Description of this recipe:
These Bakery-Style Coffee Cake Muffins bring the comforting flavors of classic coffee cake into a convenient, portable form. Each muffin is a delightful combination of a moist, tender crumb, a sweet cinnamon streusel topping, and an optional delicate glaze. They are perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet treat any time of day.
Why you will love this recipe:
- Convenient and Portable: Enjoy the flavors of coffee cake without the need for slicing. These muffins are perfect for on-the-go snacking or packing in lunchboxes.
- Delicious Flavor: The combination of cinnamon streusel and moist muffin creates a delightful harmony of textures and flavors that will satisfy your sweet tooth.
- Easy to Make: This recipe is straightforward and doesn’t require any complicated techniques, making it perfect for bakers of all skill levels.
- Versatile: The glaze is optional, allowing you to customize the sweetness to your preference. You can also experiment with different extracts or spices to create your own unique variations.
- Crowd-Pleasing: These muffins are always a hit with family and friends, making them a great choice for gatherings or potlucks.
Introduction
There’s something undeniably comforting about coffee cake. The warm, cinnamon-infused crumb, the sweet, crumbly streusel, and the subtle tang of coffee—it’s a classic for a reason. But sometimes, you want that same comforting flavor in a more convenient, individual package. That’s where these Bakery-Style Coffee Cake Muffins come in.
These muffins are designed to replicate the experience of eating a slice of coffee cake, but in a portable, easy-to-eat format. They feature a tender, moist crumb that’s subtly sweet and flavored with vanilla, topped with a generous layer of cinnamon streusel. For an extra touch of sweetness, they’re finished with a simple powdered sugar glaze, although this is entirely optional.
The secret to these muffins lies in a few key techniques. First, it’s important not to overmix the batter. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, resulting in tough muffins. Instead, mix the wet and dry ingredients until they are just combined. A few streaks of flour are fine – they will disappear during baking.
Second, the streusel topping is crucial for that classic coffee cake flavor and texture. Using cold, cubed butter is key to achieving the perfect crumbly consistency. As the muffins bake, the butter melts and creates pockets of richness and buttery flavor throughout the streusel.
Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment! While this recipe is delicious as written, you can easily customize it to your preferences. Try adding chopped nuts to the streusel, using different extracts in the batter or glaze, or incorporating fresh fruit into the muffins.
Whether you’re looking for a quick and easy breakfast, a sweet treat for a brunch gathering, or a portable snack for on-the-go, these Bakery-Style Coffee Cake Muffins are sure to satisfy.
Ingredients:
For the Muffins:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Cinnamon Streusel Topping:
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cubed
For the Glaze (optional):
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Preparation:
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners. This ensures that the muffins don’t stick to the pan and makes for easy cleanup. If you don’t have paper liners, you can grease the muffin tin with cooking spray. Ensuring the oven is preheated is critical for even baking and proper rising of the muffins.
Step 2: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisking is important to evenly distribute the ingredients, particularly the baking powder and salt, which will ensure that the muffins rise properly and have a balanced flavor. Using both granulated and brown sugar adds depth of flavor and moisture to the muffins.
Step 3: In a separate bowl, whisk the melted butter, egg, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. This creates the wet ingredients that will bind the dry ingredients together. Make sure the melted butter has cooled slightly before adding it to the egg to prevent the egg from cooking. The vanilla extract enhances the overall flavor of the muffins.
Step 4: Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Do not overmix. This is the most important step to prevent tough muffins. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, resulting in a dense, chewy texture. Stir just until the wet ingredients are incorporated, leaving a few streaks of flour if necessary.
Step 5: Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups, filling each about ⅔ full. This allows the muffins to rise without overflowing. Use a measuring cup or ice cream scoop to ensure that each muffin cup has the same amount of batter. This will help them bake evenly.
Step 6: In a small bowl, mix the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon for the streusel topping. This combination creates the classic cinnamon-sugar flavor that is characteristic of coffee cake. The brown sugar adds a rich, molasses-like flavor to the streusel.
Step 7: Cut in the cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. This step is best done with a pastry blender or your fingertips. The key is to use cold butter, which will create small pockets of fat throughout the streusel. As the muffins bake, the butter will melt, creating a crumbly, buttery topping.
Step 8: Sprinkle the streusel generously over each muffin. Don’t be shy with the streusel – it’s what makes these muffins so delicious! The more streusel, the more flavor and texture.
Step 9: Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The baking time may vary depending on your oven. Start checking for doneness at 18 minutes. If the muffins are browning too quickly, you can tent them with foil to prevent them from burning.
Step 10: Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Cooling the muffins in the pan for a few minutes allows them to set up slightly before transferring them to a wire rack. This will prevent them from sticking to the pan or falling apart.
Step 11: Optional: To make the glaze, whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla together. Drizzle over cooled muffins before serving. The glaze adds an extra touch of sweetness and visual appeal to the muffins. You can adjust the amount of milk to achieve your desired consistency.
COOKING Rating: Easy
Serving Suggestions:
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
- Pair with a cup of coffee or tea for a perfect breakfast or snack.
- Enjoy as a dessert after a light meal.
- Bring to a brunch gathering or potluck.
- Perfect for packing in lunchboxes or taking on the go.
Tips:
- Don’t overmix the batter to ensure tender muffins.
- Use cold butter for the streusel topping for a crumbly texture.
- Adjust the baking time according to your oven.
- Store leftover muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Freeze muffins for longer storage. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Nutritional Information: (estimated, per muffin without glaze)
Calories: 250
Protein: 3g
Sodium: 200mg
Conclusion
These Bakery-Style Coffee Cake Muffins are a delightful treat that’s sure to become a favorite. They’re easy to make, versatile, and perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re enjoying them for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet snack, these muffins are a delicious way to satisfy your coffee cake cravings. The combination of the moist, tender muffin, the sweet cinnamon streusel, and the optional glaze creates a symphony of flavors and textures that will leave you wanting more. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to bake up a batch of these irresistible muffins.
Questions and Answers:
- Can I use a different type of flour? While all-purpose flour is recommended for its consistent results, you can experiment with other flours such as whole wheat or gluten-free flour blends. Keep in mind that these substitutions may affect the texture and rise of the muffins. Whole wheat flour will create a slightly denser muffin, while gluten-free flour blends may require the addition of xanthan gum for binding.
- Can I add nuts to the streusel topping? Absolutely! Adding chopped nuts to the streusel topping is a great way to enhance the flavor and texture of the muffins. Pecans, walnuts, or almonds would all be delicious choices. Simply add about ¼ cup of chopped nuts to the streusel mixture before sprinkling it over the muffins.
- Can I make these muffins ahead of time? Yes, you can make these muffins ahead of time. They can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage. To freeze, allow the muffins to cool completely, then wrap them individually in plastic wrap or foil before placing them in a freezer-safe bag or container. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
- Can I use oil instead of melted butter in the muffins? While melted butter provides a richer flavor and a more tender crumb, you can substitute it with vegetable oil or canola oil in a pinch. Keep in mind that the texture of the muffins may be slightly different if you use oil.
- Can I add fruit to the muffin batter? Yes, adding fruit to the muffin batter is a great way to customize these muffins. Blueberries, raspberries, or chopped apples would all be delicious additions. Gently fold about ½ cup of fruit into the batter before dividing it among the muffin cups. Be careful not to overmix the batter after adding the fruit. Adding a touch of lemon zest to the batter would complement the fruit perfectly.
