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Vanilla Muffins

vanilla muffins on wire rack.

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4.8 from 12 reviews

Vanilla muffins that are tender and sweet, the perfect option for weekend brunch. You can bake them up as-is or dip them in the optional vanilla glaze for even more sweetness and vanilla flavor!

Ingredients

Scale

Vanilla muffins:

  • 2 cups (248 g) all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled, or use weight measurement)
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (215 g) granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup (177 ml) milk
  • 1/2 cup (118 ml) neutral oil (canola, vegetable, grapeseed, etc.)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract, see notes 1 - 2)
  • coarse sugar crystals (for the tops of the muffins - this is optional if you aren't making the vanilla glaze)

Vanilla glaze (optional):

  • 1 cup (110 g) powdered sugar
  • 1 1/2 - 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)
  • pinch salt

Instructions

Make the muffins:

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).  
  2. Place cupcake liners in each cup of a 12-cup muffin tin (preferred), or generously grease each cup. Set aside.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon salt, and 2 teaspoons baking powder. Set aside.
  4. To a large bowl, add the eggs, 3/4 cup milk, oil, granulated sugar, and 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract). Whisk together until evenly combined.
  5. Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and gently whisk just until all the flour is moistened. Don't overmix the batter or it will become tough. There will be some lumps in the batter and that's ok. 
  6. Scoop the batter into the cups of the prepared muffin tin. If you are not making the vanilla glaze for the muffins, instead you can sprinkle about 1 teaspoon of coarse sugar on top of each muffin to create a crunchy topping. (This is optional - the muffins taste great all on their own too!)
  7. Bake the muffins in the preheated oven for 18 - 22 minutes, or until the tops are firm and a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean (meaning, there is no wet batter on the toothpick - a few moist crumbs are ok).
  8. Let the muffins cool down in the muffin tin for about 10 minutes. Then remove the muffins to a wire cooling rack to finish cooling to room temperature. Unglazed muffins can be stored in an airtight container for 2 - 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Make the vanilla glaze:

  1. While the muffins are almost fully cooled, make the vanilla glaze (if using). Add the powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract) and a pinch of salt to a small bowl. 
  2. Drizzle in about 1 1/2 tablespoons of milk into the bowl. Whisk until combined.
  3. If needed, continue to add a few drops of milk at a time, whisking in between each addition, until the glaze is free-flowing but not watery (up to about 2 tablespoons milk in total). (See note 3.)
  4. When the muffins are fully cooled, dip the tops into the bowl of glaze, letting the excess run off back into the bowl, before flipping the muffin right-side up. If you notice the glaze is too thick after dipping the first muffin, you can mix in a couple more drops of milk. Likewise, if the glaze is too thin for your liking, mix in a little bit more powdered sugar until the desired consistency is reached.
  5. Allow the muffins to sit, uncovered, for 30 minutes to 1 hour, until the glaze is set. Store glazed muffins, loosely covered, for up to 1 day.

Notes

1) You can use vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract in this recipe. I prefer vanilla bean paste if you have it, because it provides those pretty vanilla specks in the muffin and glaze.

2) If using vanilla bean paste, check the bottle for information on the strength. Most pastes can be used in a 1:1 ratio with vanilla extract, but, if your vanilla bean paste is more concentrated, reduce the amount of vanilla bean paste in the recipe accordingly. (For example, if the bottle says to replace 1 teaspoon vanilla extract with 1/2 teaspoon of the vanilla bean paste, reduce the amount of vanilla bean paste in the muffins and glaze by half.)

3) If the glaze is ready but the muffins still need a little more time to cool down, cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid so the glaze doesn't dry out.

The nutrition information below was calculated using 2% milk and including the optional vanilla glaze. This nutrition information is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical, health, or nutritional advice. See our full  disclosure policy.

Nutrition