1. Mix wet and dry separately
To prevent the mix from being overworked, first mix the wet ingredients together in one bowl and mix the dry ingredients in another. Make a well in the dry ingredients, carefully pour in the wet ingredients, then stir the mix a couple of times to roughly combine.
2. Don't over stir
The most important rule of muffin making is to not over stir the mix. Instead, what you really want is to just moisten the ingredients. Resist the temptation to stir or beat the batter until it is smooth and lump free. You want the final mix to be lumpy, thick andfloury.
3. Add your flavours last
While spices should be added with all the other dry ingredients likefruit andnutsshould be added last. Give the batter one more light-handed stir once you've added them in to combine.
4. Line the pan
You can choose to either grease the muffin tin or line it with paper liners. If you choose to forgo the liners, make sure you grease the base and sides of the cups with oil spray or a little melted butter. If you're not going to eat the muffins for a while, consider using paper liners as these will keep the muffins fresher for longer.
5. Use an ice cream scoop
Try using a soupe ladle or small ice cream scoop to transfer your mixture into muffin cups without making a mess.
6. Don't overfill
Aim to fill the cups ¾ full to get muffins with nice round topsand to prevent them from spilling out over the top of the cups.
7. Add a flavourful sprinkle
Once the muffin cups are all filled, you can choose to sprinkle the tops with more fruit, nuts or a crumble topping for even more flavour. As the muffins rise these flavourful toppings will cook into the tops of the muffin.
8. Fill up the pan
If there isn't enough batter to fill all the cups, half fill the empty ones with water. This will help the muffins bake evenly and will protect the pan from buckling.
9. Cool it down
Once you remove the muffins from the oven, let them sit in their pan for a few minutes before removing to a wire rack. This is especially important for muffins that aren't in a paper liner, as it will help them from falling apart. However, remove them after five minutes otherwise you risk them going soggy as they cool in the pan.
10. Freeze for later
Muffins freeze wonderfully, so if you can't enjoy them all on the day they're made, wrap them in plastic wrap and put them in the freezer for later.
FAQs
The secret is to only use half the muffin pan, according to Food52. It's a trick used at some bakeries. If you fill only every other muffin cup and leave the others totally empty, when your muffins rise, they won't have neighbors for the tops to run into and stick to.
What is the most important rule of making 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.
What are the characteristics of a perfect muffin? ›
pebbly surface, not smooth. light weight in relation to its size. uniform texture free of tunnels. tender crumb which allows the muffin to break easily without crumbling.
How to make muffins better? ›
Here are a dozen tips and test-kitchen insights that home bakers can use to build “better-for-you” muffins that taste great.
- Downsize the portions. ...
- Go whole on the grains. ...
- Slash the sugar. ...
- Pour on the oil. ...
- Bring out the nuts. ...
- Switch from grains to beans and bean flours. ...
- Scale back the salt.
Overmixing the batter.
When you overmix the batter, it crushes the air bubbles and ruins the fluffy texture. → Follow this tip: To ensure a batch of light, fluffy muffins, mix the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients until just barely combined, and no more dry flour is visible.
What is the key to moist muffins? ›
How to Make Homemade Muffins Moist: Our Top Tips
- Tips to Make Homemade Muffins Moist.
- Keep Wet and Dry Ingredients Separately.
- Add All Flavorings Last.
- Consider Paper Liners.
- Don't Overfill the Muffin Cups.
- Check the Temperature of Your Oven.
- Test if Muffins Are Fully Cooked.
- Top Your Muffins with Flavor.
Ideal Muffin Cooking Temperature
As stated above, different flours, swaps and add-ins can impact muffin cooking time and should be taken into account when making your baked treat. That being said, the standard oven temperature for baking desserts like quick breads and muffins is commonly set to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
How to get high domed muffins? ›
Option #2: High to Low Baking Temperatures
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.
Should muffin batter be thick or runny? ›
Depending on what ingredients you're using, the batter will range from runny (like thin cake batter) to very thick (like drop-cookie dough). As a general rule, the thinner the batter, the lighter the muffins will be when baked. But don't be afraid to bake thick, gloppy batter.
How to make 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.
You can use either all-purpose flour or pastry flour; all-purpose flour gives you a sturdier muffin while a pastry flour muffin will be lighter and more delicate.
How do you keep muffins moist and fluffy? ›
The Best Way to Store Muffins
- STEP ONE: Let the muffins cool completely on a wire rack.
- STEP TWO: Line an airtight storage container with paper towels.
- STEP THREE: Place muffins in the container, on top of the paper towels.
- STEP FOUR: Place an additional paper towel layer on top of the muffins.
Rest the Muffin Batter
The first, most hands-off way to make your muffins pop (literally) is to let the batter rest. Make the batter, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and let the batter rest at room temperature for about 1 hour. If you're short on time, just 30 minutes can make a difference.
How to get the perfect muffin texture? ›
To achieve the perfect muffin texture, make sure to use the right flour-to-liquid ratio and avoid overmixing the batter. Additionally, be sure to preheat your oven and fill the muffin cups about two-thirds full to allow for proper rising.
What makes muffins rise better? ›
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.
What is important to the muffin method? ›
The purpose of this method is to limit the amount of gluten production during the mixing process, keeping quick breads light and tender. To achieve this, the dry ingredients are combined in one bowl, the wet ingredients are combined in a separate bowl, and then the two mixtures are combined together.
