Soft & Spiced Snickerdoodle Muffins

These Snickerdoodle Muffins are wonderfully soft, perfectly spiced little treats that taste just like your favorite cookie in muffin form. I think you will find them absolutely delightful. They are so easy to whip up and are perfect for a quick breakfast or a sweet afternoon pick-me-up.

A Little Baking Comfort

Sometimes, the world just feels a little heavy, doesn’t it. On days like that, I often turn to baking. There is something incredibly grounding about measuring ingredients, mixing batter, and watching something delicious come to life in the oven. It is my small way of creating a little bit of brightness, both for myself and for others.

snickerdoodle muffins displayed on a serving platter

Recently, I found myself wanting to share a little warmth with someone I care about who was going through a tough time. I wanted to make something comforting, something that would bring a guaranteed smile. These mini Snickerdoodle Muffins immediately came to mind. They are simple, classic, and universally loved. Baking these felt like sending a little hug in edible form.

These little muffins were a huge success. I shared them with friends and their families, and everyone from the littlest kids to the grandparents absolutely adored them. They are the kind of treat you cannot help but lick your fingers after enjoying.

Now, I have to be honest with you. The reason they are so incredibly delicious is not because they are a health food. Not at all. But I firmly believe we all need a truly decadent treat every now and then. And since they are mini muffins, well, that just means you can enjoy a couple more. Right.

While I would never claim these muffins are a magical cure-all for life’s troubles, they do have a wonderful way of bringing smiles. And sometimes, a smile is exactly what you need.

What Makes These Snickerdoodle Muffins Special

The magic of these muffins really lies in the snickerdoodle finish. You start with a tender, moist vanilla muffin base. The batter itself is straightforward, using common pantry staples you likely already have on hand. Think simple ingredients like melted butter, sugar, an egg, lots of lovely vanilla flavor, milk, flour, baking powder, and a touch of salt.

This simple base bakes up into perfectly fluffy mini muffins. But the real snickerdoodle transformation happens after they come out of the oven. Each warm muffin gets a dip in melted butter followed by a generous roll in a sweet cinnamon sugar coating. That butter bath helps the cinnamon sugar stick, creating that signature snickerdoodle texture and flavor on the outside.

vanilla muffin batter ready to be scooped

These mini muffins are perfect for sharing, easy to transport, and they bake up relatively quickly. They have all the comforting, spiced flavor you expect from a snickerdoodle cookie but in a soft, cakey muffin form.

Crafting These Cinnamon Snickerdoodle Muffins

Creating these cinnamon-spiced snickerdoodle muffins is a simple and rewarding process. The foundation is a very easy vanilla muffin batter. Within the batter you will find ingredients like melted butter, granulated sugar, one egg, a generous amount of vanilla extract for lots of flavor, whole milk, all-purpose flour, baking powder to help them rise beautifully, and fine salt to balance the sweetness.

You see, these are basic pantry staples that most of us keep on hand pretty much all the time.

muffin batter in a mixing bowl

Preparing the Batter

1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure you have a mini muffin pan ready. Lightly coat the pan cavities with cooking spray. Set this prepared pan aside for a moment.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine three tablespoons of the melted butter, one cup of the granulated sugar, all of the vanilla extract, and the large egg. Beat these ingredients together until the mixture looks creamy and all of the ingredients are well combined.
3. Pour the whole milk into the creamy mixture. Stir everything together thoroughly until completely incorporated.
4. Now, add the dry ingredients to the bowl. This includes the all-purpose flour, the baking powder, and the fine salt. Mix the batter gently until the dry ingredients are just combined with the wet ingredients. Be careful not to overmix the batter at this stage, as this can result in tough muffins. A few small lumps are perfectly fine.

Baking the Muffins

1. Using a spoon or a small scoop, carefully spoon the prepared batter into the cavities of your mini muffin pan. Fill each cup about two-thirds full. The batter is a bit thick, and the muffins will rise as they bake. Filling them about two-thirds full is just right to prevent them from overflowing.
2. Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 12 to 15 minutes. The baking time can vary slightly depending on your oven. You can tell they are ready when you insert a toothpick into the center of a muffin and it comes out clean. For my oven, 14 minutes is usually the perfect time.
3. Once baked, remove the muffins from the oven. Allow them to cool slightly in the pan for about 5 to 10 minutes before you attempt to handle them or remove them. This cooling time helps them set up properly and makes them easier to take out of the pan without breaking.

baked muffins, melted butter, and cinnamon sugar coating

Preparing the Cinnamon Sugar Coating

1. While the baked muffins are cooling in the pan, you can prepare the signature snickerdoodle coating. Melt the remaining unsalted butter in a small dish. Set this melted butter aside for dipping.
2. In a separate small bowl, stir together the remaining half cup of granulated sugar and the remaining one teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Mix them well until the cinnamon is evenly distributed throughout the sugar. This mixture will be the final coating for your muffins.

Coating the Muffins

1. Once the muffins have cooled enough so you can comfortably handle them, gently remove one muffin from the mini muffin pan. They should come out easily if the pan was well-greased.
2. Take the warm muffin and dip the top part into the small dish of melted butter. Make sure the top is completely coated with butter. Allow any excess butter to drip off briefly before moving to the next step.
3. Immediately after dipping in butter, roll the buttered top of the muffin in the cinnamon sugar mixture you prepared. Turn the muffin to ensure the top is evenly coated with the sweet and spiced sugar.
4. Place the coated muffin on a clean plate or a wire rack to continue cooling slightly.
5. Repeat this process with all the remaining muffins until each one has been dipped in butter and coated in cinnamon sugar.

Make sure to sneak a little taste and maybe even lick your fingers afterward. It is part of the fun and definitely encouraged.

Serving Your Snickerdoodle Muffins

These snickerdoodle muffins are truly wonderful when you enjoy them warm. The butter is still soft, and the cinnamon sugar has that perfect texture. They are also perfectly delicious once they have cooled completely.

Frequently Asked Questions

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