Heavenly Cinnamon Sugar Swirl Muffins Recipe

Whip Up Sweet & Spiraled Cinnamon Sugar Swirl Muffins Recipe

Sweet mornings call for these delectable cinnamon sugar swirl muffins that melt in your mouth with every single bite.

Warm spices dance through soft, tender crumb creating an irresistible aroma that fills the kitchen.

Buttery edges crisp up beautifully while a generous swirl of cinnamon sugar winds through each delightful muffin.

These simple treats come together quickly with basic pantry ingredients you already have on hand.

Each muffin delivers a perfect balance of sweetness and warmth that feels like a comforting hug.

The golden-brown tops sparkle with a sugary crust that promises pure breakfast bliss.

One bite will transport you to a cozy morning of pure indulgence and deliciousness.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Calories: 200 kcal

Servings: 11

Main Ingredients In Cinnamon Sugar Swirl Muffins

For Dry Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: The foundational ingredient that provides structure and texture to your muffins, ensuring a tender crumb.
  • Baking Powder: This magical leavening agent helps your muffins rise and become wonderfully fluffy.
  • Baking Soda: Works with acidic ingredients to create a light, airy texture in the muffins.
  • Salt: Enhances the overall flavor and balances the sweetness of the muffins.
For Wet Ingredients:
  • Unsalted Butter: Creates a rich, smooth base that adds incredible moisture and depth to the muffins.
  • Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the muffins and helps create a golden, tender crumb.
  • Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and contribute to the muffins' soft, delicate texture.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds a warm, aromatic flavor that complements the cinnamon beautifully.
  • Buttermilk: Introduces a subtle tanginess and helps create a super moist, tender muffin.
For Cinnamon Swirl Topping:
  • Granulated Sugar, Ground Cinnamon: This dynamic duo creates a sweet, spicy swirl that runs through the muffins, adding an irresistible flavor and visual appeal.

Supplies For Cinnamon Sugar Swirl Muffins

  • Large Bowl: Perfect for mixing wet ingredients and creating a fluffy base for your muffins.
  • Medium Bowl: Ideal for combining dry ingredients smoothly.
  • Small Bowl: Great for preparing the cinnamon-sugar swirl mixture.
  • Muffin Tin: 12-cup standard size for baking perfect muffins.
  • Whisk: Essential for blending dry ingredients without lumps.
  • Electric Mixer: Helps cream butter and sugar to light, airy perfection.
  • Measuring Cups and Spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient proportions.
  • Toothpick: Necessary for checking muffin doneness.
  • Wire Rack: Perfect for cooling muffins and keeping them crisp.
  • Spatula: Useful for folding ingredients and scraping batter.

Steps To Bake Cinnamon Sugar Swirl Muffins

  • Oven Preparation

Warm up the kitchen by setting the oven to a cozy temperature. Get your muffin tin ready with paper liners or a light coating of grease.

  • Flour Fusion

Create a magical dry ingredient blend by whisking together the essential powdery components until perfectly combined.

  • Butter Magic

Cream together butter and sugar until the mixture becomes light and dreamy. Gently introduce eggs one by one, letting each settle into the creamy landscape. Add a splash of vanilla for extra warmth.

  • Batter Harmony

Slowly marry the dry and wet ingredients, alternating with a splash of smooth buttermilk. Treat the batter gently – mix just until everything comes together.

  • Cinnamon Whispers

Craft a sweet and spicy mixture of sugar and cinnamon that will dance through the muffins.

  • Muffin Assembly

Layer the batter with delicate sprinkles of cinnamon magic. Start by filling each cup halfway, then shower with cinnamon-sugar, add more batter, and finish with a final dusting of the sweet spice blend.

  • Baking Transformation

Let the muffins bake until they rise to golden perfection. A toothpick will emerge clean when they’re ready. Allow a brief rest in the pan before transferring to a cooling rack, where they’ll continue their delicious journey.

Quick Tips For Cinnamon Sugar Swirl Muffins

  • Buttermilk Brilliance: Use room temperature buttermilk to ensure even mixing and a tender crumb. Cold buttermilk can create dense, uneven muffins that lack the signature soft texture.
  • Gentle Mixing Magic: Avoid overmixing the batter – stop stirring as soon as the dry ingredients disappear. Overmixing develops gluten, resulting in tough, chewy muffins instead of light, fluffy ones.
  • Swirl Technique Triumph: Create beautiful cinnamon swirls by using a toothpick or skewer to gently drag the cinnamon-sugar mixture through the batter. This creates stunning marbled patterns and ensures even flavor distribution.
  • Gluten-Free Transformation: Swap regular flour with a high-quality gluten-free flour blend for those with wheat sensitivities. Add a teaspoon of xanthan gum to help bind the ingredients and maintain the muffins' structure.
  • Dairy-Free Delight: Replace buttermilk with almond milk mixed with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes to create a similar tangy, thick consistency that keeps the muffins moist and tender.

How To Enjoy Cinnamon Sugar Swirl Muffins

  • Sweet Morning Breakfast Companion: Pair these warm, fragrant muffins with a steaming cup of coffee or freshly brewed tea for a delightful morning treat that wakes up your senses.
  • Brunch Centerpiece Delight: Arrange these muffins on a beautiful serving platter surrounded by fresh berries and a light dusting of powdered sugar to create an Instagram-worthy brunch spread that impresses guests.
  • Afternoon Snack Perfection: Pack these muffins in a lunch box or enjoy them with an afternoon cup of hot chocolate, making a cozy midday break extra special and comforting.
  • Gifting Goodness: Wrap individual muffins in parchment paper with a ribbon, creating a homemade gift that shows love and care for friends, family, or neighbors who appreciate fresh-baked treats.

Keeping Cinnamon Sugar Swirl Muffins Fresh

  • Fridge Fresh Trick: Store these delightful muffins in an airtight container inside the refrigerator for up to 5 days, keeping them moist and delicious. Wrap each muffin individually in plastic wrap to maintain maximum freshness and prevent them from drying out.
  • Freezer Friendly Approach: Carefully place cooled muffins in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag, separating layers with parchment paper. Freeze for up to 3 months, allowing you to enjoy these treats whenever a craving strikes. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or warm gently in the microwave for a quick breakfast.
  • Room Temperature Magic: If planning to enjoy within 2 days, leave muffins on the kitchen counter in a sealed container. Keep away from direct sunlight and heat sources to maintain their soft texture and vibrant flavor profile.
  • Portion and Protect: Before storing, ensure muffins are completely cooled to prevent condensation, which can make them soggy. Use a clean, dry container with a tight-fitting lid to lock in freshness and prevent absorption of other food odors.
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Heavenly Cinnamon Sugar Swirl Muffins Recipe

Heavenly Cinnamon Sugar Swirl Muffins Recipe


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4.6 from 25 reviews

  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 11 1x

Description

Irresistible cinnamon sugar swirl muffins bring warmth to breakfast tables with their delightful spiral of sweet spice. Bakery-style treats promise comfort and joy in each tender, aromatic bite you’ll savor.


Ingredients

Scale
  • ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ¾ cups (220 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs
  • ¾ cup (180 milliliters or ml) buttermilk (or regular milk with 1 tsp vinegar)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ⅓ cup (67 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ tsps ground cinnamon
  • 2 tbsps (25 grams) granulated sugar
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 375F (190C), positioning rack in the center and preparing muffin tin with liners or light grease.
  2. Dry Ingredient Fusion: Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl, creating a uniform dry mixture that will provide structure to the muffins.
  3. Wet Ingredient Transformation: Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then incorporate eggs and vanilla, mixing until the batter becomes smooth and well-integrated.
  4. Batter Assembly: Gently combine dry and wet ingredients, alternating with buttermilk, stirring minimally to maintain a tender crumb and prevent overmixing.
  5. Cinnamon-Sugar Accent: Blend cinnamon and sugar in a separate bowl, creating a fragrant topping that will provide a delightful swirl and additional flavor complexity.
  6. Muffin Construction: Distribute half the batter into muffin cups, sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture, then cover with remaining batter until cups are three-quarters full. Dust the top with additional cinnamon-sugar blend for a decorative and flavorful finish.
  7. Baking and Finishing: Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and tops are golden brown, approximately 18-20 minutes. Rest muffins in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • Measure Precisely: Use exact measurements for flour, sugar, and leavening agents to ensure consistent texture and rise of muffins.
  • Avoid Overmixing: Gently fold ingredients until just combined; overmixing leads to tough, dense muffins with a rubbery consistency.
  • Temperature Matters: Use room temperature butter and eggs for smoother batter integration and more even baking results.
  • Swirl Technique: Create beautiful cinnamon swirls by using a toothpick or knife to gently marble the cinnamon-sugar mixture through the batter without fully blending.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 11
  • Calories: 200
  • Sugar: 18 g
  • Sodium: 180 mg
  • Fat: 9 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 29 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 50 mg
Liam O’Sullivan

Liam O’Sullivan

Founder & Culinary Content Creator

Expertise

Recipe Development​, Traditional Irish and European Cuisines, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education​

Education

Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) – School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology

  • Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and modern cooking techniques, kitchen management, and menu development.​

Ballymaloe Cookery School

  • Program: 12-Week Certificate Course
  • Focus: Intensive, hands-on experience emphasizing farm-to-table cooking and sustainable practices.​

Isabella brings a global spark to the Craft Meats table. Born in Florence and trained at the Apicius International School of Hospitality, she blends classic Italian flavor with modern writing that’s easy to follow and hard to forget. 

Her additional training at the Italian Chef Academy fueled her love for well-crafted dishes, especially ones that spotlight beautiful cuts of meat.

She’s a food writer with heart, and a deep love for storytelling through single recipes. Her goal? To help you cook with more confidence and a little more joy, no matter where you start.

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