8 Sweet and Easy Muffin Recipes

Ditch those dense, dry, store-bought muffins and save countless dollars by whipping them up in your own kitchen. It's not as difficult as you think! Gather your ingredients, and in about 30 minutes, you can be savoring anything from classics like blueberry muffins to fun, new flavors like pumpkin spice latte muffins with mascarpone cream.

Carrot cake aficionados will find that these morning glory muffins are right up their alley. Cinnamon and brown sugar set up a cozy background for the flavors of shredded coconut, carrots, apples, raisins and walnuts.

Chocolate stout chocolate chip muffins are the grown-up version of your childhood favorite. The stout provides a wonderfully fluffy texture and adds richness and depth to the muffin's flavor. This is the perfect muffin for bakers who don't like the cloying sweetness common in many breakfast pastries.

Unsure of what to do with those overripe bananas that have been sitting on your counter? Don't throw them away! Use them for these reduced-guilt double chocolate banana muffins instead. They're a delightfully moist and indulgent breakfast treat that derives most of its sweetness from the fruit.

Sink into all the comforts of autumn with this incredible recipe for pumpkin spice latte muffins with mascarpone cream. Pumpkin puree is warmly spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice and cardamom and then slowly melded with freshly brewed coffee. A dollop of maple-sweetened mascarpone cream in the center and a sprinkle of pepitas finishes off this lovely breakfast goody.

Strawberry rhubarb muffins employ the classic combination of sweet, juicy strawberries and tangy, tart rhubarb for a scrumptious morning meal. Finish these off with a sprinkling of turbinado sugar on top for a delicate crunch with each bite.

Fill your home with the wonderful aroma of apple cinnamon streusel muffins baking in your oven. The time-honored pairing of apple and cinnamon is so simple, yet endlessly comforting and mouthwatering. The streusel topping provides a sweet crunch for a delectable finish.

For breakfast or snacking, a classic blueberry muffin will never lead you astray. You will surely savor the moment you bite into one of these muffins, bursting with blueberries in a moist, fluffy and cake-like batter. For an extra-toothsome treat, finish these off with a homemade streusel topping.

Nosh on pumpkin muffins all year long by using canned pumpkin puree. The pumpkin ensures that these muffins stay super moist. This recipe is one you can modify to meet dietary concerns and still get results, so experiment with ingredients such as applesauce, buttermilk and almond milk.