Cinnamon muffins are the perfect on-the-go breakfast or afternoon snack. Light, fluffy, perfectly tender vanilla muffins are dusted with irresistible cinnamon sugar. Yummy!

It's hard to say no to a muffin in the morning. They are ideal to grab on your way out the door or to nibble at slowly with a cup of coffee on a lazy weekend morning. People add all sorts of things to muffins. Blueberries, bananas, strawberries, chocolate chips; you name it. These are all delicious options but sometimes a simple, vanilla-flavored muffin with a hint of cinnamon is all you need. These light and fluffy, perfectly moist breakfast treats dipped in butter and coated in cinnamon sugar fit the bill. You have to try them.
Why You'll Love This Cinnamon Muffins Recipe
What's not to love about a moist, tender cinnamon muffin? Beats me but here are a few of my favorite things about these delicious baked goods just in case you weren't excited enough already.
- Less mess. I love that you only need one bowl to make the batter for these muffins. Sometimes baking can be a mess but these little guys make cleanup easy.
- Texture. Sifting the dry ingredients into the batter helps keep the muffins light and fluffy. In addition, the buttermilk in the batter gives the finished product a tenderness that will have you running to the kitchen to make a second batch before you know it.
- Subtle flavor. These cinnamon muffins are flavorful without being overpowering. The subtle hints of vanilla and slight tanginess from the buttermilk are the perfect base for the cinnamon sugar topping.
What You'll Need
Here's a list of ingredients needed to make homemade cinnamon muffins. Don't forget to scroll to the recipe card below for exact measurements.
Muffins
- Vegetable Oil ~ You can use refined coconut oil here as well.
- Granulated Sugar
- Light Brown Sugar ~ The addition of light brown sugar gives the muffins a deeper flavor. Feel free to use dark brown sugar if you are in the mood for a hint of molasses.
- Egg - The egg should be at room temperature. It will incorporate more smoothly with the other ingredients.
- Buttermilk - The buttermilk in this muffin recipe gives the muffins a tenderness that other milks will not. So don't substitute here!
- Pure Vanilla Extract
- All-Purpose Flour - Feel free to use a 1:1 gluten-free substitute instead.
- Baking Powder
- Salt
Cinnamon Sugar Topping
- Butter
- Granulated Sugar - Granulated sugar will do best at coating the muffins evenly so do not try to use brown sugar here.
- Ground Cinnamon
Don't miss my cinnamon roll pound cake.
How to Make Cinnamon Muffins
Ready to make some seriously amazing cinnamon muffins? Here's how to do it. Make sure to scroll to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.
- Combine the wet ingredients. Mix together the vegetable oil, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, egg, buttermilk, and vanilla extract.
- Add the dry ingredients. Sift the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt into the wet ingredients. Mix to just combined.
- Rest. Let the batter rest for ten minutes.
- Prepare to bake. Preheat the oven to 425F grease 8 cavities of a muffin tin. Divide the batter between the greased cavities.
- Bake for 5 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 350F. Bake for 10 to 13 minutes.
- Cool. Let the muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes before turning them out onto a wire rack.
- Coat in cinnamon sugar. Place the melted butter in a small bowl and combine the sugar and cinnamon in another. Dip a muffin in the butter, coating the whole thing. Then dip it in the cinnamon sugar, coating the whole thing. Return to the wire rack. Repeat with the remaining muffins.
Tips for the Best Homemade Muffins
Here come a few tips and tricks that will help you achieve the best homemade muffins you've ever tasted. Happy baking!
- Room temperature egg. Start with room-temperature eggs when baking muffins. They will incorporate more smoothly into the other ingredient than cold eggs, helping to keep you from over-mixing.
- Sift the dry ingredients. It can be tempting to skip the sifting and throw all of the dry ingredients into the bowl. Don't do it. Sifting the flour, baking soda, and salt will remove any clumps in the flour. It will also make the mixture lighter, airier, and easier to incorporate into the other ingredients. This will end you with a smoother batter and less of a need to over-mix.
- Don't overmix. Over-mixing the batter can cause the glutens in the flour to overdevelop which will result in tough, dense, muffins.
- Use an ice cream scoop. When measuring the batter into the muffin tins, it is helpful to use an ice cream scoop or a measuring cup. This will ensure that the muffins are all the same size and, as a result, finish baking at the same time.
- Scatter the muffins. Because you are only filling 8 muffin tins here, I recommend scattering the muffin batter throughout the tray as opposed to filling one end of the tray and not the rest. This will help hot air circulate and ensure even bake time.
- Fill the empty tins. If you want to go the extra mile, fill the empty muffin tins halfway with water. This will help ensure even baking and will keep the muffin pan from buckling in the heat.
How to Store
If you find yourself with leftovers, allow the muffins to cool completely before arranging them in a single layer in an airtight container. It can be helpful to place a paper towel below the muffins and on top of them. This will keep them from getting soggy. Seal the airtight container and store the muffins at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Can I Freeze These?
You can! Allow the muffins to cool completely before sealing them in a single layer in an airtight container. Store the muffins in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you are ready to enjoy, allow the muffins to thaw at room temperature. Feeling impatient? Pop one in the microwave for 20-30 seconds.
More Easy Muffin Recipes to Try
Muffins make for the perfect snack or grab-and-go breakfast. These simple cinnamon muffins are some of my favorites but don't let that stop you from exploring these other delicious recipes.
- Banana Bread Muffins
- Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
- Banana Blueberry Muffins
- Oat Flour Banana Muffins
- Easy Zucchini Muffins
- Lemon Poppyseed Muffins
- Apple Monkey Bread Muffins
- Apple Muffins with Maple Glaze
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Cinnamon Muffins
Perfectly tender, fluffy vanilla muffins dipped in cinnamon sugar? Sign me up! Try these easy cinnamon muffins today!
- Total Time: 28 minutes
- Yield: 8 Muffins 1x
Ingredients
Muffins
- 4oz (½ Cup) Vegetable Oil
- 66 Grams (⅓ Cup) Granulated Sugar
- 66 Grams (⅓ Cup) Light Brown Sugar
- 1 Large Egg, at room temp.
- 4oz (½ Cup) Buttermilk
- 2 Teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract
- 156 Grams (1 ¼ Cups) All-Purpose Flour/ Plain Flour
- 1 ½Teaspoons Baking Powder
- ½ Teaspoon Salt
Cinnamon Sugar Topping
- ¼ Cup (4 Tablespoons) Butter, melted
- 66 Grams (⅓ Cup) Granulated Sugar
- 1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
Instructions
- In a large bowl mix together the vegetable oil, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, egg, buttermilk, and vanilla extract.
- Place a large fine mesh sieve over the wet ingredients and sift in the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Gently mix to just combine, do not overmix. Let the batter rest for ten minutes while you preheat the oven to 425F/218C and grease 8 cavities in a muffin tin with non-stick baking spray. I spread the muffins between cavities so there is more room for the hot air to circulate.
- Using a large scoop divide the batter between 8 cups. Bake for five minutes then reduce the temperature to 350F/180C and bake for an additional 10 to 13 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean, and the muffin tops bounce back if you gently press them.
- Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes before carefully transferring to a wire rack.
- In a small bowl add the melted butter and in a another small bowl mix together the sugar and cinnamon. Dip the muffin into the butter then directly into the sugar mixture to coat the muffin. Set aside to cool then enjoy. Store any leftovers in an air-tight container.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Muffins
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cinnamon muffins, cinnamon muffin, muffin recipe
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