Muffins: The Most Acceptable Way To Eat Cake For Breakfast

I mean, think about it. It’s so true: muffins — no matter how healthy you make them — are a very cake-like food. Basically a cupcake without frosting. And that means when you have a muffin for breakfast you’re essentially having a dessert item. Yes. Yes, please.

Plus, this time of year, I find muffins especially comforting. They just hit the spot on a chilly fall morning, paired with a steaming cup of coffee or tea and maybe some scrambled eggs. Pure deliciousness.

And so, lovely readers, I thought I’d share a handful of tasty muffin recipes with y’all, in the event you want to partake in some cake-for-breakfast action in the near future. You won’t be disappointed with any of these choices:

Mini Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins. While I get a little overwhelmed with the “pumkin-ify everything!” trend that sets in this time of year, I can certainly get behind a few pumpkin recipes. I made these muffins for the first time this past weekend, and they certainly will be staying on my roster. (There’s something about mini muffins that’s especially fun, too. You don’t have to fully commit to a muffin with one of these little guys, or you can have, like, four, and call it a single muffin. Sign me up!)

Whole Wheat Apple Muffins. I have yet to find a Smitten Kitchen recipe that steers me in the wrong direction. These muffins are delightfully hearty, and their brown sugar topping makes all the difference. Get ready for apples, cinnamon, brown sugar — basically autumn if the season were a muffin.

Applesauce Muffins. These muffins are so very nostalgic for me. My mom made them regularly while I was growing up (sometimes in a bear-shaped muffin tin, even), and every time I make them I’m reminded of happy childhood mornings. The best thing about this batter, too, is you can keep it in the fridge for a couple of weeks, so you don’t have to commit to a full batch of baked muffins at once. Instead, you can just make one or two as you need them, guaranteeing hot, fresh muffins every time. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Glazed Gingerbread Muffins. With hints of ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg — along with citrus zest — these muffins will make your house smell delightfully autumnal while they’re baking. And that glaze? Don’t miss that step.