Christmas Muffins
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.My light and fluffy Christmas muffins, dotted with mini chocolate chips and festive holiday sprinkles, are my favorite treat for Christmas morning! My kids love how moist and flavorful they are, and the best part is they’re ready in just 30 minutes, so I can make them quickly and still have plenty of time to enjoy with my family.
I created these Christmas muffins with my kids in mind. They inspired me to come up with a treat that’s fun, festive, and something we could all enjoy together. Watching their excitement when they see the colorful sprinkles and mini chocolate chips reminds me of the same joy I feel when I make my Santa pancakes for them, it’s those little moments that make the holidays so memorable.
I like to make these muffins the night before and set one out for Santa. They’re perfect to share with my family on Christmas morning, or I’ll make an extra batch to give to friends. Sometimes, I’ll serve them alongside other holiday favorites like my vegan Christmas pudding, it’s always a hit!
👩🏽🍳 Why I Love This Recipe
Every year, I make a big batch of these muffins, and it’s one of my favorite holiday traditions. I always set some aside for my family “my kids can’t get enough of them” and then I carefully wrap up the rest for my close friends. I love placing the muffins in a pretty box, adding a heartfelt greeting card, and sending them off. It’s such a simple way to spread a little holiday joy, and it always warms my heart.
What I love most about these muffins is how adaptable they are. One of my closest friends has kids who can’t eat gluten, so I started experimenting to make this recipe work for them too. I swapped the regular flour for a gluten-free blend, and the results were just as fluffy and delicious. Seeing her kids’ faces light up as they enjoyed the muffins made me so happy, it’s moments like those that remind me why I love baking 🙂
I made these Christmas muffins with just a few simple ingredients, yet they always turn out so impressive. They’re one of my favorite things to bake with my kids, it’s such a fun and simple activity we can do together, and they get so excited about adding the sprinkles and mini chocolate chips. For me, these muffins are more than just a recipe, they’re a way to create special moments and share something homemade with the people I care about during the holidays. I can’t wait for you to try them!
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🥘 Ingredients
I feel like I could make these Christmas muffins any time of the year since I usually have most of these ingredients in my pantry. Don’t you agree?
Whole Wheat Pastry Flour: If I don’t have whole wheat pastry flour, I just use all-purpose flour, and it works perfectly.
Sugar and Brown Sugar: I love the balance of sweetness from combining white and brown sugar. Light or dark brown sugar both work great.
Large Eggs: I always make sure to use room-temperature eggs for the best baking results.
Milk: I’ve used both low-fat milk and plant-based milk, and they both work beautifully in this recipe.
Mini Chocolate Chips: Dark chocolate chips are my favorite for a richer flavor and a little less sweetness.
Red and Green Sprinkles: These sprinkles give the muffins their festive holiday look! I like using sprinkles made with natural coloring for a more wholesome touch.
🍲 Substitutions
Sugar: If I want to skip refined sugar, I like using coconut sugar or muscovado sugar as substitutes.
Eggs: For an egg-free or vegan option, I use flax eggs, they work perfectly.
Chocolate: Sometimes I switch it up with milk chocolate, semi-sweet, or even white chocolate chips for a different flavor.
Sprinkles: I change the sprinkle colors to match the holiday, pastels for Easter or orange and brown for Thanksgiving are my favorites!
🔪 How To Make
This is my go-to muffin recipe with a festive Christmas twist! It’s quick, easy to make with simple ingredients, and always brings a touch of holiday cheer to my family.
Mix Dry Ingredients: I start by preheating the oven to 400 degrees and greasing a 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray or lining it with muffin cups. Then, I whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl and set it aside.
Combine Sugars: In a separate bowl, I beat together the sugar, brown sugar, and oil until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
Incorporate Eggs: I add the eggs one at a time, making sure to beat the mixture well after each addition.
Add Remaining Wet Ingredients: Next, I beat in the milk and vanilla until everything is well combined.
Combine Wet And Dry Ingredients: I gently add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until the batter is smooth and well combined.
Add Chocolate And Sprinkles: I fold in the mini chocolate chips and sprinkles, making sure they’re evenly distributed throughout the batter.
Fill Muffin Tin: I fill each muffin cup about 2/3 of the way full, then sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips and sprinkles on top for a festive touch.
Bake: I place the muffin pan in the preheated oven and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the tops are lightly golden brown.
Cool: I let the muffins cool in the pan until they’re safe to handle, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
I’m already gearing up to bake dozens of these Christmas muffins this year because my daughter’s best friend’s family placed a special order. It’s so sweet that they love them as much as we do, and I can’t wait to get started!
💭 Expert Tips
My #1 Secret Tip for making the best Christmas muffins is to mix the batter as little as possible. I always slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and gently fold them together until just combined. I learned that over-mixing can make muffins dense and tough, so now I take my time and keep it light, it’s the key to getting that fluffy, moist texture everyone loves!
Other Tips To Keep In Mind:
- Mix Separately: I always mix the wet and dry ingredients in separate bowls first. It makes combining everything easier and ensures the batter comes out just right.
- Create Uniform Muffins: I use a measuring cup or ice cream scoop to fill the muffin liners evenly. It’s the best way to get muffins that bake perfectly every time.
- Use Non-Stick Cooking Spray: Spraying the muffin liners with non-stick cooking spray is a must. It keeps the muffins from sticking and makes them so much easier to remove.
- Check the Temperature: I always make sure my oven is fully preheated before baking. It helps the muffins rise properly and bake evenly.
📖 Variations
My easy Christmas muffins are the perfect breakfast for Christmas morning just the way they are, but they’re also so fun to customize. Here are some of my favorite ideas to try:
Topping: I love spreading cream cheese frosting on top for a decadent treat, or adding a cinnamon crumble topping for a cozy touch.
Christmas Mini Muffins: I make these as mini muffins by using a mini muffin tin and baking for about half the time. They’re adorable and perfect for sharing at parties!
Cranberry Muffins: I swap the chocolate chips for dried or fresh cranberries when I want a tangy, fruity version.
Gingerbread Muffins: I add 1 teaspoon of ginger powder, 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg instead of chocolate chips to turn these into warm, spiced gingerbread muffins.
Candy Canes: Crushed candy canes folded into the batter or sprinkled on top make these muffins look and taste extra festive.
Surprise Center: For a fun twist, I fill the muffins with jelly, frosting, or peanut butter to create a sweet surprise in every bite.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
These muffins are so versatile that I find myself serving them in all kinds of ways. Here are some of my go-to options:
For Breakfast: I often pair these muffins with scrambled eggs or a hearty pumpkin spice oatmeal for a festive morning spread. Adding a colorful fruit salad on the side makes the whole meal feel extra special.
With Drinks: I’m a big fan of serving these muffins with a warm drink. They’re amazing with a mocha latte or a comforting cup of healthy hot chocolate.
Simple and Classic: If I’m in a rush, I’ll just enjoy a muffin with a tall glass of milk and a small dab of butter. They’re so moist and sweet on their own, but the butter makes them feel like an extra indulgence.
🧊 Storage Directions
Room Temperature: Once the muffins have completely cooled, I place them in an airtight container. I love using my cupcake holders for this, they keep the muffins protected and fresh. They’ll stay delicious at room temperature for 4-5 days.
Freezing: For longer storage, these muffins freeze beautifully! I let them cool completely, then wrap each one tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. After that, I place them in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag to prevent freezer burn. They’ll keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Refrigeration: If I need to keep the muffins a little longer, I refrigerate them. I wrap each muffin individually in plastic wrap or store them in a sealed container. They’ll last up to 7 days in the fridge.
❓Recipe FAQs
I like to add a tablespoon of flour at a time, mixing gently until the batter reaches the right consistency. Just be careful not to over-mix, as that can make the muffins dense.
Absolutely! I often bake them a day ahead and store them in an airtight container. They stay fresh and moist, making them perfect for busy holiday mornings.
I like to use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend instead of whole wheat pastry flour when I’m making gluten-free Christmas morning muffins.
I’ve found that this usually happens if the baking powder or soda is old, so check the expiration dates. Also, make sure the oven is fully preheated before baking. Starting with the right temperature is key!
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🎥 Watch How to Make It
Christmas Muffins
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
- 2 tbsp corn starch
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar unpacked
- ½ cup olive oil
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips plus more for topping
- ¼ cup red and white sprinkles plus more for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and grease a 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, beat together the sugar, brown sugar, and oil until smooth and well combined. Add the eggs one at a time, beating between each addition.
- Beat in the milk and vanilla.
- Add the dry ingredients and mix until smooth.
- Fold in the mini chocolate chips and sprinkles until well mixed.
- Fill each cup of the muffin pan 2/3 of the way full. Sprinkle additional chocolate chips and sprinkles on top of each muffin, if desired.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow to cool in the pan until safe to touch, then transfer the muffins to a wire cooling rack to cool completely before serving.
Notes
- Mix the batter as little as possible. I always slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and gently fold them together until just combined. I learned that over-mixing can make muffins dense and tough, so now I take my time and keep it light, it’s the key to getting that fluffy, moist texture everyone loves!
- I always mix the wet and dry ingredients in separate bowls first. It makes combining everything easier and ensures the batter comes out just right.
- I use a measuring cup or ice cream scoop to fill the muffin liners evenly. It’s the best way to get muffins that bake perfectly every time.
- Spraying the muffin liners with non-stick cooking spray is a must. It keeps the muffins from sticking and makes them so much easier to remove.
- I always make sure my oven is fully preheated before baking. It helps the muffins rise properly and bake evenly.
I would like to make these before Christmas. Those chocolate chips are calling me!
I’m just wondering, can I skip the corn starch? Or substitute something else?
Yay! So full disclosure – I haven’t tested this recipe with anything except corn starch, so I’m not sure how the muffins would turn out! That said, I do know that arrowroot flour, potato starch, tapioca flour, or even ground flaxseeds should all theoretically work as a replacement for corn starch! Hope that helps!
It’s been ages since I had chocolate chip muffins and these are giving me a serious cake of droolitis! I could so some serious damage to a batch of these!
Hehe yay! They are addicting that’s for sure! 🙂
I can’t wait to make this recipe! My family is going to love this! So excited to give it a try!
I know you all will love this recipe Beth! Keep me posted on how it turns out!
Oh my, these are fun! Making for Christmas morning.
Hooray! They will make your Christmas morning that much brighter! 🙂
These muffins look so pretty and scrumptious with the beautiful Christmas sprinkles! My little ones would devour these. YUM!
Yay!! I can’t wait for all of you to try these!
How festive! Those holiday sprinkles add such a fun touch. I love how easily the muffins come together too.
Thanks so much Tara! 🙂