & Butter: Oil produces a moist, tender muffin. Combine with melted butter for extra fat, moisture, and a little flavor. Milk: Milk adds plenty of moisture and lightens up the crumb.

What is the best flour for muffins? ›

Self-Rising Flour: Flour to which baking powder and salt have been added during milling. Long a Southern staple, self-rising flour is generally made from the low-protein wheat traditionally grown in the South. It's best for tender biscuits, muffins, pancakes and some cakes.

What does adding an extra egg do to muffins? ›

If there isn't enough egg, your batter or dough may not be able to hold its structure or could end up overly dry or dense. On the other hand, if there is too much egg, your baked goods could lose their shape due to excess liquid, or have a rubbery (or even overly cakey) texture depending on the recipe.

What does adding more eggs do to muffins? ›

Eggs are responsible for giving baked goods structure, which means the amount you use directly affects the resulting texture. Using too few eggs will make your desserts dense, but using too many will make them rubbery.

How to make blueberry muffins rise higher? ›

Start the oven on high

Bake your muffins at 400°F for the first 5 minutes, then drop the temperature to the more standard 350°F for the remainder of the bake time. This method sparks the leavening agents (especially baking powder) in the batter to react quicker, creating that gorgeously risen top.

Should I coat blueberries in flour for muffins? ›

Coating the berries with a spoonful of the recipe's dry ingredients prevents sinking. Instead, it helps the berries adhere to the batter, keeping them well distributed throughout the muffin. And if you're using frozen blueberries, the flour will also help minimize how much the berries bleed into the batter.

Is it better to use fresh or frozen blueberries for blueberry muffins? ›

Fresh or frozen blueberries work great! This tried-and-true recipe is a keeper, and the only one you need if you've been looking for a straightforward, go-to blueberry muffin recipe!

What is the most common flaw when baking muffins? ›

Overmixing is a common problem with muffins. First combine dry ingredients, mixing well. Then combine liquid ingredients, mixing well. Finally combine dry and wet ingredients, by hand, using only 15 to 20 light strokes.

What is the most common fault when using the muffin mixing method? ›

Tunnels are a sure sign of over-mixing your muffin batter. When baking, take out your ingredients ahead of time, so they are at room temperature before beginning, except the biscuit method. The fat must be in a liquid state when utilizing the muffin mixing method.

What oil is best for moist muffins? ›

Choosing vegetable oil is the best option for baking moist, delicious baked goods. Canola oil, the most common vegetable oil used in baking, doesn't add a strong flavor. It allows your cake's flavor will shine through while still achieving a moist texture.

How do you moisten muffins? ›

First, prick the muffin tops all over with a toothpick. Next, pour your liquid of choice (e.g., milk or fruit juice) into a bowl, dip a pastry brush into it, and brush the tops of the muffins. The liquid will seep into the muffin's interior, soaking the crumb and softening the muffins, turning them as good as new.

What makes muffins not dry? ›

For baking you need to use a product that is a minimum of 70% fat. Spreads with less fat contain more water, resulting in dry, less tender muffins. Remember that one stick of butter or margarine is equal to 1/2 cup and not 1 cup. If you confused the two, you will be cutting the amount of fat used by half.

How to get domed muffins? ›

I suggest baking your muffins at 400 F. I know most muffin recipes (including the ones I have used previously) all tell us to preheat our ovens to between 325-375 F. That heat range is just not enough. While it will surely cook your muffins, it will not give you the full rise that you want.

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