Looking for something fun and delicious to make with children? Give our Vegan Vanilla Berry Muffins a go. You won’t be disappointed!
Last month, my sister-in-law and her four young children came to spend a weekend with us. Of course, I was very excited and looking forward to their arrival, but the thought of having to entertain those kiddos was slightly unnerving. Besides a few board games, we didn’t have toys or even as much as a simple swing outside in the backyard. Though I went to the store and stocked up on a few coloring books and some crayons, I knew this creative fun would only last so long. What to do? And then it suddenly hit me. I would turn my kitchen into a children’s cooking school!
Not only did I come up with four easy recipes that we could make over the course of two days, but I even printed up cute diplomas to reward their efforts. After spending the mornings in the kitchen, the children were pleasantly exhausted, and we were all left with delicious goodies to enjoy.
These vegan vanilla berry muffins were quite the hit that weekend. Muffins are one of the easiest treats to make with children, and they can be quite wholesome, too. Speckled with bright berries and flavored with a touch of vanilla extract, these muffins have a soft, tender crumb and are perfect for breakfast or as an after-school snack. Chances are your family will love them, too!
Tips and tweaks
Though I love making these muffins with fresh fruit, frozen berries work well, too. Just remember to toss them with some flour before adding them to the batter. This will ensure they don’t sink to the bottom of the muffins.
A really important tip is to mix your ingredients gently until just combined. Bear in mind that stirring your batter too fanatically will only result in tough, dense muffins.
Feel free to play around with this recipe and make it your own. For added fiber, you can consider using whole-wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour. Want to give these muffins a touch of tang? Stir in some lemon or orange zest. The citrus flavors work very well with the tartness of the berries. To make the muffins a bit more decadent, stir in a handful of dark chocolate chips.
How do I store leftovers?
Once cooled, transfer the muffins to an airtight container lined with paper towel. Place another sheet of paper towel on top of the muffins, as this will help absorb excess moisture. Like this, they should keep well for up to 4 days. You could store them in the fridge for up to 7 days, but bear in mind that this will likely cause them to become denser. For longer storage, wrap the muffins in plastic wrap, transfer them to an airtight container or Ziploc bag, and freeze them for up to 3 months.
Serving suggestions
Personally, I love these muffins with a Copycat Starbucks Vanilla Spice Latte as an afternoon pick-me-up, but children will love them for breakfast alongside our refreshing Creamsicle Smoothies. When slightly stale, split them open, toast them, slather them with butter, and top them with our sweet Strawberry Sauce.
Vegan Vanilla Berry Muffins
Ingredients
- 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 1/3 cups almond milk
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups mixed berries fresh
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉ and line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper liners.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and the sugar (though you'll want to keep back 2 tablespoons of the sugar for later).
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the oil, almond milk, vinegar, and vanilla extract.
- Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in wet ingredients. Combine well but don't overmix.
- Fold in the berries.
- Divide the batter over the lined muffin tin. Sprinkle the tops with the remaining sugar.
- Bake the muffins for 25 to 30 minutes until the tops are lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the muffins cool in the tin for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
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