Vanilla Cinnamon Brown Sugar Muffins

Aug 20, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Muffins Origin: Madagascar Vanilla: Beans Easy

Vanilla Cinnamon Brown Sugar Muffins on a cooling rack

These muffins are tender and moist with rounded tops and a simple vanilla profile that works for breakfast or brunch. Brown sugar adds flavor and texture. Best with Madagascar vanilla (rich, creamy, classic); any pure vanilla works.

Prep 15 min

Cook 22 min

Cooling 5 min

Total 42 min

Yield 12 muffins

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

muffins

2.0 cups (240.0 g)all-purpose flour
10.0 tbsp (120.0 g)granulated sugar
½ cup (110.0 g)neutral vegetable oil
2.0 (100.0 g)large eggs
¾ cup (180.0 ml)whole milk
2.0 tsp (8.0 g)baking powder
½ tsp (3.0 g)fine sea salt
½ (2.0 g)VanillaGoods vanilla bean, split and scraped
1.0 tsp (2.6 g)ground cinnamon

Flavor Accent

2 ¼ tbsp (30.0 g)light brown sugar, packed

Make it at home

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Instructions

Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a standard 12-cup muffin pan.
Stir the light brown sugar into the granulated sugar until evenly blended with no clumps; use this mixture wherever the recipe calls for sugar.
Whisk the ground cinnamon, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Break up any clumps before you add the wet ingredients.
Whisk the oil, eggs, milk, and vanilla in a second bowl until fully blended.
Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and fold gently just until no dry flour remains. A few small lumps are fine; a perfectly smooth batter usually means it has been overmixed.
Divide the batter among the muffin cups, filling each about three-quarters full. Bake for 20 to 24 minutes. The tops should be rounded and lightly golden, and a tester should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then move the muffins to a rack.

Tips

Optional add-in: fold 95 g toasted almonds, pecans or pistachios (cooled and chopped) into the finished dough or batter just until evenly distributed.
Optional finish, cocoa dusting (1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder): sift the finishing cocoa through a fine sieve in a light, even cocoa dusting over the fully cooled muffins just before serving. The finish should stay on the surface without melting into the dessert.
Optional finish, cream cheese glaze (3 oz cream cheese, softened, ¾ cup confectioners' sugar, 1 tbsp whole milk): beat the softened cream cheese until smooth, then gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar and milk. Drizzle or spread over the fully cooled muffins.
Optional finish, honey glaze (¾ cup confectioners' sugar, 1½ tbsp honey, 1 tbsp whole milk): whisk the confectioners' sugar, honey, and milk until smooth and pourable. Drizzle over the fully cooled muffins.
Optional finish, maple glaze (¾ cup confectioners' sugar, 2 tbsp pure maple syrup): whisk the confectioners' sugar and maple syrup until smooth and pourable. Drizzle over the fully cooled muffins.
Optional finish, vanilla glaze (1 cup confectioners' sugar, 1½ tbsp whole milk, ½ tsp VanillaGoods vanilla extract): whisk the confectioners' sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Drizzle over the fully cooled muffins.
Add any glaze or dusting only after the muffins have cooled completely, about 30 minutes.
No vanilla bean? Use 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste or 1 teaspoon vanilla powder instead. Add it where the recipe adds the seeds; if the bean is steeped in hot milk or cream, stir the swap in after cooking, off the heat.
Best vanilla for this: Madagascar (rich, creamy, classic), or Mexican (spiced, warm, woodsy). Any pure vanilla works.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make vanilla cinnamon brown sugar muffins?

Plan on 15 minutes of prep and 22 minutes of cooking, plus 5 minutes to rest, chill, or cool. It makes 12 muffins.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

No vanilla bean? Use 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste or 1 teaspoon vanilla powder instead. Add it where the recipe adds the seeds; if the bean is steeped in hot milk or cream, stir the swap in after cooking, off the heat.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

224 Calories / serving

10.7g Fat

28.6g Carbs

3.6g Protein

13.3g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~2688 cal · 128g fat · 343g carbs · 43g protein · 160g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 224 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 42 min·2.5 mi·~4900 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 30 min·1.5 mi·~3000 steps
Moderate cycling 23 min·4.6 mi
Swimming laps 31 min
Jogging 22 min·1.8 mi·~3500 steps
Stair climbing 21 min·~1900 steps
Dancing 36 min
Bodyweight circuit training 23 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 52 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.