Basic Muffin Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar (you can adjust this based on your sweetness preference)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional, for flavor)
• 1/2 cup milk (or a non-dairy alternative)
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil or melted butter
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional Add-ins:

• 1 cup berries (blueberries, raspberries, etc.)
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, etc.)
• 1/4 cup dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, etc.)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a muffin tin with paper liners or grease the cups lightly.
2. Mix the dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon (if using).
3. Mix the wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, oil (or butter), egg, and vanilla extract until smooth.
4. Combine wet and dry: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix — a few lumps are okay. Overmixing can result in dense muffins.
5. Add-ins: Gently fold in any add-ins (like berries, chocolate chips, or nuts) using a spatula. If you’re using frozen berries, don’t thaw them before adding to the batter.
6. Fill the muffin tin: Spoon the batter into the muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full.
7. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean or with just a few crumbs.
8. Cool: Let the muffins cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.