Easy Weekday Blueberry Muffins

We are a homeschool family. You may know that by now, but aside from our educational choices, this simply means we are HOME for all three meals a day. Home, but very busy with all the second grade and fourth grade things. Weekday breakfasts need to be simple for sure, but they also need to power us through a morning packed with learning. As we head back for the second half of our school year, these Easy Weekday Blueberry Muffins are one of my staple simple breakfasts.

I realize that blueberries aren’t exactly seasonal at this time of year, but if you’re anything like me, you’ve got some of those juicy blue orbs tucked away in the freezer for a rainy day. And this time of year, almost every day is a rainy day.

This recipe was actually inspired by a children’s book called Goldilocks by Ruth Sanderson. We checked it out from our local library one Winter day when my boys were little, and they were fascinated by the story, but especially the muffin recipe in the back. It’s a fun spin on the classic tale, and we couldn’t resist giving Papa Bear’s Blueberry Muffins a try. Over the years, I have subbed the basic ingredients for my own healthier ones and this recipe is the result.

Why these muffins are healthy

Most muffins you find out in the wild- ahem, Costco- are NOT so healthy. Loaded with questionable oils and packed with sugar, they aren’t exactly the most nutritious way to start your day. Eating a sugary carb first thing can really mess with your blood sugar, causing an early spike and crash. Nobody needs that nonsense.

This is why I have tweaked good old Papa Bear’s recipe to suit our morning needs. And the result is a recipe my family absolutely loves. These muffins are super simple to make quickly on a weekday morning, or the night before if that’s more your style. Here’s a few ways these healthy muffins help you start your day out right:

Better ingredients

• Healthy sweetener. These delicious muffins use honey and maple sugar as sweeteners, which gives them such a soft and subtle sweetness. Both of these natural sugars are lower on the glycemic index, and won’t give you that spike, crash effect.
• Gut-healthy dairy. Instead of buttermilk, I use plain, whole-milk Kefir in this recipe. Kefir is thicker than buttermilk, making the batter easier to scoop. Kefir is also fermented, which not only provides a nice sour/acidic taste, but is very good for your digestion. I actually use kefir in place of nearly all dairy in baking. It works well for those of us who have dairy sensitivities and like a little more protein in our diet.
• Antioxidants. I should probably phone a friend here and let my husband wax lyrical about the blueberries, but I’ll just tell you that blueberries are desirable across the globe for their rich nutrition and antioxidant properties. What a lucky girl I am to have a freezer full!
• Extra protein. And finally, I use Einkorn flour in these muffins, which means they’re packed with extra protein. Keep reading for all the reasons I love baking with Einkorn.

Why I use Einkorn flour in my muffins

I have a few beloved family members who tease me for the amount of times I’m able to drop the word “Einkorn” into a conversation. I’ve sung the praises of this flour for years, I get it. But here’s the thing, Einkorn is really, truly worth all the hype. And for me, who struggles to digest gluten and grains, it’s a real lifesaver.

Years ago, before I even understood that my body has a hard time digesting grains, I made the switch to Einkorn flour. Learning that it was an ancient grain that had never been hybridized really appealed to me. Knowing that thanks to its weaker gluten structure, it was easier to digest, made sense! Hearing that it contained more protein, vitamins and minerals than regular flour, and I was sold!

All health benefits aside, for me, baking with Einkorn flour is all about FLAVOR. Einkorn flour gives a beautiful golden color to your baked goods. A nutty, buttery taste that can’t be beat. It adds so much depth and interest to the treat, all the while being better for your body. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

I typically bake with Jovial’s All-Purpose Einkorn Flour, which I buy in 10 lb. bags. It isn’t cheap, but it is absolutely worth it!

Savoring the bounty of Summer

You may not have the advantage of being married to a berry farmer like I do, or live in a state where local berries are a right of passage, but likely there are blueberries available somewhere near you. Can I plead with you to- at least once in your life- find somewhere to pick them fresh? Stand in the sunshine and eat them straight off the bush? There’s really nothing like it.

Here’s a few of my favorite blueberry varieties:

• Duke. Confession: I never liked blueberries until I tasted the ones on my in-laws farm. Store bought blueberries were always mushy and tasted a little like sawdust. But the first time I popped a quarter-sized, crisp, firm, tart Duke into my mouth…well, safe to say my mind was forever changed. Dukes are known for their large size, great taste and texture.
• Elliott. There are less Elliotts on our farm than Dukes, but they still do the trick! Coming on later in the season, these prolific berries are great if harvest happens to take you by surprise, and you don’t quite have your act together. Ahem.
• Blue Jay. Blue Jays are the least beloved of our varieties, but they have their place because they come on at the very end of harvest. They’re smaller and can be a little meal-y if they get overripe, but I think they’re a little more huckleberry-like, and for that reason, I love them.
  
  To me, blueberries are the Fourth of July. Family barbecues, busy boys riding forklifts and giant bowls of fresh blueberries on every table. I’ve spent many glorious summer afternoons walking through the rows, absolutely cramming these beauties into my face. Picking them straight off the bush, still warm from the sun, and popping them into my mouth. Doesn’t get much better than that.

Why these muffins are perfect for weekdays

I know not everyone is home on weekday mornings like we are, but these muffins would also be easy to throw together the night before, and enjoy in the morning on the way out the door. Or, tuck them into a lunchbox for school-bound kiddos. Here’s why they are so easy to throw together:

• Only 10 ingredients. With all whole food ingredients that I almost always have in stock, there is no special planning required.
• Only 2 bowls and 1 pan to wash. Nothing is less appealing than a recipe that creates a heap of dishes. These muffins only take 2 bowls and 1 pan. You can even use 1 bowl if you like, I sometimes do. I won’t tell if you won’t.
• Only a few steps in the process. Mix the dry ingredients, mix the wet ingredients and combine. Couldn’t be simpler.
• Only take 20 minutes to bake. These are my secret weapon on the mornings when my kids are starving, but want something warm and homemade.
• Store well for enjoying the next day. These muffins hold well overnight and are still soft and moist the next day. They also freeze and thaw quite well. Perfect for preparing ahead.

More Einkorn breakfast baked goods we love

Einkorn Maple Pecan Scones.

Rainy Day Rhubarb Muffins.

America’s Best English Cream Scones.

Equipment for easy muffin baking

• 12-cup Muffin Tin. I’m sure everyone has a muffin tin, but just in case you are the rare exception, I’ve linked a nice stainless steel one.
• Parchment Muffin Cup Baking Liners. I order these in bulk from Azure Standard so that I can bake muffins with only a moment’s notice. I’ve linked my favorites, though I do want to try those fancy bakery style ones someday.
• Mixing Bowl. My all-time favorite mixing bowls by Mason Cash. They can’t be beat! This new Rose pattern is beautiful.
• Cookie Scoop. I just ordered this exact set and it has made my life so much easier.
• Rubber Spatula. I’ve had a Le Creuset spatula for over a decade, and she’s never let me down.

Grab the muffin recipe

Have I sold you on this delicious recipe yet? Here’s the part where you get to grab it and run!

If you wouldn’t mind, please leave a starred review on this recipe. This helps the search engine to see it as legit, and share it with other muffin lovers around the world. Or at least around the Internet. Reviews are all the way at the bottom of the post, with the comments. Thank you!

Did you make these muffins?

If you gave these Easy Weekday Blueberry Muffins a try, would you leave a comment or review? This is SO helpful for both the blog, and for me as a recipe creator. I’d also love to know if there are any other recipes you are dying to see?

Pin this image below if you’d like to stash this recipe away for a rainy day, or share it with a friend! I hope you love these muffins!

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