Breakfast Muffins

Preparation

1. Step 1

   Preheat the oven to 400°F. Butter a standard muffin tin. Combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl; whisk to combine.

   Step 2

   In a medium bowl, combine the butter, vanilla bean scrapings, sugar, milk, and egg; whisk to combine. Fold the butter mixture and fruit into the flour mixture; use no more than 10 strokes.

   Step 3

   Spoon 1/4 cup batter into each prepared cup; press 2 tablespoons streusel on top of each. Bake until the tops are golden, 15 to 17 minutes. Remove from the oven; let cool in the pan 15 to 20 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

2. Streusel

   Step 4

   Put all ingredients in a medium bowl; mix with your fingers until the mixture is moist and crumbly.

3. Muffin Variations

   Step 5

   When you want a change from plain muffins, add fresh fruit or nuts (see suggestions above). You can add one or a combination of mix-ins, as long as the total volume does not exceed 1 1/4 cups. Good combinations include peach and pecan, blueberry and lemon zest, raspberry and walnut, and strawberry and orange zest.

4. Making Muffins, Step by Step

   Step 6

   For best results, bring the milk, eggs, and butter to room temperature. Take these ingredients out of the refrigerator before you start, letting them warm up as you measure the dry ingredients.

5. Step 7

   Whisk together the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet ingredients in another.

6. Step 8

   Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients; pour in the wet ingredients.

7. Step 9

   With a rubber spatula, fold the wet mixture into the dry one, with as few strokes as possible.

8. Step 10

   Fill buttered muffin tins about three-quarters of the way with batter. This leaves enough room for a crumb topping.