Easy Spiced Gingerbread Muffins (So Soft and Moist!)

These soft, tender gingerbread muffins are packed with warm, comforting spices and rich molasses flavor, making them truly irresistible. I absolutely adore baking these whenever I crave that classic gingerbread taste in a comforting muffin form. They are simple to prepare, perfect for a festive occasion or just a cozy morning treat.

Notes on Ingredients and Simple Swaps

When you are baking, using the right ingredients is helpful, but sometimes you need to make a quick change. Here are a few points on the ingredients for these muffins and some easy substitutions you can use.

• Flour Tips: Getting the right amount of flour is important for the best texture. You can measure your flour by weighing it on a kitchen scale. If you do not have a scale, gently spoon the flour into your measuring cup and then level off the top with a straight edge.
• Choosing Your Oil: I have made these muffins using a few different kinds of neutral oil. Melted coconut oil works well, as does a mild olive oil or standard vegetable oil. Use what you have on hand.
• Brown Sugar Options: This recipe calls for dark brown sugar because it adds a deeper molasses note. However, if you only have light brown sugar in your pantry, you can certainly use that instead.
• Selecting Molasses: Both mild molasses and robust molasses will work beautifully in this recipe and give you that signature gingerbread taste. I recommend staying away from blackstrap molasses though; it has a very strong, sometimes bitter, flavor that can be overwhelming here.
• Buttermilk Alternatives: Buttermilk helps make these muffins incredibly tender. You can use regular buttermilk or a low-fat version. If you find yourself without buttermilk, you can easily make a substitute. Just measure 1 and 1/3 cups of regular milk and stir in 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until it looks slightly curdled. That is your quick buttermilk substitute ready to go.

The Easy Way to Make Gingerbread Muffins

Here I will walk you through the steps to create these delicious muffins. Below this guide, you will find the full list of ingredients and recipe details.

• Combine Wet Ingredients: Get a large mixing bowl. Add the neutral oil and the dark brown sugar to the bowl. Use a whisk to mix these together until they are well combined.
• Mix in Molasses: Now, pour the molasses into the oil and sugar mixture. Whisk everything again until the molasses is fully incorporated and the mixture is smooth.
• Add the Egg: Crack the large egg into the bowl with the molasses mixture. Whisk everything together thoroughly until the egg is completely mixed in.
• Stir in Buttermilk: Measure out the buttermilk and pour it into the bowl. Continue whisking just until the buttermilk is fully combined with the other wet ingredients.
• Incorporate Dry Ingredients: In a separate, medium bowl, you should have already measured and mixed your dry ingredients flour, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add this dry ingredient mixture to the bowl with the wet ingredients. Use a whisk or a spatula to stir everything together. Mix just until the dry ingredients are incorporated and there are no dry streaks of flour left. Be careful not to overmix the batter; overmixing can result in tough muffins.
• Fill Muffin Cups: Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease it well with nonstick spray. Spoon the batter evenly into the prepared muffin cups. Fill each cup almost completely to the top for nice, full muffins.
• Add Sparkling Sugar: If you are using sparkling sugar or coarse sugar, sprinkle a generous amount over the top of the batter in each muffin cup. This adds a lovely sparkle and a slight crunch to the finished muffins.
• Time to Bake: Place the muffin tin in your preheated oven. Bake the muffins for about 20 to 25 minutes. You can tell they are done when a toothpick inserted into the center of one of the muffins comes out clean without any wet batter attached.

Simple Recipe Tips

Here are a couple of extra tips to help you get the best results with your gingerbread muffins.

• Boosting the Spice: If you are someone who absolutely loves a strong spice flavor in your gingerbread, you can easily double the amounts of ground ginger and ground cinnamon called for in the ingredient list. This will give you a more intense, fiery kick.
• Freezing Muffins: These muffins freeze really well, which is great for having a quick treat ready anytime. Let the baked muffins cool completely to room temperature first. Wrap each individual muffin snugly in plastic wrap. Then, place the wrapped muffins into a freezer-safe bag or container. You can freeze them for up to one month. Just thaw them at room temperature when you are ready to enjoy one.

How to Store Your Muffins

To keep your gingerbread muffins fresh and moist, store them in an airtight container. They will stay delicious at room temperature for about 3 to 4 days when stored properly.

Questions People Often Ask

Here are some common questions about making gingerbread muffins.

Print