Zippy Blueberry Spice Muffins: A Flavorful Twist

Blueberry muffins are comfort food – do you agree? Whether it’s summer when the berries are ripe, or winter when we are grateful for the frozen ones, a homemade blueberry muffin is a welcome guest on a breakfast or brunch plate.

But on the other hand, a blueberry muffin is predictable, perhaps even a bit bland. It’s usually an accompaniment rather than a centerpiece.

I wanted something a little more provocative with my blueberry muffin.

I needed a “wake me up and start my day with a kick” kind of muffin.

I played around with the blueberry muffin recipe from Joy of Cooking, and hit the right chord after making several batches. A healthy amount of my new Zippy Autumn spice mix replaces a paltry ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg, among other changes.

Bingo!

Look at those beauties! The combination of cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and nutmeg in Zippy Autumn delivers a 1-2-3-4 punch. It makes Zippy Blueberry Spice muffins a STAR at breakfast or brunch.

Or as an afternoon snack.

Or with hot spiced cider after dinner.

Or with a glass of bubbly.

My friends, this muffin is never a bad idea. Make it yourself – I know you’ll agree.

Blueberry Spice Muffins Recipe

Makes 12 regular-sized muffins, 48 mini-muffins, or six regular and 24 mini (see note below)

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour – see note)
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1¼ teaspoon Zippy Autumn spice mix (click here) or ‘pumpkin spice’ (see note below)

• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup milk, half ’n’ half or cream
• ⅔ cup packed light brown sugar
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 1½ teaspoon vanilla

• 2 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen; if frozen, thaw before using)
• 1½ tablespoon white sugar

• 1 cup light brown or white sugar
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon

Cooking Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400℉. Grease the muffins pans with cooking spray or line with paper liners. Whisk together the dry ingredients in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk the wet ingredients until well blended. Add the wet mixture to the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix gently just until the dry ingredients are moistened. Do not overmix; the batter will have some lumps. 

Toss the blueberries in a small bowl with the sugar, then carefully fold into the batter. Divide the batter among the muffin cups, ensuring a fairly even distribution of blueberries. Combine remaining 1 cup sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and mix well, then sprinkle over the muffins.

Bake on a middle rack until a toothpick comes out clean, about 15 minutes for mini-muffins and 18-20 for regular-sized. Let cool for 2 to 3 minutes before removing from the pan. 

Notes:

• The Zippy Autumn spice mix MAKES these muffins, taking them all the way to awesome. I highly recommend that you make a batch before making these muffins, so that you’ll have it on hand for the next batch. But if you simply don’t have time, you can substitute with ‘pumpkin spice’, or, if you don’t have that, use: ¾ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon cardamom, ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg and a pinch of cloves.
• You can mix and match the sizes of muffins; you’ll note that in this batch, I used one mini pan and one regular. Mini-muffins are fun because they are so snackable. And you can nab a few right out of the oven for yourself without anyone noticing – and without feeling guilty, because hey, it’s just a tiny muffin! 😎
• This recipe can easily be gluten-free by substituting a gluten-free flour mix. I used one that has oat, sorghum, rice and almond flour, and the muffins were equally as delicious, although a little moister and softer.
• I have both the round and square mini-muffin pans, but I think the square makes for a more enjoyable mini-muffin; it has more heft to it. I got the square pan from a Pampered Chef party, years ago. That’s a picture from their web site below; click for a link.

Join Me in the Kitchen

Not only are these muffins tender with a perfect balance of sweet-tart blueberries and the spicy kick of the Zippy Autumn, they are quick and easy to make.

To Reiterate: Zippy Autumn MAKES These Muffins

You can whip up a batch of Zippy Autumn in 5 minutes or less: what are you waiting for? We’re heading into the holidays, you’ll love having this zipped up baking spice at your fingertips for holiday baking.

Our Zippy Autumn Spice Mix is the Real Deal

© 2024, Glover Gardens

Reminder: this is a non-commercial blog, and any recommendations (like the square pan for mini-muffins) are strictly my opinion and not a paid advertisement.