Name: Morning Glory Muffins
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 cup packed brown sugar; 3 eggs, at room temperature; ½ cup vegetable oil; ¼ cup (½ of a stick) salted butter, melted; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 tablespoon baking powder; 2 ½ teaspoons baking soda; 2 ½ teaspoons cinnamon; ½ teaspoon salt; 2 cups peeled and grated carrots; 1 cup peeled and grated apple ((about 1 large)); ½ cup raisins; ½ cup chopped pecans (optional); Optional: coarse sugar for topping

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These easy Morning Glory Muffins are the perfect way to start your day! Loaded with carrots, raisins, apples, nuts and spices, they're full of healthy, flavorful ingredients that satisfy hungry kids and adults. Make them ahead for busy mornings or easy snacks -- they just get better as they sit!

Do you love muffins as much as we do? They are a staple in our kitchen because they freeze so well and are a great morning option (or afternoon snack) when I don't want to cook. A few seconds in the microwave and they're warm, fresh, moist and tender. Perfect for hungry little boys who need food fast!

Original Morning Glory Muffins

These particular muffins are near and dear to my heart, since they are modified from the original Morning Glory Muffins that I grew up enjoying each summer from my favorite farm stand and bakery on Martha's Vineyard, Morning Glory Farm. The Morning Glory Farm cookbook is one of my favorite cookbooks of all time, and it's one that I use over and over again. I've made batch after batch of these muffins over the years, and I've gradually tweaked the recipe to suit our preferences.

The original muffins were created in 1978 by chef Pam McKinstry for her restaurant on Nantucket. The recipe was first published in Gourmet Magazine in 1981, and in 1991 it was chosen as one of the magazine’s 25 favorite recipes from the past 50 years. With one bite, you'll soon discover why these muffins have exploded in popularity over the past 40 years. They're nutritious, satisfying, flavorful and easy!

Ingredients

This recipe is very close to the original Morning Glory Muffins, with the exception of pineapple and shredded coconut. I've left those ingredients out, but you can certainly toss them back in if you'd prefer (see my notes below).

Brown sugar
Eggs
Oil
Butter
Vanilla extract
All-purpose flour
Baking powder and baking soda
Cinnamon
Salt
Grated carrots
Grated apple
Raisins
Pecans

How to Make Morning Glory Muffins

Whisk together the wet ingredients.
Whisk together the dry ingredients.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and stir just until combined. Do not over-mix.
Fold in the carrots, apples, raisins and pecans.
Divide the batter evenly among 14 muffin cups. Sprinkle with coarse sugar, if desired.
Bake in a 400° F oven for 10 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350° F and continue baking for about 10 more minutes. The muffins are done when a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.

Serving Suggestions

Offer the muffins for a quick grab-and-go breakfast on busy mornings (just pull one from the freezer and reheat it in seconds); pile some in a basket as a part of a special brunch buffet; set out a few with a glass of milk for an afternoon snack; or even enjoy them as a side dish with dinner.

Morning Glory Muffins are delicious at room temperature, or even better when served warm. They’re best with a smear of soft butter, a dollop of jam or homemade honey butter, or even spread with almond butter or peanut butter. Don't forget a cup of coffee or a refreshing glass of orange juice!

Storage

These easy Morning Glory Muffins are a perfect make-ahead breakfast or snack because they just get better as they sit overnight and the flavors come together. The moisture from the carrots and apples keeps the muffins incredibly moist. Allow the muffins to cool completely, then store in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days, in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Thaw frozen muffins on the counter overnight or in the microwave for 20-30 seconds, just until warmed through.

Morning Glory Muffin Recipe Variations

Omit the pecans if you don't want nuts in your muffins. You can also swap out the pecans and use walnuts or almonds instead.
Replace 1 cup of the all-purpose flour with 1 cup of whole wheat flour for added wholegrains.
Add ½ cup sweetened shredded coconut to the muffin batter.
Add 1 (8-ounce) can of crushed pineapple to the muffin batter. Just make sure that you drain the pineapple really well, squeezing out most of the liquid, before stirring the pineapple into the muffins.
Include extra warm spices along with the cinnamon. For instance, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice would each be delicious.
I used golden raisins here, but you can substitute with regular raisins, dried currants or even sweetened dried cranberries.

Tips for the Best Morning Glory Muffins

The key to a perfect muffin is just barely mixing the ingredients. You want them to come together, but a few lumps are fine. This way they’ll stay moist and tender!
Fill the muffin cups to the top for big muffins with a higher rise.
Start the oven at 400° F to help the tops puff up and rise, then (without opening the oven) reduce the temperature to 350° F to give the muffins a chance to cook through without burning.
A sprinkling of coarse sugar on top is totally optional, but highly recommended (I love this brand). It gives the muffin tops a bakery-style, sparkly, crisp finish that truly sends these over the top!
To check if the muffins are done, insert a toothpick into the center and make sure that it comes out clean. Don’t cook them for too long, or they can dry out.

More Easy Muffin Recipes to Try

Front shot of the best morning glory muffins on a plate with orange juice in the background

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