An ideal deal with to pair with espresso or tea, these decadent crumb cake muffins are like a slice of your favourite espresso crumb cake, however in handheld type. Similar to in my go-to muffin recipe, the bitter cream within the batter retains the muffins moist and tender with out weighing them down. However let’s be actual: we’re actually right here for these buttery brown sugar cinnamon crumbles on prime… and there are loads!
Just lately, I got down to make a muffin model of my super-popular recipes for espresso cake and New York-style crumb cake. Individually portioned muffins which have all the identical qualities you like about traditional crumb cake:
Flavors of cinnamon, brown sugar, butter, and vanilla
A moist, barely dense crumb made with bitter cream
Oodles of scrumptious crumbles on prime
And a bit of vanilla icing drizzle for good measure!
Behind the Recipe: Testing Crumb Cake Muffins
It turned out to take extra rounds of testing than I anticipated! As somebody who has made numerous batches of muffins over time, and will in all probability make any variation of this versatile muffin recipe in my sleep, I assumed it could be a bit of (crumb) cake to develop this recipe!
As a substitute, because the muffins have been rising within the oven, they began shedding their crumbles everywhere in the muffin pan, like they couldn’t wait to be freed from them. What a disappointment—to not point out a large number.
Right here’s how we mounted it:
After a couple of extra rounds of testing, my staff and I discovered what wanted to alter to persuade the crumb cake muffins to carry onto their crumbs:
Don’t fill the muffin cups fully. In most of my muffin recipes, I direct you to fill the muffin cups all the way in which to the highest, as a result of we wish these super-tall bakery-style muffin tops. However we’d like these muffins to not rise into tall peaks, so the crumbles don’t go tumbling off in an avalanche. Utilizing much less batter in every muffin cup extends the batter to make 15 muffins, so that you get 3 bonus muffins! You’re welcome!
Skip the same old high-heat trick. Once more, with most of my muffin recipes, I instruct you to begin baking the muffins at 425°F for the primary 5 minutes, after which decreasing the temperature to 350°F for the rest of the bake time. This rapidly lifts the tops of the muffins up, however once more, we don’t need that right here. Bake all the time at 350°F (177°C).
Even with these changes, it is best to anticipate to nonetheless lose a couple of crumbles because the muffins broaden and rise within the oven. However don’t fear, I’ve made positive the recipe makes loads of crumb topping for these muffins!
Seize These Elements:
Brown Sugar: Moist brown sugar is the important thing to a crumb topping that’s comfortable, not crunchy.
Cinnamon: A key taste in each the topping and the bottom of those muffins.
Butter: You want melted butter for the crumb topping, and room-temperature butter for the muffin batter. Creaming the room-temperature butter with sugar produces a splendidly cakey texture.
Flour: All-purpose flour is your best option for the topping in addition to the batter.
Baking Powder + Baking Soda: These leavening brokers assist the muffins rise. You’ll discover I diminished the baking soda from my traditional muffin recipe—this creates a barely extra managed elevate, permitting the muffins to carry onto extra crumbs. They’re nonetheless splendidly mild and tender!
Salt: Taste enhancer.
Granulated Sugar: When you may use brown sugar right here, I like to recommend white granulated sugar to make sure the feel of the muffins isn’t overly heavy and dense.
Eggs: Bind components collectively, and add tenderness and richness.
Vanilla Extract: When you’ve got home made vanilla extract, use it!
Bitter Cream: The magic moist maker! Similar to on this white cake, bitter cream provides moisture with out weighing down these cake-like muffins.
Milk: Just a bit, to skinny out the batter.
Make the Crumb Topping First
You’ll combine brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter collectively. I normally simply use a fork to do that. Add within the flour, and stir till medium-sized crumbles type. You don’t wish to overmix it otherwise you’ll find yourself with a paste. Refrigerate the crumb topping till you’re prepared to make use of it.
Why? Chilly crumbs maintain their form higher whereas baking.
Subsequent, Make the Muffins
Whisk the dry components, cream butter and sugars, add the remaining moist components because the recipe instructs under, and blend all of it collectively as you add the milk.
Divide the batter between 15 muffin liners. In case you attempt to make fewer muffins, they are going to rise an excessive amount of, and the entire crumbs will fall off. Belief me, my staff and I’ve made many failed batches in our makes an attempt.
Press the chilly crumbs down as a lot as potential to stick them to the batter:
Whereas I like muffins with add-ins, from fruit to chocolate chips, nuts, and extra, this muffin is something however plain. As a substitute, with nothing to distract from them, the candy, buttery, cinnamon-y flavors actually shine via! A number of style testers even requested for “extra of these scrumptious brown sugar muffins.”
Wonderful taste right here!
Nevertheless, if you wish to take these crumb cake muffins to the following degree of crumb cake indulgence, you possibly can all the time add a drizzle of straightforward 3-ingredient vanilla icing. 😉
Can’t get sufficient crumb topping? Listed below are some extra favourite recipes for you:
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Crumb Cake Muffins
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 2 opinions
Writer: Sally McKenney
Prep Time:25 minutes
Prepare dinner Time:22 minutes
Complete Time:47 minutes
Yield:15 muffins
Class:Muffins
Technique:Baking
Delicacies:American
Description
These wealthy and buttery crumb cake muffins seize all of the goodness of a traditional crumb espresso cake however in a wonderfully portioned, handheld deal with. For the most effective outcomes, comply with the recipe carefully—divide the batter evenly into 15 muffins (no fewer) and chill the crumb topping to assist it keep its texture.
Crumb Topping
Muffins
Non-compulsory Vanilla Icing
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a 12-count muffin pan with cupcake liners; line 3 cups of a second muffin pan with 3 liners (or bake in batches)—this recipe makes 15 muffins. Put aside.
Make the crumb topping: Combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter collectively in a small bowl till mixed. Add the flour and use a fork to softly combine till crumbs type. Don’t over-mix right into a paste. Simply combine till it’s crumbly. It’s going to seem to be lots of crumb topping, and it’s! These are generously topped. Place crumb topping combination within the fridge whilst you make the muffin batter. Chilly crumbs maintain form higher when baking.
Make the muffins: Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt collectively in a medium bowl. Put aside.
In a big bowl utilizing a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and granulated sugar collectively on excessive pace till easy and creamy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the edges of the bowl as wanted. Add the eggs and beat on medium pace till included. Add the bitter cream and vanilla, and beat till the combination is mixed and principally creamy. (It’s okay if it seems considerably curdled.) Scrape down the edges of the bowl as wanted.
With the mixer operating on low pace, add the dry components, adopted by the milk. Keep away from over-mixing—you could want to modify to stirring with a spatula or whisking by hand to make sure no flour pockets are hiding on the backside of the bowl. Batter is thick.
Spoon roughly 3 Tablespoons of batter into every of the 15 ready muffin cups, filling them about 2/3 full. Spoon crumb topping on every, gently urgent it down so it adheres to the batter.
Bake for 22–24 minutes or till a toothpick inserted within the middle comes out clear. It’s regular for a few of the crumb topping to fall off the edges because the muffins broaden, however most ought to stay securely on prime.
Enable the muffins to chill for five minutes within the muffin pan(s), then switch to a cooling rack to proceed cooling. Allow them to cool for a minimum of quarter-hour earlier than icing.
Make the icing (if utilizing): Whisk the confectioners’ sugar, 2 Tablespoons milk or heavy cream, and vanilla extract collectively. Add one other Tablespoon of milk or heavy cream to skinny out if obligatory. For thicker icing, add a bit of extra confectioners’ sugar. Drizzle over muffins.
Iced or plain muffins keep recent lined at room temperature for a couple of days or within the fridge for as much as 1 week.
Notes
Freezing Directions: Freeze baked & cooled muffins for as much as 3 months. You’ll be able to freeze with or with out the icing, however making the icing recent earlier than serving is all the time finest. Thaw within the fridge or at room temperature earlier than having fun with. Heat up within the microwave if desired.
Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): 12-count Muffin Pan | Cupcake Liners | Glass Mixing Bowls | Whisk | Electrical Mixer (Handheld or Stand Mixer) | Spatula | Cooling Rack
Milk: You should use any milk, dairy or nondairy, in each the muffin batter and icing. For finest style and texture, I don’t advocate nonfat milk.
Confectioners’ Sugar in Icing: I exploit and advocate Domino model confectioners’ sugar.
