Muffins are a classic breakfast and snack food that are beloved for their tender, cake-like texture. The key to getting that soft, moist muffin texture is finding the right add-ins and bake techniques to keep muffins from turning out dry and crumbly.
Use Liquid Ingredients for Moisture
One of the best things you can add to a packaged muffin mix to make the muffins moist is extra liquid ingredients. Liquids like milk, buttermilk, yogurt, and oil help hydrate the batter so muffins bake up moist and tender. Here are some tips for using liquid ingredients:
- Replace some or all of the water called for on the mix package with an equal amount of milk or buttermilk. The proteins and fat in dairy help retain moisture.
- Stir in a few tablespoons of plain yogurt along with the wet ingredients. Yogurt adds tanginess and moisture.
- Use melted butter or oil instead of vegetable oil. The moisture and extra fat helps keep muffins tender.
- Mix in a couple tablespoons of honey, molasses, maple syrup or fruit purees for extra moisture and flavor.
Use Egg Substitutes
Eggs provide moisture, structure and richness in baked goods. You can maximize the moistness by using extra eggs or egg substitutes in muffin batter:
- Add 1 extra large egg or 2-3 egg whites to the muffin batter.
- Replace the eggs with 1/4 cup blended silken tofu per egg.
- Use 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce per egg called for in the mix directions.
- Try using a commercial egg replacement powder substitute equal to the number eggs.
Include Fruits and Vegetables
Fresh, frozen or dried fruits add lots of extra moisture to muffins. Vegetables like carrots, zucchini and pumpkin also make muffins extra moist. Ways to add produce include:
- Fold 1/2 cup to 1 cup mashed banana, apple sauce or pumpkin puree into the batter.
- Stir in 1/2 to 1 cup chopped fresh fruits like berries, chopped apple or pineapple.
- Add 1/2 to 1 cup thawed frozen fruit like cranberries, blueberries or raspberries.
- Replace some of the oil or butter with an equal amount of unsweetened applesauce or pumpkin puree.
- Swap up to 1/2 cup of the flour for grated zucchini or carrots.
Increase Fat for Tenderness
Fat helps keep baked goods moist and tender. Try increasing the fat content of your basic muffin mix:
- Use melted butter instead of oil.
- Substitute plain Greek yogurt for some of the liquid.
- Stir in a couple tablespoons of heavy cream.
- Add a tablespoon of sour cream for tangy moisture.
- Mix in an extra egg yolk along with the wet ingredients.
Adjust Baking Time and Temperature
Overbaking is one of the main causes of dry, tough muffins. Adjusting the bake time and temperature can help keep muffins moist:
- Reduce oven temperature by 25°F to prevent overbaking.
- Check muffins a few minutes before the recommended bake time.
- Remove from oven when tops spring back slightly or a toothpick inserted has moist crumbs.
- Avoid overfilling muffin cups which can cause uneven baking.
Add Finishing Touches
Lastly, add a few final touches after baking to help muffins retain or add moisture:
- Brush warm muffin tops with melted butter or jam for extra moisture.
- Drizzle with a glaze or powdered sugar while still warm.
- Store completely cooled muffins in a sealed container to retain moisture.
- Microwave muffins for 10-15 seconds to refresh leftover muffins before serving.
Moist Muffin Mix Add-In Ideas
Here are some tasty mix-ins to consider stirring into your basic muffin batter:
| Add-In | Amount |
|---|---|
| Melted butter | Instead of oil |
| Milk | Replace all or half water |
| Buttermilk | Replace all or half water |
| Plain yogurt | 1/4 to 1/2 cup |
| Sour cream | 2-4 tablespoons |
| Heavy cream | 2-4 tablespoons |
| Greek yogurt | Replace some liquid |
| Applesauce | 1/4 to 1/2 cup |
| Fruit puree | 1/4 to 1/2 cup |
| Berries | 1/2 to 1 cup |
| Banana | 1/2 cup mashed |
| Diced apple | 1/2 to 1 cup |
| Crushed pineapple | 1/2 cup drained |
| Carrots | 1/2 cup grated |
| Zucchini | 1/2 cup grated |
| Pumpkin puree | 1/4 to 1/2 cup |
| Chopped nuts | 1/4 to 1/2 cup |
| Coconut flakes | 2-4 tablespoons |
| Chia seeds | 1-2 tablespoons |
| Ground flaxseed | 1-2 tablespoons |
Most Moist Muffin Recipes
Here are some deliciously moist muffin recipes to try using a basic muffin mix:
Double Berry Muffins
- 1 box blueberry muffin mix
- 1 cup fresh raspberries
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons honey
Prepare muffin mix according to package directions, stirring in raspberries, milk, yogurt, egg and honey along with wet ingredients. Bake as directed.
Carrot Apple Muffins
- 1 box carrot cake muffin mix
- 1 apple, peeled and grated
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
Make muffin mix according to directions, adding in grated apple, applesauce, brown sugar, cinnamon and walnuts with wet ingredients. Bake as directed.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
- 1 box spice cake muffin mix
- 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons honey
Prepare muffin mix as directed, stirring in pumpkin, milk, egg, chocolate chips and honey with the wet ingredients. Bake according to package directions.
Banana Nut Muffins
- 1 box banana muffin mix
- 1 ripe banana, mashed
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
Make muffin batter as directed, mixing in mashed banana, buttermilk, brown sugar and walnuts with the wet ingredients. Bake as package directs.
Oatmeal Raisin Muffins
- 1 box oatmeal muffin mix
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Prepare muffin mix according to directions, adding in milk, egg, yogurt, raisins and cinnamon with the wet ingredients. Bake as directed.
Tips for Adjusting Any Muffin Mix
You can use these tips to make any flavor muffin mix nice and moist:
- Use milk, buttermilk or yogurt instead of water
- Add an extra egg or egg substitute like applesauce
- Use melted butter instead of oil
- Stir in mashed fruit or fruit purees
- Mix in Greek yogurt or sour cream
- Fold in fresh or frozen fruits
- Swap some flour for grated carrot or zucchini
- Drizzle batter with honey for extra moisture
- Reduce oven temperature 25°F to prevent overbaking
Conclusion
With a few simple ingredient swaps and baking adjustments, you can easily make any muffin mix recipe turn out super moist and delicious. Additional egg, fruit, yogurt and liquid ingredients help add moisture, while extra fat and reduced baking times prevent overbaking. Spice up a basic mix with mix-ins like mashed bananas, fresh berries, pumpkin puree, grated apples or chocolate chips. Follow package baking directions, but remove muffins from the oven when tops are springy and a toothpick has moist crumbs. Let cool briefly before enjoying your tender, cake-like homemade muffins.