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Home > Desserts > Cinnamon Muffins Recipe (Better than Starbucks’)

Cinnamon Muffins Recipe (Better than Starbucks’)

October 22, 2020 by Denise Browning 3 Comments / THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE SALES LINKS. PLEASE SEE MY _FULL DISCLOSURE POLICY_ FOR DETAILS

Gluten Free

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These warm cinnamon muffins come with a creamy cream cheese filling, crumbly streusel topping, and a sweet vanilla glaze, making the perfect Fall/Winter coffee treat, just like our cinnamon cookies. They can be made ahead and cost much less than any of Starbucks’ coffee muffins.

one of the cinnamon muffins over a rack

It’s coffee time! So how about warm cinnamon muffins with a cup of joe?

These easy cinnamon muffins (a.k.a cinnamon streusel muffins) come with a creamy cream cheese filling and are topped with a crumbly streusel and a sweet vanilla glaze.

They make a comforting breakfast or afternoon treat that can be easily transported to school or work. 

Another real plus is that they cost much less than any Starbucks coffee cake muffins and taste just as delicious.

Let’s make them together!

Muffin and streusel origins

The word muffin was first found in print in 1703, spelled moofin. Although the origin is uncertain, it is related to the Low German Muffen which means a small cake and from the Old French moufflet meaning soft bread.

In Britain, muffins – also known as American Muffins —  are a baked quickbread with a shape of a cupcake and a moist, coarse-grained texture.

The fact is, muffins have become popular in many countries. As has streusel! 

Streusel is of German origin and consists of a crumbly topping made of flour, butter, sugar, and a flavoring agent such as cinnamon. It’s usually baked on top of baked goods such as cake, breads, pies, and muffins, such as these cinnamon muffins.

Some famous dishes that contain streusel are apple crumb cake (cuca de maçã), streuselkuchen, coffee cake, babka, German apple streusel pie, and apple crisp. 

a tin with many baked goodies, some whole and some cut in half

Ingredients and Substitutions

Depending on your dietary restrictions, you can substitute some of the ingredients of our cinnamon muffin recipe.

  • All-purpose flour – replace it with the same amount of blanched almond flour if you are on a keto diet, or gluten-free all-purpose flour if on a gluten-free diet.
  • Brown sugar – use golden monk fruit if on a keto diet.
  • Milk – you may use a plant-based milk for a dairy-free muffin or if on a keto diet.
  • Greek yogurt – use a dairy-free yogurt for a dairy-free recipe.
  • Granulated sugar – either granulated erythritol or monk fruit.
  • Powdered sugar – use powdered monk fruit instead.
  • Cream cheese – replace the regular one with dairy-free cream cheese if needed.
  • Eggs – if you are allergic to them, use ¼ cup unsweetened apple sauce for each egg. 

Cinnamon Muffins Recipe: Variations

Would  you like to make variations of our cinnamon muffins? Use the same recipe as the base to make new flavors. Our baking substitutions page and charts can help you with that task for this and many other baking recipes.   

  • Banana cinnamon muffins: Need to put  some overripe bananas to use? No problem! Substitute ½ cup mashed banana for each egg.
  • Apple cinnamon muffins or apple crumble muffins: replace each egg with 1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce.
  • Pumpkin cinnamon muffins: Add ¼ cup canned pumpkin for each egg called for in the recipe. 

drizzled baked goodies over a rack

 

 How to make cinnamon muffins

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a 12-cup standard muffin tin with paper or coat with nonstick spray. Make sure to also line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil and reserve.
  2. Make the streusel: In a medium bowl, whisk in together the granulated sugar, light brown sugar, and cinnamon.
  3. Add the melted butter and whisk until just combined. Then, mix the flour (if needed by hand) until the mixture is moist. 
  4. Transfer the streusel topping to the prepared baking sheet and spread it out to let it dry while making the muffin batter. Make sure to crumble in small and big chunks. Reserve. SEE PIC. 1
  5. Make the muffin batter: In the bowl of an electric mixer, add the dry ingredients (flour, light brown sugar, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and baking soda. Whisk on low until well combined.
  6. Then, add the wet ingredients: milk, Greek yogurt, and eggs. Beat until just combined and thick.
  7. Pour half of the batter evenly into the muffin tins (about 1 ½ tbsp each tin cup). Reserve. SEE PIC. 2
  8. Make the cream cheese filling: In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese with sugar and vanilla until combined and smooth. SEE PIC. 3 Then, top the center of the muffins with the cream cheese filling (a little less than 1 tbsp and no need to spread out). SEE PIC. 4 Next, spoon the remaining batter over the filling, making sure to form an even layer. If needed, gently spread out the batter. Top the muffins with the streusel topping, pressing the mixture into the batter. SEE PIC. 5 If you don’t press it, chunks of streusel will fall all over the tin while the muffins are baking.
  9. Bake the muffins for 18 to 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean. Remove the muffins from the oven and let them cool down for 5 minutes before serving.
  10. Meanwhile, make the glaze (optional): Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla together in a bowl until homogeneous, smooth, and without lumps. SEE PIC. 6 If too thick to drizzle over the muffins, whisk in a little more milk. If too thin, whisk in a little more powdered sugar. 
  11. Then drizzle over the cinnamon muffins, let sit for 5-10 minutes, and serve. SEE PICS. 7 and 8

photo collage showing how to make cinnamon muffins in 8 steps

Make-Ahead and Storage

You can make these cinnamon muffins up to 4 days ahead. If you skip the cream cheese filling, you may store them in a sealable bag or airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days, or freeze them for up to 2 months. It’s for sure one of those easy freezer recipes. 

You may also store them in the fridge for up to 7 days.

If frozen, let them thaw before reheating them for 10-15 seconds or until warm.

If you intend to freeze them, only drizzle the glaze on top after they have been thawed and reheated. 

PIN & ENJOY!

several cinnamon muffins in a muffin tin

one of the cinnamon muffins over a rack
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Cinnamon Muffins Recipe

These warm cinnamon muffins come with a creamy cream cheese filling, crumbly streusel topping, and a sweet vanilla glaze, making the perfect Fall/Winter coffee treat. They can be made ahead and cost much less than any of Starbuck’s coffee muffins.
Course:Dessert
Cuisine:American
Keywords:cinnamon muffins, coffee muffins, muffin recipes
Prep Time 23 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 12
Calories369 kcal
Author Denise Browning
Cost $0.50 per muffin

Equipment

  • mixer
  • bowls
  • spatula
  • whisk
  • muffin tin

Ingredients

For the muffins:

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour use a GF flour (same amount) for a gluten-free treat
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt optional
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 large eggs at room temperature

For the streusel topping:

  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted (or 1 stick of butter, melted)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour use a gluten-free if desired (same amount)

For the cream cheese filling:

  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract

For the glaze:

  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 1-2 tbsp whole milk
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a 12-cup standard muffin tin with paper or coat with nonstick spray. Make sure to also line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil and reserve.
  • Make the streusel: In a medium bowl, whisk in together the granulated sugar, light brown sugar, and cinnamon.
  • Add the melted butter and whisk until just combined. Then, mix the flour (if needed by hand) until the mixture is moist.
  • Transfer the streusel topping to the prepared baking sheet and spread it out to let it dry while making the muffin batter. Make sure to crumble in small and big chunks. Reserve.
  • Make the muffin batter: In the bowl of an electric mixer, add the dry ingredients (flour, light brown sugar, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and baking soda. Whisk on low until well combined.
  • Then, add the wet ingredients: milk, Greek yogurt, and eggs. Beat until just combined and thick.
  • Pour half of the batter evenly into the muffin tins (about 1 ½ tbsp each tin cup). Reserve.
  • Make the cream cheese filling: In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese with sugar and vanilla until combined and smooth. Then, top the center of the muffins with the cream cheese filling (a little less than 1 tbsp and no need to spread out). Next, spoon the remaining batter over the filling making sure to form an even layer. If needed, gently spread out the batter. Top the muffins with the streusel topping, pressing the mixture into the batter. If you don’t press it, chunks of streusel will fall all over the tin while muffins are baking.
  • Bake the muffins for 18 to 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean. Remove the muffins from the oven and let them cool down for 5 minutes before serving.
  • Meanwhile, make the glaze (optional): Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla together in a bowl until homogeneous, smooth, and without lumps. If too thick to drizzle over the muffins, whisk in a little more milk. If too thin, whisk in a little more powdered sugar.
  • Then, drizzle over the muffins, let sit for 5-10 minutes, and serve.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Substitutions
Depending on your dietary restrictions, you can substitute some of the ingredients for our cinnamon muffin recipe.
  • All-purpose flour – replace it with the same amount of blanched almond flour if you are on a keto diet or gluten-free all-purpose flour if on a gluten-free diet.
  • Brown sugar – use golden monk fruit if on a keto diet.
  • Milk – you may use a plant-based milk for a dairy-free muffin or if on a keto diet.
  • Greek yogurt – use a dairy-free yogurt for a dairy-free recipe.
  • Granulated sugar – either granulated erythritol or monk fruit.
  • Powdered sugar – use powdered monk fruit instead.
  • Cream cheese – replace the regular one with dairy-free cream cheese if needed.
  • Eggs – if you are allergic to them, use ¼ cup unsweetened apple sauce for each egg. 
Make-Ahead and Storage
You can make these cinnamon muffins up to 4 days ahead. If you skip the cream cheese filling, you may store them in a sealable bag or airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days, or freeze them for up to 2 months. It’s for sure one of those easy freezer recipes. 
You may also store them in the fridge for up to 7 days. If frozen, let them thaw before reheating them for 10-15 seconds or until warm.
If you intend to freeze them, only drizzle the glaze on top after they have been thawed and reheated. 

Nutrition

Calories: 369kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 158mg | Potassium: 180mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 554IU | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 2mg
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Comment and rate the recipe. Also follow us on Pinterest at @easyanddelish for more delish recipes.

 

 

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Filed Under: American Recipes, Breakfast and Brunch, Desserts, Easy And Delish, Gluten-Free, Snacks

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rahul @samosastreet

    October 25, 2020 at 5:50 pm

    These are perfect for a breakfast and I love how easy they are to make! Mouth-watering photos!

    Reply
    • Denise Browning

      October 25, 2020 at 7:17 pm

      Thank you Rahul! Yes, these cinnamon muffins are easy to make and so delicious! It tastes like cinnamon rolls.

      Reply
  2. Raymund

    November 3, 2020 at 12:27 pm

    5 stars
    That looks good, I think they look better than Starbucks too!

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Denise Browning!

I'm a professional Chef with an expertise in Brazilian food. I am also a busy mom of two girls, living in Texas. Here you will find budget-friendly, healthy Brazilian and Global Recipes made Easy and Delish! I'd love to help you feed your family healthy dinners (many low carb) with a few splurges because life is all about balance! Join our community and happy cooking!

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