Heavenly Cinnamon Crumb Muffins

Welcome to the delightful world of homemade baking, where the aroma of warm spices fills your kitchen and promises a treat that’s simply irresistible. If you’re searching for a recipe that combines ease of preparation with incredible flavor, look no further than these spectacular **Cinnamon Muffins with a Golden Streusel Topping**. Imagine sinking your teeth into a perfectly moist, fluffy muffin, rich with the comforting notes of cinnamon, complemented by a crunchy, sweet streusel crumb that adds an extra layer of texture and taste. These aren’t just any muffins; they are an experience, transforming simple ingredients into a truly memorable indulgence.

Whether you’re looking for the perfect companion to your morning coffee, a delightful addition to an afternoon tea spread, or a comforting snack any time of day, these cinnamon crumb muffins are sure to become a cherished favorite. They come together incredibly quickly, requiring only everyday pantry staples, making them an ideal choice for both seasoned bakers and beginners alike. Prepare to be enchanted by the harmonious blend of soft muffin and crisp topping – a combination that’s truly to die for!

Why These Cinnamon Streusel Muffins Will Become Your Go-To Recipe

There’s something uniquely comforting about a freshly baked muffin, and when cinnamon is involved, that comfort factor skyrockets. These particular muffins stand out for several reasons, guaranteeing they’ll earn a permanent spot in your recipe collection:

• Unbeatable Flavor: The star of the show, cinnamon, infuses every bite of these muffins. It’s present in both the tender muffin batter and the glorious streusel topping, creating a cohesive and deeply satisfying flavor profile.
• Perfect Texture: We’ve achieved the ideal balance here – a muffin crumb that’s incredibly moist and tender, contrasting beautifully with the delightful crunch of the streusel. This textural interplay is what makes each bite exciting.
• Effortless Preparation: Don’t let their gourmet taste fool you; these muffins are surprisingly simple to make. With clear, easy-to-follow steps and readily available ingredients, you’ll have a batch ready in no time.
• Versatility: Perfect for any occasion. Serve them warm for breakfast, pack them in lunchboxes, enjoy them as an afternoon treat, or even as a simple dessert. They’re always a hit!
• Aromatic Experience: The scent of baking cinnamon muffins is pure bliss. It’s a scent that evokes warmth, coziness, and happiness, making the baking process as enjoyable as the eating.

My love affair with cinnamon runs deep, inspiring many recipes where this warming spice takes center stage. If you’re a fellow cinnamon enthusiast, you might also enjoy my flaky puff pastry cinnamon rolls or my addictive cinnamon sugar popcorn. These muffins, however, truly celebrate cinnamon in its most beloved form – baked into a soft, sweet treat that everyone adores.

Essential Ingredients for Your Delicious Cinnamon Muffins

Crafting these delectable cinnamon muffins requires a handful of simple, high-quality ingredients. Each plays a vital role in achieving that perfect moist crumb and irresistible streusel topping. You’ll find the precise measurements for all components in the comprehensive recipe card located at the bottom of this post.

For the Irresistible Muffin Batter:

• Butter: Essential for richness and moisture. Using melted butter in this recipe contributes to a tender, cake-like texture.
• Caster Sugar: This finely granulated sugar dissolves beautifully, ensuring a smooth batter and a consistently sweet muffin. While caster sugar is preferred for its texture, standard granulated sugar can be used as a substitute if needed. For more insights, check out this helpful guide on “what is caster sugar.”
• Vanilla Extract: A crucial flavor enhancer that complements the cinnamon, adding depth and warmth to the muffins.
• Milk: Adds essential moisture and contributes to the soft, tender crumb. Full-fat milk often yields the richest results, but any milk will work.
• Egg: Acts as a binder, providing structure, richness, and helping the muffins rise beautifully. Ensure your egg is at room temperature for better emulsification with other ingredients.
• Self-Raising Flour: This convenient flour contains baking powder and a pinch of salt already mixed in, ensuring a consistent rise and delightful texture. If you don’t have self-raising flour, you can easily make your own by combining 2 cups of all-purpose flour with 3 teaspoons of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
• Ground Cinnamon: The star spice! We use a generous amount to ensure that signature warm, aromatic flavor permeates every bite.
• Salt: A small pinch enhances all the other flavors, balancing the sweetness and bringing out the best in the cinnamon.

For the Crunchy Streusel Crumb Topping:

The streusel topping is what truly elevates these muffins, adding a fantastic textural contrast and an extra burst of cinnamon sweetness.

• Brown Sugar: Provides a deeper, caramel-like sweetness and helps the crumb achieve that desirable chewy texture when baked.
• White Sugar: Contributes to the crispness and golden-brown color of the topping.
• Ground Cinnamon: Doubles down on the cinnamon flavor, making the streusel just as aromatic as the muffin itself.
• Salt: A tiny bit of salt balances the sweetness in the crumb topping.
• Plain / All-Purpose Flour: Forms the base of the crumb, giving it structure.
• Melted Butter: Unlike traditional streusel which often uses cold butter, melted butter here creates a unique “wet sand” consistency that bakes into a delightful, slightly chewier, yet crunchy topping.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect Cinnamon Muffins

Follow these detailed steps to bake a batch of homemade cinnamon muffins that are sure to impress. Precision and gentle handling are key to achieving that wonderfully moist and tender result.

1. Prepare Your Oven and Muffin Tray: Begin by preheating your oven to 180°C / 350°F. This ensures the oven is at the correct temperature when your muffins go in, promoting an even rise. Lightly grease a standard 12-hole muffin tray, or line it with paper liners for easier cleanup.
2. Craft the Irresistible Crumb Topping: In a medium bowl, combine the brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, salt, and all-purpose flour for the topping. Whisk these dry ingredients together until they are well combined.
3. Add Butter to the Crumb: Pour the melted butter over the dry crumb mixture. Using your fingertips or a fork, mix everything together until the mixture resembles wet sand or coarse crumbs. It should hold together when squeezed but still be crumbly. Set this aside.





4. Combine Wet Ingredients for Muffins: In a separate large mixing bowl, combine the melted butter and caster sugar for the muffin batter. Whisk vigorously for about 1 minute until well blended.



5. Introduce Egg, Milk, and Vanilla: Add the egg, milk, and vanilla extract to the butter and sugar mixture. Mix thoroughly until all these wet ingredients are fully incorporated and the mixture is smooth.
6. Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gently fold in the self-raising flour, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt into the wet ingredients. Mix until *just* combined. It’s crucial not to overmix the batter; a few lumps are perfectly fine and will result in tender muffins. Overmixing develops gluten, leading to tough, dense muffins.



7. Fill the Muffin Tray: Divide the muffin batter evenly among the 12 cups in your prepared muffin tray, filling each cup almost to the top. Fuller cups result in beautifully domed muffin tops.



8. Top with Streusel: Generously sprinkle the prepared crumb topping over the batter in each muffin cup. Ensure an even coating for maximum flavor and crunch.



9. Bake to Golden Perfection: Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the muffins are golden brown and a wooden skewer inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Avoid opening the oven door too frequently during baking.
10. Cool and Enjoy: Once baked, remove the muffin tray from the oven. Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents them from becoming soggy and helps them maintain their shape.

Top Tips for Muffin Perfection & Beyond

Achieving bakery-quality muffins at home is easier than you think, especially with these insider tips and tricks:

• Don’t Overmix! This is the golden rule of muffin making. Overmixing develops gluten, which leads to tough, chewy muffins. Mix only until the dry ingredients are *just* incorporated into the wet, even if a few lumps remain.
• Room Temperature Ingredients: For the best emulsion and a smoother batter, ensure your egg, milk, and butter (if not melted) are at room temperature.
• Full Muffin Cups: Fill your muffin cups almost to the top to encourage those beautifully domed tops we all love.
• Storage: To keep your cinnamon muffins fresh and moist, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. Lining the container with a paper towel can help absorb excess moisture and prevent sogginess. They will stay fresh for 2-3 days.
• Freezing for Later: These muffins freeze beautifully! Once completely cooled, you can wrap them individually in plastic wrap and then place them in an airtight freezer bag or container. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or gently warm in the microwave for a quick treat.
• Leftover Crumb Mixture? Don’t throw it away! Any leftover streusel topping can be stored in an airtight jar in the freezer. It’s perfect for sprinkling over oatmeal, yogurt, fruit crisps, or another batch of muffins whenever a craving strikes.
• Serving Warm: While delicious at any temperature, these muffins are truly exceptional when served slightly warm. A quick zap in the microwave can revive their freshness and aroma.

Creative Variations & Serving Suggestions

While these cinnamon muffins are perfect as they are, don’t hesitate to get creative! Here are some ideas to customize your batch:

Exciting Variations:

• Nutty Cinnamon Muffins: Fold in 1/2 cup of chopped pecans or walnuts into the batter for an added crunch and earthy flavor.
• Chocolate Chip Swirl: For a decadent twist, add 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips or mini dark chocolate chips to the batter.
• Apple Cinnamon Delight: Gently fold in 1/2 cup of finely diced apple (peeled or unpeeled) for a classic flavor combination.
• Cream Cheese Swirl: Before adding the streusel, dollop a spoonful of cream cheese frosting (softened cream cheese, a touch of sugar, and vanilla) onto each muffin and swirl it lightly with a toothpick.
• Maple Glaze: After cooling, drizzle a simple glaze made from powdered sugar and maple syrup over the muffins for extra sweetness.

Perfect Serving Suggestions:

• Classic Breakfast: Enjoy warm with a generous dollop of butter and a cup of freshly brewed coffee or tea.
• Brunch Spread: A beautiful addition to any brunch table, alongside fresh fruit, yogurt, and other pastries.
• Sweet Treat: Serve as a simple dessert, perhaps with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for an extra indulgence.
• On the Go: These muffins are perfectly portable, making them an excellent snack for work, school, or a picnic.

More Delicious Baking Recipes to Explore

If you loved baking these cinnamon muffins, you’ll surely enjoy exploring more recipes that celebrate the joy of homemade treats. Here are a few other fantastic baking recipes from my collection:

• Flourless Orange and Almond Cakes
• Easy Apple Cake
• Apple Crumble Muffins
• No Bake Marble Cheesecake
• White Chocolate Mud Cupcakes
• Easy Banana Cake

We hope you’ve enjoyed this delightful journey into baking these easy and utterly delicious cinnamon muffins with streusel topping. Their warmth, flavor, and incredible texture make them a treat you’ll want to bake again and again. Nothing quite compares to the joy of a homemade muffin, fresh from the oven, filling your home with an inviting aroma.

If you’ve tried this recipe and fallen in love with these cinnamon-spiced delights, I’d be absolutely thrilled to hear about your experience! Please take a moment to leave a comment and a star rating below – your feedback is incredibly valuable and helps others discover these wonderful muffins. Don’t forget to connect with us on social media! You can follow me on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to stay updated with more delicious recipes and baking inspiration. Happy baking!

📋 RECIPE

Cinnamon Muffins

Yield:
10 Muffins

Prep Time:
10 minutes

Cook Time:
25 minutes

Total Time:
35 minutes

These cinnamon muffins are so easy to prepare and have an irresistible streusel topping. These moist and flavourful cinnamon crumb muffins are a must-try!

Ingredients

Crumb Topping

• ⅓ cup Brown Sugar
• ⅓ cup White Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• Pinch of Salt
• 1 cup All-Purpose Flour
• ⅓ cup Butter (80g), melted

Muffins

• ½ cup Caster Sugar
• ¼ cup Butter (60g), melted
• 1 Egg
• 1 cup + 2 tablespoon Milk
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1.5 tsps Ground Cinnamon
• 2 cups Self-Raising Flour
• Pinch of Salt

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180C / 350F and grease a 12-hole muffin tray.
2. To make the crumb topping, add the sugar, cinnamon, salt and flour in a bowl and mix to combine. Next add butter and mix together until it forms a similar consistency to wet sand. Set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, mix butter and sugar together for the muffins. Add egg, milk and vanilla and mix well to combine.
4. Next, add flour, cinnamon and salt (for the muffins) and mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
5. Spoon mixture into the muffin tray, filling almost to the top of each cup. Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the mixture.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean. Leave in the pan for 5 minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

• Store these muffins in an airtight container lined with paper towel for a few days at room temperature. You can also freeze either individually wrapped or in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
• Have crumb mixture left? Pop it in an airtight jar and store it in the freezer for an easy on-demand topping for a simple fruit crisp, yogurt, or another batch of muffins.

Nutrition Information (Per Serving):

Yield: 10
Serving Size: 1 Muffin

Approximate Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 327
Total Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Trans Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 4g
Cholesterol: 47mg
Sodium: 420mg
Carbohydrates: 51g
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 23g
Protein: 5g