Small Batch Cheddar Muffins #MuffinMonday

Perfect with soup or for a snack, these small batch cheddar muffins are tender and cheesy. The recipe makes only six but is easily doubled if you need 12. 

I’ve been baking mostly small batch muffins because it’s just me and my husband at home. We do have sweet neighbors we can share with but 12 muffins are still a lot. In the case of these muffins, however, I sorely miscalculated since I was planning to bring them to share with my mother, my sister and her twins. 

I really should have made 12! Six disappeared in no time and one of my dear nieces even said that she would love the recipe. So, Brontë, here it is! Muffins are the easiest bake ever and you can even bake these in the Ninja on the bake setting. Any questions, just let me know. (The rest of you can leave a comment if you have a question! Happy to help.)

Small Batch Cheddar Muffins

I’ve called these cheddar muffins because that is the cheese I had on hand but, really, any cheese of a similar texture would work beautifully in this recipe. 

Ingredients

1 cup or 125g all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

3 1/2 oz or 100g grated extra sharp cheddar cheese

1 large egg

1/2 cup or 120ml milk

3 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled, plus extra for the muffin pan

Method

Preheat your oven to 350°F or 180°C and prepare a 6-cup muffin pan by brushing it inside with melted butter. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. 

Add the grated cheddar and gently toss with the flour mixture to coat the cheese.

In another mixing bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, and melted butter. 

Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture and fold until just combined.

Divide the batter into the cups of the buttered muffin pan. 

Bake in your preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes. 

Ideally, serve warm but these are also good at room temperature. 

Enjoy! 

It’s the last Monday of the month so that means it’s time for Muffin Monday! Check out the recipes my fellow bloggers are sharing below: 

• Buttermilk Crumb Muffins from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Magdalenas from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Small Batch Cheddar Muffins from Food Lust People Love
• Zucchini Oat Muffins from Passion Kneaded

#MuffinMonday is a group of muffin loving bakers who get together once a month to bake muffins. You can see all of our lovely muffins by following our Pinterest board. Updated links for all of our past events and more information about Muffin Monday can be found on our home page.

Pin these Small Batch Cheddar Muffins! 

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Buttermilk Sourdough Cornbread Muffins #MuffinMonday

These buttermilk sourdough cornbread muffins are fluffy and buttery with a hint of coconut flavor from two tablespoons of coconut oil. They make a great breakfast or snack but go equally well served with chili or stew. 

I have coconut oil in the pantry because our younger daughter uses it for the great granola that she makes but I never thought about using it in a muffin. That is, until I saw a recipe for sourdough discard cornbread on The Clever Carrot. 

The addition of just the two tablespoons of coconut oil adds a really subtle coconut flavor that we found delightful. I saved one for my mom and she agreed. The original recipe wasn’t for muffins so I did quite a bit of adapting to stick to my preferred easy mix muffin method. All in all, this recipe got a “would make again” rating. 

Buttermilk Sourdough Cornbread Muffins

As mentioned above, this recipe is adapted from one on The Clever Carrot.  The original makes an 8x8 inch or 23x23cm pan of cornbread. 

Ingredients

1/2 cup or 113g unsalted butter, plus more for greasing pan 

2 tablespoons coconut oil

1 cup or 125g flour

1/2 cup or 90g cornmeal

1/3 cup or 66g granulated sugar 

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

1/2 cup or 100g sourdough discard

1/2 cup or 120ml buttermilk

2 large eggs, at room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method

Preheat the oven to 350°F or 180°C. Prepare a 9-cup muffin pan by greasing it or lining it with muffin liners. 

In a microwavable bowl, soften the butter and coconut oil with a few quick zaps, stirring well in between. (Or soften the butter and coconut oil over low heat in a small pot.) The mixture doesn’t need to be liquid, just softened and well combined.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Whisk the butter mixture, sourdough starter, buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla together in a large mixing bowl. 

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients bowl and fold them together till all the flour and cornmeal are completely moistened. 

Divide the batter between your nine muffin cups.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until a wooden skewer comes out clean. Remove from the oven and leave to cool for a few minutes. Remove the muffins from the pan and set on a wire rack to cool.

Serve warm or at room temperature. 

Enjoy! 

Happy Muffin Monday! Yep, it’s the last Monday of the month and I can hardly believe it’s already March! This year is flying by. Check out the muffin recipes my fellow bloggers are sharing today:

• Bacon and Whiskey Maple Muffins from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Buttermilk Sourdough Cornbread Muffins from Food Lust People Love
• Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins from Jolene's Recipe Journal
• Heart Healthy Coconut Carrot Muffins from Magical Ingredients
• Sourdough Chocolate Chunk Muffins from Zesty South Indian Kitchen
• Vanilla White Chocolate Chunk Muffins from Karen's Kitchen Stories

#MuffinMonday is a group of muffin loving bakers who get together once a month to bake muffins. You can see all of our lovely muffins by following our Pinterest board. Updated links for all of our past events and more information about Muffin Monday can be found on our home page.

Pin these Buttermilk Sourdough Cornbread Muffins!

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Chocolate Zucchini Muffins #MuffinMonday

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins are baked with cocoa and chocolate chips. Grated zucchini adds moisture and nutrition, not that you’ll notice it’s there flavorwise! 

It’s the last Monday of the month so that means we are celebrating Muffin Monday all day long. I had a zucchini in the fridge that was getting a little past its best and needed to be used, hence these chocolate zucchini muffins. 

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

This recipe is for a small batch of just six muffins but it’s easily doubled if you need 12. Or even trebled. Muffins batter is very forgiving like that. 

Ingredients

1/2 medium zucchini or courgette (approx. weight 2 2/3 oz or 75g)

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup or 95g flour

1/4 cup or 20g cocoa

1/4 cup or 50g white sugar

1/4 cup, packed, or 50g brown sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 egg

3 tablespoons milk

3 tablespoons canola oil

1/4 cup or 50g semi-sweet chocolate chips plus a little extra for topping, if desired.

Method

Preheat your oven to 350°F or 180°C and prepare your 6-cup muffin tin by greasing it or lining it with muffin papers.

Grate the zucchini with the small holes of your grater and spread it around in a colander to drain.  Sprinkle with the 1/4 teaspoon of salt.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together your flour, sugars and baking powder. Mix in the chocolate chips and use your clean hands to separate any that are stuck together. 

In another smaller bowl, whisk together your eggs, milk and oil. Use the back of a spoon or rubber spatula to squeeze moisture out of the grated zucchini. Add it to the wet ingredient bowl and whisk.

Pour your wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until they are just combined. There should be some dry flour still showing.

Divide the batter evenly between the muffin cups. Add a few more chocolate chips to the top, if desired.  

Bake in your preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes or until the muffins are puffed up and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes.

Remove the muffins from the pan and cool further on a wire rack.

Enjoy!

As I mentioned above, it’s Muffin Monday! Make sure to check out all the links below to see the muffins my blogger friends are sharing. Many thanks to Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm for her behind the scenes help this month!

• Buttermilk Muffins with Whiskey-Soaked Raisins by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
• Cherry Vanilla Muffins by Jolene's Recipe Journal
• Chocolate Zucchini Muffins by Food Lust People Love
• Churro Muffins by Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Pineapple Rice Krispie Muffins by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Sourdough Raspberry Coconut Muffins by Zesty South Indian Kitchen
• Strawberry Sweetheart Streusel Muffins by Palatable Pastime
• Whole Wheat Thandai Muffins by Magical Ingredients

#MuffinMonday is a group of muffin loving bakers who get together once a month to bake muffins. You can see all of our lovely muffins by following our Pinterest board. Updated links for all of our past events and more information about Muffin Monday can be found on our home page.

Pin these Chocolate Zucchini Muffins!

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Cheddar Chili Bean Muffins #MuffinMonday

Made with leftover chili con carne, these cheddar chili bean muffins are a wonderful savory bake, perfect alone or as an accompaniment to your meal.

When researching recipes for another post, I came across a dish I had never heard of called fritoque (pronounced free-toh-kay.) It was on the menu of a Mexican restaurant in San Antonio way back when, made with cooked beans, broken tortilla chips and cheese. One variation on the recipe was a substitution of chili con carne for the beans. 

I made the chili then I made a hybrid fritoque that was half beans and half chili. Then I ran out of time to edit the photos and create the post before the event deadline, so I’ll have to share it another day. It was really tasty! 

But meanwhile, I had leftovers of the chili-bean mixture and using it in muffins seemed like a great idea. I’ve made chili cheese dog muffins before and they were fabulous. This recipe is very similar but no weenies. 

Cheddar Chili Bean Muffins

If you don’t have leftover chili con carne, you can use canned but keep in mind that the moisture content of the canned chili may be higher so strain it somewhat if it’s really wet.

Ingredients

1 cup or 125g flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

2 oz or 57g extra sharp cheddar cheese, grated, plus extra for topping, if desired

1 cup or 260g chili with beans

1/4 cup or 60ml canola or other light oil, plus extra for the muffin pan

1 egg

Method

Preheat your oven to 350°F or 180°C and prepare your 6-cup muffin pan by brushing it with a little oil. 

Combine your flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cheese in a large mixing bowl.

In another smaller bowl, whisk together your egg, oil and chili with beans.

Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ones and stop when it’s still quite dry looking.

Divide your batter between the 6 muffin cups.

Sprinkle the tops with the extra cheese, if using.  

Bake for 20-25 minutes in your preheated oven or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Allow to cool for a few minutes in the pan and then remove to continue cooling on a wire rack.

Enjoy!

It’s Muffin Monday, our first of 2023! Check out all the great muffins my friends are sharing with you today. 

• Almond Flour Banana Muffins from Passion Kneaded
• Apple Bran Muffins from Palatable Pastime
• Bran Buds Muffins from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Cheddar Chili Bean Muffins from Food Lust People Love
• Cinnamon Crumb Muffins from Jolene's Recipe Journal
• Dried Fig and Pineapple Muffins from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Persian Love Cake Muffins from Magical Ingredients
• Small-Batch Double Chocolate Banana Muffins from Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice

#MuffinMonday is a group of muffin loving bakers who get together once a month to bake muffins. You can see all of our lovely muffins by following our Pinterest board. Updated links for all of our past events and more information about Muffin Monday can be found on our home page.

Pin these Cheddar Chili Bean Muffins!

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Leftover Mashed Potato Muffins (Small Batch) #MuffinMonday

These leftover mashed potato muffins are fluffy, tender and cheesy. They are the perfect way to use up any leftover spuds. This recipe makes six muffins but it is easily doubled to make 12. 

I’ve finally succumbed to the lure of the air fryer! But only because I found the Ninja one that flips up and restores my counter space when not in use. It can supposedly also bake a 13- inch pizza, but we haven’t tested that. We have used it just about every day since we brought it home last week. 

The funny thing is, we haven’t actually employed the air fryer function yet. We’ve baked and broiled and reheated though. All good! The most amazing part is how quick it preheats compared to the big oven. Mere minutes! 

I baked this small batch of muffins in it and they took exactly as long as they would have in my big oven, 20 minutes on 350°F or 180°C, but the Ninja was on for only a total of about 22 minutes. That would have been a good 15 minutes more for preheating time in the big guy. 

All in all, so far, we have been pleased with the purchase. (No one is paying me to say any of this! I bought it in-store at Costco for a bargain $139.99 + tax. Here’s an Amazon affiliate link to the same model, if you’d like to check it out: https://amzn.to/3EGPbME)

Leftover Mashed Potato Muffins

This small batch recipe makes 6 muffins and can be baked in a conventional oven or a big air fryer/oven like the Ninja Foodie flip up. Baking time and temperature are the same for either. Recipe adapted from this sweet muffin one on Simplify Create Inspire. 

Ingredients

Canola or other light oil for greasing 6-cup muffin pan

1 cup or 125g flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon cayenne, optional 

2 tablespoons chopped green onions (green part only)

1/2 cup, grated, or about 60g extra sharp cheddar

1/2 cup or 120g leftover mashed potato

1 egg

1/4 cup or 60ml buttermilk

Method

Preheat your oven to 350°F or 180°C and prepare a 6-cup muffin pan by greasing it with oil. 

In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and baking soda. 

Add in the grated cheese and green onion, reserving a little bit of each for topping. Stir to coat them with the flour.

In another bowl, whisk together the mashed potatoes, egg and buttermilk.

Fold the wet ingredients into the dry until just combined. 

Divide the thick batter between the muffin cups and top with the reserved cheese and green onion. 

Bake for approximately 20-25 minutes or until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.

Serve warm.

Enjoy! 

It’s the last Monday of the month so that means it’s Muffin Monday, that magical day when we gather to celebrate how easy it is to bake muffins! Check out the list of recipes below from my Muffin Monday friends. 

• Almond Cranberry Orange Muffins from Magical Ingredients
• Cheddar, Bacon, and Potato Muffins from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Coconut Papaya Muffins from Palatable Pastime
• Cranberry Sauce Muffins from Passion Kneaded
• Leftover Mashed Potato Muffins (Small Batch) from Food Lust People Love

#MuffinMonday is a group of muffin loving bakers who get together once a month to bake muffins. You can see all of our lovely muffins by following our Pinterest board. Updated links for all of our past events and more information about Muffin Monday can be found on our home page.

Pin these Leftover Mashed Potato Muffins! 

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