Tender gingerbread muffins loaded with brown sugar, rich molasses, and warm spices. A fresh lemon icing is drizzled on top adding a burst of freshness. Enjoy old fashioned flavors that are perfect for the holiday season.
These Gingerbread Muffins are extra moist and flavorful with a classic flavor that will put you in the mood for the holidays! This easy recipe comes together by hand (no mixer needed) in a matter of minutes.
Recipe overview
- Combine the dry ingredients in one bowl.
- Combine the wet ingredients in another bowl.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until combined.
- Scoop into a greased or lined muffin tin.
- Bake and cool.
- Drizzle with lemon icing.
Why you’ll love this recipe
Ease: These muffins come together by and with a whisk and a rubber spatula. No need to get out your mixer.
Flavor: The classic flavors of molasses, ginger, brown sugar, and cinnamon,
Versatility: Serve these muffins for breakfast, snack or dessert. You can make them plain or stir in some fresh fruit; we use diced pears or cranberries.
Icing variations
A fresh lemon icing adds a bright flavor that cuts the richness of the molasses. If you’d prefer to top these with another flavor of icing, you can omit the lemon juice and replace it with milk and add any of the following:
- A few pinches of cinnamon
- A couple drops of maple or vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon finely grated orange zest
Recipe
Gingerbread Muffins
Ingredients
Muffins:
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2½ teaspoons ground ginger
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ⅔ cup brown sugar, packed
- ⅓ cup unsulphured molasses
- ½ cup vegetable or canola oil
- ¼ cup applesauce
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablspoons granulated sugar, for sprinkling on top, optional
Lemon icing (optional):
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
Muffins:
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease or line a 12-cup muffin pan.
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices.
- In a large bowl, whisk brown sugar, molasses, oil, and applesauce. Whisk in egg, milk, and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and stir with a rubber spatula until no streaks of flour remain, be careful not to overmix.
- Divide the batter between 12 muffin cups (I use an ice cream scoop). If desired, sprinkle the top of each muffin with a little granulated sugar.
- Bake for 20-22 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Place the pan on a wire rack to cool for 5-10 minutes, then remove each muffin and place directly on the rack to cool completely.
Icing:
- Whisk all ingredients until smooth. Adjust to your desired consistency by adding more powdered sugar to thicken or more lemon juice to thin. Drizzle icing over cooled muffins.
Notes
- A few pinches of cinnamon
- A couple drops of maple or vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon finely grated orange zest
Nutrition
Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!Recipe updated November 2021. Original recipe HERE.
Jocelyn (Grandbaby cakes) says
I love the addition of pear to the gingerbread. Great flavors!
June says
Can I make these without the pear?
Kylie says
Yum! These were so tasty and so soft and fluffy. I used extra pear, 2 standard size Bartlett pears. Even my two year old nephew liked them.
Celebrating Sweets says
I’m glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Marilyn Sallee says
Did not understand 1 inch large pear. I just put 1 cup
Celebrating Sweets says
Hi, Marilyn, I apologize for the confusion. The word “inch” was referring to chopping the pear pieces into 1/4-inch pieces. I appreciate you pointing this out, I just corrected it. Enjoy!
Julie says
These muffins are absolutely delicious, everyone in the family has requested more!
Allison says
That’s great to hear. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Blair says
For those of you who are curious to try this recipe; do, and 𝕕𝕠 𝕟𝕠𝕥 forget the lemon-icing! These muffins are delicious.