This easy recipe yields a dozen of the softest, fluffiest, most deliciously buttery blueberry muffins. Topped with a crunchy cinnamon brown sugar streusel, these rival any bakery muffin, but come together quickly in your own kitchen. They’re prepared with simple ingredients, so you can be biting into a fresh, warm blueberry muffin in under an hour.
I originally published this recipe in 2014 and have since added new photos and helpful success tips.
Muffins are a perennial favorite because they’re quick and easy to make and the flavors are endless (just like scones). Everyone appreciates a fresh batch of muffins and, best of all, muffins double as breakfast and snack. (Or in the case of double chocolate muffins… dessert!)
But when it comes to muffin varieties, blueberry muffins hold the crown. Nothing compares to the classic blueberry muffin, and today I’m showing you exactly how to prepare my very best version.
This is my family’s favorite blueberry muffins recipe, and going by the hundreds of 5-star reviews it’s received, it’s a family favorite for many other home bakers, too!
One reader, Jes, commented: “Best blueberry muffins I have ever had—no bakery or store or restaurant that I’ve ever visited has ever produced a blueberry muffin that could compare to this. ★★★★★“
Another reader, Sara, commented: “Best blueberry muffins I have ever had in my 80 years! ★★★★★”
And another reader, Kathy, commented: “This truly is my favorite blueberry muffin recipe. You just can’t go wrong with it. Everyone loves the streusel topping. ★★★★★“
Why Are These Our Favorite Blueberry Muffins?
They’re a texture lover’s dream with a buttery soft crumb, juicy blueberries, and a sweet crunch on top. They’re not as large and dense as my jumbo blueberry muffins and have a little more flavor from the brown sugar and butter.
These muffins stand out from the rest because they’re:
- Buttery and moist
- Soft and cakey, not dense
- Easy to prepare
- Made with EXTRA blueberries (and you can use fresh or frozen)
- Topped with an easy 3-ingredient sweet streusel
Since I first developed this blueberry muffin recipe, I’ve baked dozens of variations—swapping blueberries for apples, peaches, and other fruits. In fact, this blueberry muffin recipe quickly turned into my go-to base muffin recipe, a batter you can turn into infinite muffin flavors. I also have the recipe in my newest cookbook, Sally’s Baking 101.
How to Make the Best Blueberry Muffins
There are no secret ingredients or complicated steps in this blueberry muffin recipe. You only need a few bowls and a mixer… and a muffin pan, of course!
- Whisk the dry ingredients: Flour, leaveners, and salt.
- Mix the wet ingredients: Butter, sugars, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla.
- Combine wet & dry, then add milk: You can use any type of milk, dairy or nondairy, or even buttermilk (see Notes).
- Spoon into muffin pan: Fill those liners all the way to the top!
- Add streusel topping: Just brown sugar, cinnamon, and chopped walnuts. See below for suggested alternatives.
- Bake!
That’s it! The sour cream is the magical ingredient because it adds so much moisture and produces the softest blueberry muffins ever. If you don’t have sour cream, you can use yogurt like we do in lemon blueberry muffins. Or you can use buttermilk to replace both the milk and the sour cream.
How to Create the Perfect Tall Muffin Tops
For tall bakery-style domed muffin tops, there are 3 directions to follow closely:
- Make sure your muffin batter is THICK. (This one is!)
- Fill your muffin tins/liners all the way to the top.
- Bake the muffins for 5 minutes at a high temperature, and then lower the temperature while keeping the oven door closed. This initial high oven temperature quickly lifts up the muffin top. Once the temperature is reduced, the centers of the muffins bake. I recommend this in nearly all of my muffin recipes. (These crumb cake muffins are an exception to the rule!)
Have I mentioned what a treat these are with a swipe of homemade honey butter, too? Cinnamon butter is also an amazing pairing with these muffins!
It depends on the recipe. My team and I wouldn’t consider these healthy blueberry muffins because they’re made with butter, flour, and sugar. However, they’re homemade and you know exactly what’s in them, vs. something store-bought. If you are looking for a healthier alternative, you’ll appreciate these blueberry banana muffins, bran muffins, or applesauce muffins.
Absolutely. You can simply omit the nuts, or swap the streusel here for the crumb topping from this recipe for peach streusel muffins. Or skip the streusel topping entirely, and just top the muffins with some coarse sparkling sugar for a sweet crunch that’s also pretty!
Yes! If using frozen blueberries, do not thaw them before adding to the batter.
You can toss the blueberries with a Tablespoon of flour before you add them to the batter, but it’s not really necessary here because the muffin batter is so thick.
How to Freeze Blueberry Muffins
You can freeze the muffins for up to 3 months. Cool completely and then place the muffins in a freezer-friendly container or bag. When ready to eat, thaw in the refrigerator (overnight) or at room temperature on the counter. To warm up, microwave the thawed muffins for about 20 seconds or bake at 300°F (149°C) for 6–10 minutes.
Blueberry Muffin Variations
- Blueberry Muffin Cookies
- Blueberry Muffin Bread
- Lemon Blueberry Muffins
- Sparkling Jumbo Blueberry Muffins
- Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins
- Blueberry Almond Power Muffins
- Healthy Blueberry Banana Muffins
Favorite Breakfast Recipes
- Breakfast Casserole (so easy!)
- Homemade Bagels & Homemade English Muffins
- Perfect Homemade Quiche
- Cinnamon Rolls
- Scones Recipe
My Best Blueberry Muffins
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 muffins
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These blueberry muffins are buttery, soft, and moist. For that bakery-style goodness, add an easy cinnamon brown sugar topping. This thick muffin batter combined with my initial high oven temperature trick guarantees tall muffin tops. Prepared with basic ingredients and a couple mixing bowls, you’ll appreciate this easy breakfast recipe.
Ingredients
Topping
- 1/2 cup (100g) packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (67g) chopped walnuts (or pecans)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Muffins
- 1 and 3/4 cups (219g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup (50g) packed light or dark brown sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup (120g) sour cream or plain/vanilla yogurt, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup (60ml) milk, at room temperature
- 1 and 1/2 cups (210g) fresh or frozen blueberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (218°C). Spray a 12-count muffin pan with nonstick spray or use muffin liners. Set aside.
- For the topping: Mix all of the topping ingredients together. Set aside.
- For the muffins: Whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Set aside.
- Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together on high speed until smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes. (Here’s a helpful tutorial if you need guidance on how to cream butter and sugar.) On medium speed, add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the sour cream and vanilla extract on medium speed until combined. With the mixer running on low speed, add the dry ingredients and milk into the wet ingredients and beat until combined. Batter is thick and creamy. Fold in the blueberries.
- Spoon the batter into liners, filling them all the way to the top. Spoon brown sugar topping on each, gently pressing it down into the surface so it sticks. Bake for 5 minutes at 425 then, keeping the muffins in the oven, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (177°C). Bake for an additional 18–20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The total time these muffins take in the oven is about 23–25 minutes, give or take. Allow the muffins to cool for 5 minutes in the muffin pan, then transfer to a wire rack to continue cooling.
- Muffins stay fresh covered at room temperature for a few days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Notes
- Freezing Instructions: Freeze baked & cooled muffins for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature before enjoying.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): 12-count Muffin Pan | Muffin Liners | Glass Mixing Bowls | Whisk | Electric Mixer (Handheld or Stand) | Cooling Rack
- Sour Cream: Sour cream adds so much moisture. Plain yogurt is a great substitute—I recommend plain Greek yogurt, any fat content. Unsweetened applesauce or mashed banana may also be used.
- Milk: You can use any milk, dairy or nondairy. I recommend avoiding nonfat milk, however.
- Can I Use Buttermilk? Yes, you can use buttermilk in this recipe. Use it to replace BOTH the sour cream and milk. Use 3/4 cup (180ml).
- Blueberries: If using frozen blueberries, do not thaw.
- Can I Make the Streusel Without Nuts? Yes! You can simply omit the nuts, or swap the streusel here for the crumb topping from this recipe for peach streusel muffins. Or skip the streusel topping entirely, and just top the muffins with some coarse sparkling sugar for a sweet crunch that’s also pretty!
- Why the initial high oven temperature? As instructed, bake the muffins for 5 minutes at an initial high temperature, then lower it. This initial high oven temperature quickly lifts up and sets the tall muffin top. Once the temperature is lowered, the centers of the muffins bake. I do this in all my muffin recipes including zucchini muffins, lemon poppy seed muffins, and banana muffins, too.
- Jumbo & Mini Muffins: For a jumbo muffin pan: 425°F for 5 minutes, then reduce to 350°F for 22–25 minutes for a total of 27–30 minutes. Makes about 6. For mini muffins: 350°F (whole time) for 12–14 minutes. Makes about 36–40.
- Quick Bread: Here is my blueberry muffin bread, which is essentially the same recipe in a loaf pan.
- Why is everything at room temperature? All refrigerated ingredients should be at room temperature so the batter mixes together easily and evenly.
Reader Comments and Reviews
these muffins are so delicious ! thanks for sharing. I also wanted to comment that the people who said that they only got 12 muffins out of the recipe …that is the correct amount for this delicious recipe 🙂
Gosh, my husband absolutely loves these muffins. We live at 5000 ft and so I adjust the recipe as follows;
Add 2 T flour
Decrease baking soda to 1/2 tsp
Decrease baking powder to 1/2 tsp
Add 1 T sour cream
Follow Sally’s recipe and you’re good to go. I did use Sally’s Peach muffin streusel for topping, we like it better
Thank you so much, Sally! Glorious, tender, delicious!
We love this recipe! I betcha I made hundreds of these over this last cold Wisconsin winter. And he still wants more. I actually use both sour cream and buttermilk. Works for us! Oh, and thank you.
I always love all your recipes… but I have noticed that, specifically with muffins, I almost always only yield 11 muffins, and have to leave one empty. Is there something I’m doing wrong that could affect the yield? I do use extra big blueberries, does that affect the volume that much that I lose a whole muffin when filling them to the top?
Hi Johnny, exact yield can sometimes vary from baker to baker. The blueberries could be a contributing factor, as could your particular muffin pan. Thank you for making and trusting our recipes!
These muffins are fantastic!! I had people asking for the recipe immediately. I made a different streusel topping and added 1 tsp of lemon extract. 10/10!
Very good, don’t overfill because it will basically create a mountain
Incredibly moist and delicious. I added a tablespoon of grated lemon
zest to enhance the sweetness of the blueberries. This recipe is a keeper!
This is the one. Yum! It’s gonna be my go-to muffin base from here on out.
Delicious!! This is a keeper. Messed up and added sugars directly to dry ingredients instead of creaming with butter. Despite that, recipe worked and muffins were excellent.
Delicious! Have you ever tried to add vanilla protein powder to increase protein value?
Hi Coriann, we haven’t tested anything, but you’d likely want to start by removing some of the flour before adding in your powder.
I made these twice so far and my family is raving how delicious they are. I made one sub and used German butter. I have been using your recipes for years, thank you Sally!
I ordered the muffin pan linked but it is not a jumbo?
Hi Pat! This recipe is for regular sized muffins, not for jumbo muffins.
Does this batter work with other muffin types (carrot, chocochip, etc.?)
Hi MG! You can use other add-ins here, like chocolate chips. Carrot muffins usually are a little different – here’s our carrot cake loaf that can be baked as muffins.
Sally, I love your site and your recipes, and have followed you for years! I know that ads are a revenue generator and something we bakers just have to accept.
But the ads on your website have gotten so awful- multiple different videos playing, ads blocking the recipe text, videos making my browser crash, etc. This site is getting unusable, and it’s super depressing.
Hi Kristin, I’m really sorry about this. Your comment isn’t the first complaint in the past few weeks; there should absolutely not be that many ads on my recipe pages, especially ads blocking my content. And we always have a set maximum in place. It sounds like something isn’t working properly behind the scenes, and I’m alerting my ad team right away to investigate and fix it. I’m so sorry for the frustrating experience, and I truly appreciate you letting me know.
Forgot to mention, used buttermilk, made 6 XL monster muffins!! Nita
Magnificent muffins! A keeper recipe for sure! High domes, moist, thanks for great instructions, my best muffins yet! Will share my next batch 🙂
I just made these again today to take to a neighborhood event. I doubled the recipe. I used sour cream as that is what I had.
I used half blueberries and half diced strawberries. I also added white chocolate chips. I just topped with cinnamon. I didn’t want the extra sweetness and crunch of the original topping since I added the white chips.
I wanted them red, white, and blue for the 4th. They were so moist.
Absolutely fantastic blueberry muffins!
What adjustments could you do to make these banana muffins?
Hi Beth, here is our banana muffins recipe instead!
They certainly looked beautiful, but I found them a little dry. The taste was good though.
These are the best muffins I’ve ever had!
I’ve made 2 muffin recipes from this site, this will be my third and both have been AMAZING. I will only be using recipes from you guys FOREVER!! Thank you for making baking so easy ❤️
Thanks for trusting our muffin recipes, Alicia!! So glad you enjoy them.
This makes the best blueberry muffins I’ve ever had in my life. No exaggeration. Even without the topping, they come out crispy on top and amazingly fluffy, buttery, and juicy on the inside. Thank you!
Delicious muffins. I was concerned at first w/the extra thick batter, but everyone ate 2nds & 3rds. Thank you.
Absolutely delicious! I used fresh blueberries and added just a few frozen I needed to use up. I made these while on a work call and forgot the milk. Whoops! I can’t imagine they could have turned out any better. They were the perfect texture and as good or better than anything you buy in a bakery. Thanks, Sally!
BEST BLUEBERRY MUFFINS I have ever had, and I’ve had a few.
Thank you so much for all your recipes and tips. I made these for the first time and everyone at work absolutely loved them. Unfortunately I couldn’t taste because none were left haha. As they said – muffins were moist and fresh blueberris tasted like heavem
I was also very happy with the lovely dome of the muffins.
Thanks for your Blueberry Muffin recipe. 10 star. I should’ve remembered to toss the blueberries with flour because they sunk to the bottom. My husband had two. Lucie Smith
I made these muffins. They are delicious! Will definitely make them again. Taste better than bakery ones!
Filled to the top and it was a horrific, ugly mess! I went back a few times to reread to make sure I didn’t read the directions wrong. I baked at the higher temp for 5 minutes and dropped the temperature to 350.
Hi Debbie! Was your batter nice and thick? Did you make any changes to the recipe? We’re happy to help troubleshoot!
Incredible
This is my go to blueberry muffin recipe it never misses! Sometimes I like to replace the blueberries with raspberries and the zest of two lemons with a streusel topping and they are amazing!
10/10! This is the first time I’ve made muffins that look like proper muffins! I’ve made the recipe a few times now as my husband loves them for a quick breakfast. One time I used chocolate chips instead to test it out. Now I wonder if banana could be used??
Hi Meg, Adding banana is a great idea. We would leave out the yogurt and sub in the same amount of mashed bananas. Or you may love our quick and easy banana muffins!
Her banana muffun recipe is a fan favorite around here! Super quick and easy, delicious whether I use melter butter, coconut oil, or avocado oil, and my favorite way to use up a bunch of over ripe bananas!