Sugar and Spice Muffins Recipe (2024)

4.50 from 6 votes

ByStacie VaughanOn Updated

5 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links, view our disclosure policy.

I’m a huge fan of grabbing a cup of coffee and pairing it with sugar and spice muffins for the ultimate breakfast. It’s one of my favorite little indulgences in my morning routine and I simply won’t give it up!

Sugar and Spice Muffins Recipe (1)

Plus, I adore how easy these muffins are to bake. You can easily whip up a dozen-or-so muffins in just 30 minutes for those super busy weeks (that’s right, I’ve got you, multitaskers!).

These uber-tasty muffins taste almost like a cake. They’re moist but not overly sweet thanks to the hint of nutmeg. But it’s the topping that really takes the biscuit. It’s a blend of melted butter, cinnamon, and sugar, and it’s incredibly indulgent. I think it tastes like an elevated Snickerdoodle, but I’ll let you be the judge!

Whether you want to try a new treat for dessert or need a grab-and-go brekkie, these sugar and spice muffins are perfect.

Sugar and Spice Muffins Recipe (2)

Why You’ll Love Sugar and Spice Muffins

  • They’re not overly sweet and are perfectly balanced with spices and a pinch of salt.
  • They rise incredibly well and are the perfect grab-and-go breakfast.
  • You’ll probably have all the necessary ingredients already sitting in your pantry!
  • They’re the best dessert during the fall and winter months when you’re on the hunt for festive treats (that isn’t gingerbread!).

Ingredients

The full printable recipe card is found at the bottom of the post.

For the muffins

  • Flour: Plain flour works well with this recipe, but you’ll want to remove the baking soda if you’re using self-raising.
  • Baking soda: This ingredient acts as a chemical leavener in this recipe and gives your goodies the chance to rise!
  • Salt: Just a pinch to balance the flavors.
  • Nutmeg: I love the festive flavor and warmth that nutmeg lends these muffins. Just be sure to measure it carefully to avoid overwhelming the base.
  • Vegetable oil: This is what you’ll use instead of butter to make these sugar and spice muffins. It keeps them super moist and pillowy!
  • Sugar: You can use caster sugar or granular sugar depending on the flavor and texture you usually like in your muffins.
  • Egg: To bind the ingredients together.
  • Milk: Keeps moisture in the batter while adding protein and a touch of color to your muffins. I recommend using regular dairy milk for a touch of fat, but you can technically use any milk you like!

For the topping

  • Melted butter: Melted butter makes the topping taste incredibly rich while binding the other ingredients together (ready for pouring!)
  • Sugar: I recommend using brown sugar for a caramel-like taste.
  • Cinnamon: The star of the topping that gives these muffins a sweet and woody flavor that oozes fall and winter vibes.
Sugar and Spice Muffins Recipe (3)

How to Make Sugar and Spice Muffins

  • Step One: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a muffin tin and set aside.
  • Step Two: In a large bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, salt and nutmeg.
  • Step Three: In another bowl, stir together vegetable oil, sugar, egg and milk. Add this mixture to the flour mixture and stir to combine.
Sugar and Spice Muffins Recipe (4)
  • Step Four: Fill the greased muffin tins ⅔ full. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool slightly before removing from the muffin tin.
Sugar and Spice Muffins Recipe (5)
  • Step Five: In a small bowl, stir together the sugar and cinnamon.
  • Step Six: Dip the muffin tops in melted butter. Then roll in sugar/cinnamon mixture. Serve warm.
Sugar and Spice Muffins Recipe (6)

Helpful Kitchen Tools

These kitchen tools will help you make this recipe.

This post contains affiliate links.

What to Serve with Sugar and Spice Muffins

I absolutely love chowing down on these sugar and spice muffins with a hot beverage. These are a few amazing picks with complementary flavors that you can try out!

  • Pumpkin Spice Latte
  • Slow Cooker Chai Latte
  • Cinnamon Cappuccino
  • Maple Latte
Sugar and Spice Muffins Recipe (7)

Recipe Tips and Tricks

  • Try not to overmix the batter. Once you’ve added the dry ingredients, gently fold the mixture instead of furiously mixing it. This will keep air inside your muffins and help you avoid a dense result.
  • To skip a messy muffin tin, use muffin liners. This also makes your muffins slightly more transportable!
  • If you want to reheat these muffins, I recommend popping them in the microwave in 30-second increments. This will prevent them from getting too dry.

Variations and Substitutions

  • You can add chocolate chips to boost your muffins with a richer flavor.
  • If you want a hint of extra warmth, a small amount of ground ginger can be tasty in the muffin batter. Just be careful not to use too much or it’ll overwhelm the other flavors.
  • If you want an extra hit of sweetness, feel free to sprinkle a bit of extra sugar over the top of your muffins.
Sugar and Spice Muffins Recipe (8)

Storage Instructions

If you don’t eat these sugar and spice muffins straight away (it’s hard not to!), move them to an airtight container.

They should last for around 4 days at room temperature or 5 days in the fridge.

Can I Freeze?

You certainly CAN freeze these sugar and spice muffins!

I recommend cooling them completely before wrapping them in aluminum foil or freezer wrap.

You’ll want to carefully label your muffins to make sure you eat them within 3 months.

Sugar and Spice Muffins Recipe (9)

More Muffin Recipes

You might also enjoy these muffin recipes.

  • Lemon Pound Cake Muffins
  • Caramel Banana Muffins
  • Pina Colada Muffins
  • Lemon Drizzle Muffins
  • Pecan Coffee Cake Muffins
  • Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
  • Pecan Coffee Cake Muffins
  • Pumpkin Crumb Muffins
  • Butter Tart Muffins

Try my Snickerdoodle Cake.

Follow me on Instagram@simplystacieblog, Facebook atSimply Stacie, TikTok@simplystacierecipesor Pinterest at@simplystacieand let me know how you liked this recipe and my other recipes.

Sugar and Spice Muffins Recipe (10)

Rate this Recipe

4.50 from 6 votes

Sugar and Spice Muffins

Created by Stacie Vaughan

Servings 12

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

These cake-like muffins are the perfect treat with a tea or coffee. Enjoy the yummy Snickerdoodle flavors with a cinnamon and sugar topping.

Rate this Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • cup vegetable oil
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • ¾ cup milk

Sugar Glaze

  • ½ cup unsalted butter melted
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a muffin tin and set aside.

  • In a large bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, salt and nutmeg.

  • In another bowl, stir together vegetable oil, sugar, egg and milk. Add this mixture to the flour mixture and stir to combine.

  • Fill the greased muffin tins ⅔ full. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool slightly before removing from the muffin tin.

Sugar Glaze

  • In a small bowl, stir together the sugar and cinnamon.

  • Dip the muffin tops in melted butter. Then roll in sugar/cinnamon mixture. Serve warm.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 299kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 330mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 25g

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Course Desserts

Cuisine American

Keyword Sugar and Spice Muffins

Did you make this recipe?

I’d love to see it! Make sure to share it on your favorite social platform.

Want Even More Recipes?

Join Moms Best Recipes to find more delicious family recipes.

Sugar and Spice Muffins Recipe (11)

free ebook!

The Best of Simply Stacie

When you subscribe to the newsletter for the latest updates!

Sugar and Spice Muffins Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to high muffins? ›

The idea here is to start the muffins in a very hot oven for just a short amount of time. This activates the baking powder and allows the muffins to shoot up in height quickly. We then turn the heat down and continue to cook for longer. This is done to avoid over-browning and overbaking.

Do you put sugar on muffins before baking? ›

Simply sprinkle a dusting on any sweet baked goods before placing them in the oven. The sugar will bake into the the top, without completely dissolving or melting.

What is the most important rule to follow when baking muffins? ›

The number one rule for successful muffins is: Don't over-mix the batter. Use a rubber spatula to quickly fold (gently stir) the liquid ingredients into the dry ones. A few streaks of flour still showing is okay, especially if you plan to add in extra ingredients like fruits and nuts.

What kind of sugar is best for muffins? ›

You'll often find sanding sugar in fancy colors. For topping a baked good like a muffin or scone or cake, use turbinado or coarse sugar crystals. But, if you're in a pinch and only have sanding sugar, that will work too. Not just for muffin tops, sugar crystals give scones that sparkly texture.

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.

Should I use brown or white sugar in muffins? ›

This makes brown sugar the go-to choice for recipes where a hint of complexity and depth is desired. Moisture Master: Brown sugar has more moisture than white sugar, thanks to the molasses content. This extra moisture contributes to a soft and chewy texture in cookies and muffins.

What is the rule of sugar in baking? ›

Sugar creates texture

Sugar easily binds with water, which accomplishes two main things. 1) It locks in moisture, keeping your baked goods from drying out; and 2) It inhibits the development of gluten which keeps your cookies, cakes and sweet breads softer.

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.

Do you bake muffins at 350 or 375? ›

There's no question that the standard oven temperature of 350°F gets the job done for baking up muffins and quick breads. But you don't want baked goods that just “get the job done.” No, you deserve better — and for that, you need two temperatures.

What is the formula for muffins? ›

A basic formula for muffins is 2 cups flour, 2-4 tablespoons sugar, 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 egg, 1/4 cup oil, shortening or butter, 1 cup milk. When the fat, sugar and egg ratio in a recipe reaches double or more than this, you have reached the cake level.

Do you use granulated or powdered sugar for muffins? ›

Granulated sugar is best for baking and adding sweetness to food and drinks, while powdered sugar is best for making frostings and other confections.

What does too much sugar do to muffins? ›

However, if too much sugar is added (these simple vanilla cupcakes had twice as much as they should have), then not only do they rise to the extreme but the structure takes so long to set (these were baked for 15 minutes longer than a normal batch) that they then collapse dramatically towards the end of baking.

How do you make high domed muffins? ›

But if you want super domed muffins with seriously tall tops, rest the batter for an hour! This will allow the flour to hydrate and absorb the liquids in the batter more fully, leading to taller domes.

Why are my muffins dense and not fluffy? ›

Over-mixing – If you mix the muffin batter too much it can create a VERY dense muffin with huge pockets of air inside.

What causes muffins not to rise? ›

Not enough leavening agent. This can happen with unsifted flour (sifting also helps incorporate air), using the wrong type of flour (especially if the recipe calls for self-raising), or using old or improperly-stored flour or baking soda/powder.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Merrill Bechtelar CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 5869

Rating: 5 / 5 (50 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Merrill Bechtelar CPA

Birthday: 1996-05-19

Address: Apt. 114 873 White Lodge, Libbyfurt, CA 93006

Phone: +5983010455207

Job: Legacy Representative

Hobby: Blacksmithing, Urban exploration, Sudoku, Slacklining, Creative writing, Community, Letterboxing

Introduction: My name is Merrill Bechtelar CPA, I am a clean, agreeable, glorious, magnificent, witty, enchanting, comfortable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.