Wholesome Cinnamon Breakfast Muffins 🧁

These muffins are designed to be a balanced start to your day. By using whole grains, Greek yogurt for protein, and warming spices, they provide lasting energy compared to traditional sugary bakery muffins.

📋 Ingredients

The Dry Mix

• Whole Wheat Flour: 1 ½ cups (adds fiber and a nutty depth)

• Rolled Oats: ½ cup (plus a little extra for topping)

• Baking Powder: 1 ½ tsp

• Baking Soda: ½ tsp

• Fine Sea Salt: ¼ tsp

• Ground Cinnamon: 2 tsp (the star of the show!)

The Wet Mix

• Greek Yogurt (Plain): 1 cup (adds moisture and protein)

• Maple Syrup or Honey: ½ cup

• Egg: 1 large, room temperature

• Coconut Oil or Melted Butter: ⅓ cup

• Vanilla Extract: 1 tsp

The "Cinnamon Glow" Topping

• Coconut Sugar: 1 tbsp

• Cinnamon: ½ tsp

• Rolled Oats: 1 tbsp

🥣 Instructions

1. Prep: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 12-cup muffin tin or line with paper liners.

2. Whisk Dry: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

3. Mix Wet: In a separate medium bowl, beat the egg, then stir in the maple syrup, yogurt, melted oil, and vanilla until smooth.

4. Combine: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry. Use a spatula to fold them together gently. Stop as soon as the flour streaks disappear—overmixing makes muffins tough!

5. Assemble: Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups. Sprinkle the "Cinnamon Glow" topping over each one.

6. Bake: Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

7. Cool: Let them rest in the tin for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack.

💡 Baking Tips for Success

• The Yogurt Trick: If your batter feels too thick, don't worry! Greek yogurt creates a thicker batter than milk, which actually helps the muffins rise higher (the "domed" look).

• Make it Vegan: Swap the egg for a "flax egg" (1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water) and use a dairy-free yogurt.

• Add-ins: These pair beautifully with ½ cup of chopped walnuts or raisins if you want extra texture.

🥛 Serving Suggestion

Enjoy warm with a smear of almond butter or a side of fresh berries!

Making wholesome cinnamon muffins is a great way to explore the science of baking! 🧁 Since we are aiming for "wholesome," we can look at how different ingredients—like whole grains or natural sweeteners—affect the texture and rise of the muffin.

I'll guide you through the process with some questions along the way. To get started, let’s look at the basic "anatomy" of a muffin recipe:

Category,Ingredients 🥣,Purpose 💡

Dry Ingredients,"Flour, Leavening (Baking powder/sodium bicarbonate), Spices",Provides structure and lift.

Wet Ingredients,"Milk, Eggs, Oil/Butter, Sweetener","Provides moisture, richness, and flavor."

"The ""Wholesome"" Swap","Oats, Whole wheat, Applesauce, Honey",Adds fiber and nutrients.

To tailor this to your kitchen, do you have a specific goal for making these "wholesome"? For example, are you looking to:

Boost Fiber: Use whole wheat flour or oats? 🌾

Reduce Refined Sugar: Use maple syrup, honey, or fruit purées? 🍯

Go Plant-Based: Use flax eggs or non-dairy milk? 🌱

Let me know which direction you'd like to take!