This beloved recipe was originally published in November 2020 and has since undergone a comprehensive update, featuring an improved recipe and stunning new images to inspire your baking.

Growing up, some of my fondest holiday memories involve my mom baking her small, warm cinnamon buttermilk muffins around Christmastime. These giant cinnamon swirl muffins are a grander, bakery-inspired rendition of those cherished childhood treats. I poured countless hours into perfecting the base of these muffins, determined to create a recipe that requires absolutely no mixer and consistently yields those coveted, sky-high muffin tops – because, let’s be honest, the muffin top is truly the best part!

Each muffin features a luscious, sweet cinnamon sugar swirl that threads through the fluffy batter, creating pockets of warm spice in every bite. They are then generously crowned with a buttery brown sugar cinnamon streusel, followed by an additional sprinkle of cinnamon sugar for extra flavor and texture. To truly elevate these muffins to a “cinnamon roll in a muffin” experience, a delicate cream cheese glaze is drizzled over the top, adding a tangy sweetness that perfectly complements the rich cinnamon notes. It’s truly like enjoying the best of a coffee cake muffin and a classic cinnamon roll, all in one delightful package!

If you’re in the mood for simpler, yet equally delicious, classic muffin options, be sure to explore my fluffy vanilla muffins or these irresistible bakery-style chocolate chip muffins. For those who love the banana and coffee cake combination, my banana coffee cake muffins offer a fantastic twist on this recipe.

Why You’ll Fall in Love with These Cinnamon Swirl Muffins!

These cinnamon swirl muffins aren’t just delicious; they’re designed for baking success and maximum enjoyment. Here are several reasons why this recipe will become a new favorite:

• Effortless, No-Mixer Preparation: Say goodbye to dragging out your heavy stand mixer or even a handheld one! This recipe is incredibly simple, requiring just a large bowl, a whisk, and a rubber spatula. It’s perfect for beginner bakers or anyone looking for a quick and easy baking project without the extra clean-up. The simple mixing technique ensures a tender crumb, allowing you to whip up a batch with minimal fuss.
• Common Pantry Staples: You won’t need to hunt for obscure ingredients. This recipe calls for basic, everyday pantry items that you likely already have on hand. From all-purpose flour and sugar to buttermilk and eggs, the simplicity of the ingredient list makes these muffins accessible for impromptu baking sessions.
• Explosion of Cinnamon Flavor: If you adore cinnamon, these muffins are your dream come true! Cinnamon is incorporated into every layer – from the sweet swirl embedded within the muffin, to the rich brown sugar streusel topping, and even an extra sprinkle of cinnamon sugar. Each bite delivers a delightful burst of warm, aromatic spice that is both comforting and invigorating.
• Unbelievably Soft and Fluffy Texture: Through extensive testing, I discovered that using all oil (instead of butter or a butter-oil blend) yields muffins that are exceptionally soft, moist, and wonderfully fluffy. Oil contributes to a more tender texture and keeps the muffins moist for longer. Plus, it eliminates the need for creaming butter and sugar, simplifying the process even further.
• Achieve Impressive Bakery-Style Muffins: Ever wonder how bakeries get those beautifully tall, domed muffin tops? This recipe includes expert tips and tricks to help you replicate that professional bakery look and feel right in your own kitchen. You’ll be proud to serve these impressive muffins that look as good as they taste!

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Cinnamon Swirl Muffins

Crafting these delectable muffins requires a careful selection of ingredients, each playing a vital role in achieving their signature taste and texture. Below is a detailed look at the key components:

• Buttermilk: This acidic dairy product is a superstar in muffins! It reacts with the baking soda, creating a powerful lift and an incredibly moist, tender crumb. Ensure it’s at room temperature for optimal mixing.
• Neutral Oil: For the softest, fluffiest muffins, a neutral-flavored oil like sunflower oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil is essential. Unlike butter, oil remains liquid at room temperature, contributing to a consistently moist texture that stays fresh longer.
• All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of our muffins. I’ve only tested this recipe with all-purpose flour, and it provides the perfect structure and tenderness. Remember the golden rule: avoid overmixing to prevent tough muffins!
• Baking Powder & Baking Soda: We utilize both leavening agents in this recipe to achieve maximum rise and a light, airy texture. Baking soda reacts with the buttermilk, while baking powder provides additional lift, especially during the initial high heat bake. Always check their expiry dates to ensure they are fresh and active.
• Granulated Sugar & Light Brown Sugar: Granulated sugar provides sweetness and helps with browning in the muffin batter. Light brown sugar, with its molasses content, adds moisture and a rich, caramel-like depth to both the cinnamon sugar filling and the streusel topping, enhancing the overall flavor profile.
• Eggs: Large eggs, preferably at room temperature, act as a binder, adding richness, moisture, and structure to the muffin batter, contributing to a cohesive and tender crumb.
• Vanilla Extract: A touch of good quality vanilla extract enhances all the other flavors, adding a warm, aromatic note that complements the cinnamon beautifully.
• Spices (Cinnamon and Cardamom): Ground cinnamon is the star, bringing warmth and classic flavor to every component. Cardamom adds a subtle, intriguing floral and citrusy note that elevates the spice profile. If cardamom isn’t your preference or is unavailable, you can substitute it with an equal amount of ground ginger or nutmeg for a different, yet equally delicious, twist.
• Unsalted Butter: A small amount of unsalted butter is crucial for creating that irresistible crumbly texture in our streusel topping. Ensure it’s melted for easy incorporation with the dry ingredients.
• Kosher Salt: Salt balances the sweetness and enhances all the flavors in the muffins, streusel, and glaze. Refer to the notes section for guidance on substituting with fine salt.
• Cream Cheese & Confectioners’ Sugar: These are the essential components for our tangy, sweet cream cheese glaze, reminiscent of a true cinnamon roll. Ensure the cream cheese is at room temperature for a smooth, lump-free glaze.
• Heavy Cream (or Milk): Used to achieve the perfect drizzly consistency for the cream cheese glaze, adding richness and smoothness.

Easy Step-by-Step Guide to Baking Your Muffins

Follow these detailed steps to create perfectly soft, swirled, and streusel-topped cinnamon muffins that taste like they came straight from a professional bakery. Remember to read through all instructions before you begin!

Step 1: Prepare Your Dry Ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk these dry ingredients thoroughly to ensure they are well combined and evenly distributed. This step is crucial for consistent leavening throughout your muffins. Set this bowl aside.

Step 2: Whisk the Wet Ingredients. In a separate bowl, crack your eggs and add the buttermilk (ensure both are at room temperature for best results), granulated sugar, neutral oil, and vanilla extract. Whisk this mixture vigorously for about one minute until all ingredients are fully incorporated and slightly frothy. This helps dissolve the sugar and introduces air for a lighter muffin.

Step 3: Combine and Rest the Batter. Pour the wet ingredients mixture directly into the bowl with your dry ingredients. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the mixture until just combined. It’s perfectly normal if a few streaks of flour remain – overmixing can lead to tough muffins. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and allow the batter to rest at room temperature for at least an hour. This resting period is a secret to bakery-style muffins, allowing the flour to fully hydrate and the leavening agents to begin working, contributing to those desirable tall tops.

Step 4: Prepare the Cinnamon Sugar Filling. While the muffin batter rests, prepare your delicious cinnamon sugar swirl. In a small bowl, whisk together the light brown sugar and ground cinnamon until fully blended. This mixture will be layered into the muffins to create that signature swirl.

Step 5: Prepare the Streusel and Oven. In a jug or a medium bowl, combine the melted unsalted butter with the streusel ingredients (flour, light brown sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, and salt). Mix until large, clumpy crumbles form. Place this streusel mixture in the fridge to chill while your muffin batter finishes its rest; this helps the streusel maintain its texture during baking. Preheat your oven to 425ºFahrenheit (220°C) using the convection setting (not fan-forced, if applicable). Line a standard muffin pan with six paper liners, or thoroughly grease six muffin cavities with baking spray. For taller muffins, you’ll only fill every other muffin cavity, leaving empty spaces between them to promote better airflow and heat circulation.

Step 6: Layer the First Half of Batter and Filling. Gently remove the plastic wrap from your rested muffin batter. Using a medium cookie scoop or a tablespoon, carefully scoop out approximately 1.5 tablespoons of muffin batter and place it into each of the prepared muffin liners or greased cavities. Be gentle to avoid deflating the batter. Sprinkle about ½ teaspoon of your prepared cinnamon sugar filling evenly over each dollop of batter.

Step 7: Add More Batter and Toppings. Scoop out another 1.5 tablespoons of muffin batter and carefully place it on top of the cinnamon sugar layer in each muffin cavity. At this stage, your muffin cavities should be filled right up to the top – this is key for achieving those impressive bakery-style muffin tops! Retrieve your chilled streusel from the fridge and, using a fork or your fingers, break it apart if needed, then generously sprinkle it over the top of each muffin. Finish with another light sprinkle of the cinnamon sugar filling for extra flavor and visual appeal.

Step 8: Bake to Perfection. Place the muffin pan into your preheated oven. Bake at 425ºFahrenheit (220°C) for an initial 5 minutes. This high heat surge helps the muffins rise rapidly, creating that signature domed top. Without opening the oven door, immediately lower the temperature to 350ºFahrenheit (175°C) and continue baking for another 18-20 minutes, or until the muffins are golden brown and a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove the pan from the oven and let the muffins cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Remember, you’ll need to bake these in batches as we’re only baking 6 at a time to ensure optimal rise and even baking.

Expert Tips & Tricks for Flawless Muffins

Achieving truly magnificent bakery-style cinnamon swirl muffins is easier than you think with these expert tips and tricks:

• Embrace a Kitchen Scale: For consistent, perfect results every single time, I cannot recommend using a kitchen scale enough, especially for flour. It’s incredibly easy to accidentally add too much flour when measuring by volume (cups), which can result in dense, dry, and crumbly muffins. Weighing your ingredients ensures precision and guarantees the ideal moisture and texture.
• The Magic of Resting Muffin Batter: This seemingly simple step is a game-changer! Allowing your muffin batter to rest at room temperature for an hour (or even overnight in the fridge) gives the flour ample time to fully hydrate. This also allows the baking soda and baking powder to “wake up” and begin their work, leading to a much better rise and those wonderfully tall, domed muffin tops. It results in a more tender and flavorful muffin.
• The Golden Rule: Do Not Overmix the Muffin Batter: Once you’ve combined your wet and dry ingredients, mix just until no dry streaks of flour remain. Stop immediately. Overmixing develops the gluten proteins in the flour excessively, leading to tough, chewy, and dense muffins rather than the desired light and tender texture. Lumps are perfectly fine!
• Scoop with Care and Gentleness: After the batter has rested, it will be soft and airy. When scooping the batter into the muffin liners, do so very gently. Avoid stirring or pressing down on the batter, as this can deflate the precious air bubbles that contribute to the muffins’ light and fluffy texture.
• Bake in Batches for Superior Rise: To achieve those impressive, high-domed muffin tops, bake only six muffins at a time. By filling every other muffin cavity, you allow for better air circulation and more even heat distribution around each muffin. This extra space gives the muffin tops the freedom to expand and grow tall without being crowded, resulting in a more uniform and majestic appearance.
• Streusel Customization: While the cinnamon streusel is a fantastic addition, it’s completely optional! If you prefer a simpler muffin, feel free to omit the streusel. These muffins are also delicious with just a sprinkle of sparkling sugar on top before baking for an elegant, crunchy finish, or a simple dusting of powdered sugar after baking.
• Fill Those Liners to the Very Top: Contrary to many muffin recipes that suggest filling liners only three-quarters full, if your goal is truly tall, bakery-style muffin tops, you absolutely must fill each prepared muffin liner all the way to the brim. This generous filling, combined with the high initial baking temperature and resting period, creates the perfect conditions for those enviable domes.
• Room Temperature Ingredients: For optimal emulsification and a smooth batter, ensure your cold ingredients like buttermilk and eggs are brought to room temperature before mixing. This helps them combine more easily and creates a more uniform batter consistency.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cinnamon Swirl Muffins

Storage & Freezing Instructions

To keep your delicious cinnamon swirl muffins fresh and flavorful, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They will maintain their best quality for up to 3 days. For longer enjoyment, consider freezing them!

To freeze, ensure the muffins are completely cooled. Place them in a single layer in a freezer-safe ziploc bag or an airtight freezer container. They can be frozen for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, simply let them thaw at room temperature for a few hours, or gently warm them in the microwave or a low oven for a fresh-baked taste. The cream cheese glaze can be added after thawing if desired, or you can freeze them with the glaze already on, though the glaze texture might change slightly.

Expand Your Breakfast Repertoire with These Recipes!

If you loved these cinnamon swirl muffins, you’ll surely enjoy these other fantastic breakfast and dessert recipes:

Cinnamon Swirl Muffins

Ella Gilbert

Nutrition