Bake It Better: Muffins & Quickbreads

Quick breads and muffins are crowd-pleasing favorites for the fall and winter months, when we love opening our homes and kitchens to guests. Plus, they make fast and easy breakfasts paired with a cup of coffee.

 

Novice bakers, take note: These are some of the simplest, most foolproof baked goods to assemble, requiring little more than stirring together a handful of everyday ingredients. Here’s how to get the best results every time.

Tips

Prep work: Before making the batter, prepare your pan according to the recipe instructions.

 

Don’t overmix: Overmixing can result in dense muffins or quickbreads with tough crumbs. Be sure to use a light hand when mixing and mix until the ingredients are just incorporated.

 

Doneness test: To check for doneness, insert a clean toothpick or skewer in the center of a muffin. If it comes out clean, they’re ready! If not, pop them back in the oven for a few more minutes and check again.

 

Dealing with stubborn muffins: Paper liners help muffins slide out with ease. But if some batter spills over the sides and your muffins are stuck int eh pan, slide a butter knife around the perimeter between the paper and  the muffin cup to slide them free.

 

Pan size matters: To ensure even baking, it’s important to use the right pan size called for in recipes: A too-small pan will cause overflow and dripping and a too-large pan will result in unsightly, flat-topped muffins and breads.

Process

Prepare the pan For muffins, use paper liners. For loaf pans, spray with cooking spray, spread with butter, or line with parchment.

Create batter elements Mix wet ingredients and dry ingredients separately, sifting the dry ingredients through a fine-mesh sieve if necessary.

Finish the batter Combine the batter elements, alternating with the liquid element or egg mixture. Take care not to overmix.

Fill & bake Fill the pan with the batter. An ice cream scoop fills muffin cups mess-free.

Test for doneness Insert a skewer or toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean, the baked good is done. If it comes out wet, bake for a few more minutes and check again.

Unmold & cool Let cool in the pan for a few minutes, then unmold onto a wire rack to cool the rest of the way.

 

Try our curated collection of recipes for autumn muffins and quick breads here.