Muffin Tin Mania: 20 Unique Muffin Ideas

"Muffin Tin, how do I love thee, let me count the ways.  You have faithfully cooked up delicious little cakes and breads since the day of your invention, and we have discovered that you are the perfect pan to make delightful, little portable, handheld meals, snacks and desserts already portioned out in just the right size.  Children and adults  love the foods that pop out of those little cups of yours; food that is perfect for  parties, picnics, or lunch boxes; breakfasts, lunch or dinner; to stay or to go; beautiful or rustic; wholesome or comforting, glitzy or humble, your creations are perfect for any occasion. You are adorable".

One of the most viewed posts on this blog,  is Spaghetti Pie Meal in a Muffin as pictured in the header. It isn't the post I would have thought to have had so much traffic. It has been featured in several websites such as Chowhound,  Luvo, Huffington Post and The Whoot, all of which have contributed to its popularity; but I think the main reason that it has done so well, is that Muffin Tin ideas are flourishing and I can understand why, they are irresistible. I find myself often thinking of meals that I can make for the muffin tin.

Soooo …..I decided to share some of my favorite muffin tin ideas that I have saved on my Muffin and Cupcake Pinterest board; they are from a variety of websites, including this one. So get out those  muffin tins, and put them to use with some of these recipes, and change up the menu plan with a little bit of fun.

Cheesy Steak Cups

by Gather For Bread

Pizza Pie Muffins 

From Where Your Treasure Is

Hashbrown Egg Muffins 

By Play Party Pin

Meatball Sandwich Muffins

by Where Your Treasure Is

Pepperoni Pizza Puffs

by Circle of Moms

Mini Corn Dog Muffins

by Iowa Girl Eats

Shepherd's Pie Muffin

From Where Your Treasure Is

Breakfast Oatmeal Cupcakes

From Chocolate Covered Katie

Reuben Sandwich Muffins

From Where Your Treasure Is

Almost No Bake Mini Chocolate Peanut Butter Pies
From Carlsbad Cravings

Impossible Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes

From Cakes Cottage

Meatloaf Cupcakes

from Cincyshopper.com

Eggplant Parmagiana Meal in a Muffin

From Where Your Treasure Is

Baked Potato Cupcakes

From Dairy Makes Sense

Granola Yogurt Cups

From Muffin Mania

Mac n Cheese Muffins

From Fifteen Spatulas

Trim Healthy Mama Compliant

Chocolate Pecan Muffins
from Flowers in His Garden

Eggs in a Potato Nest

from Stranded Foodie

Pancake and Sausage Muffins

from Heavenly Homemakers

Sausage and Cheese Breakfast Muffins
from Where Your Treasure Is

Celebrate Springtime Strawberry Muffins

These Strawberry Muffins were the last of my March Muffin Madness posts…. that I didn't get posted in time.  The muffins were done, and the pictures were done, but I ran out of time to get them posted with the March Muffins.  So… I am posting now; for a "celebrate springtime" post. I had a little fun with these after they were made, because I had an abundance of fruit and flowers, and ended up playing with the wonderful colors and shapes to make a delicious picture of springtime bounty.   But for all their exotic presentation they are really just humble Strawberry muffins…yet so delicious.  In fact, they are one of my favorites.  

I used only half whole wheat flour in these, along with organic cane sugar, to produce a pretty, and light colored muffin.  I wanted a muffin that was light in color and texture for a special occasion such as Easter or Mother's Day.  For everyday healthier version, use all whole wheat flour, and perhaps Sucanat or a sweetener of choice.

Strawberry Muffins
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Sucanat or Organic Cane Sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup whole wheat flour (white whole wheat is my favorite)
1 cup unbleached all purpose flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup diced Strawberries

For topping:
1/3 cup melted butter
1/2 cup organic can sugar for dipping finished muffins in.

Instructions:

1. In a medium mixing bowl mix together eggs, sugar and softened butter until well blended.  
2. Add buttermilk and whisk or mix until well blended.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together dry ingredients.
4. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients.
5. Add Strawberries.
6. Mix all together; being sure to mix gently, and not over mix.
7. Spoon batter evenly a  twelve cup muffin tin.
8. Bake 15 - 20 minutes.
9. When cool enough to the touch, dip muffins in reserved  butter and sugar. 
10. Serve with butter and Jam.
11. Enjoy!! 

Happy Spring!

Meatball Sandwich Muffins

I don't know about you, but I do love a Hot Meatball Sandwich.  On those rare occasion that we eat at a Sub shop, the Hot Meatball Sandwich is usually the one I order.  These muffins are inspired by my love for those Meatball Sandwiches. These are made with bread dough and stuffed with pre-made meatballs and chunks of Mozzarella cheese. Dip them in Marinara Sauce and they are Mm Mm good. For this recipe I did use pre made bread dough, like I did for the Reuben Muffins for convenience sake, but of course, you can use whatever kind of dough you would like.  Also, this recipe now a class offered on Skillshare , so if you are interested in the video, just click this link.

Meatballs

Cheese Slices

and bread dough are all the ingredients you need to make these.

Serve Warm 

With Marinara or Spaghetti Sauce

Meatball Sandwich Muffins

Ingredients:
Bread dough: 24 frozen dinner rolls, thawed  (about 2 1/2 pounds bread dough)
24 Pre made Meatballs
24  slices Mozerella or Provolone Cheese (about 2 inches by 2 inches)
Marinara Sauce

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Roll and stretch each roll until it is about 4 inches across.
3. Top with cheese and then Meatball.
4. Stretch dough over meatball and cheese.
5. Squeeze dough together at the seems, to form a dough ball.
6. Place in greased Muffin Tin.
7. Allow to rise 30 - 45 minutes, or until doubled in size.
8. Bake 15 -20 minutes or until golden brown.
9. Remove from oven and cool 5 minutes before serving.
10. Serve with Marinara Sauce for dipping.
11. Enjoy!

Dip

and bite….

and dip and….

bite…. and dip and….

bite…. its like exercise… really it is.