These muffins are a perfect way to start the morning. They are moist and delicious, and filled with luscious cinnamon chips. If you’re not familiar with cinnamon chips, they are essentially a white chocolate chip loaded with cinnamon. Hershey’s makes Cinnamon Chips, I used Merkens mini Cinnamon Baking Chips from Gygi, and King Arthur also sells mini cinnamon chips.
One of the nicest things about summer is all the wonderful produce that’s available. I don’t have a huge garden, but every year I plant at least one zucchini plant. Of course, if you’ve ever planted zucchini you know that one plant can often supply enough zucchini for several families.
My first zucchini this year was hiding and I didn’t notice it until it was huge. We don’t like to eat zucchini when they get that big, but they’re perfect for baking. Shredded zucchini adds a wonderful moistness to quick breads and muffins, and it just makes me feel better about baking for my family when I can sneak in some veggies.
If you don’t have zucchini in your yard, pick one up at your local farmer’s market or supermarket and try baking with it. You’ll only need a small one for this recipe. And if you don’t have or can’t find cinnamon chips, chocolate chips would be a great substitution.
Cinnamon Zucchini Muffins
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour I used whole wheat pastry flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup melted butter
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup shredded zucchini
- 1 cup cinnamon chips or substitute chocolate chips
- Turbinado sugar sugar in the raw, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º. Lightly grease a muffin tin with cooking spray or vegetable oil, or line with paper muffin liners.
- In a small bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon and set aside.
- In a large bowl combine sour cream, melted butter, eggs, sugar, and vanilla; beat at medium speed of an electric mixer until well blended. Add flour mixture and stir until just combined. Add zucchini and cinnamon chips and stir until just combined.
- Divide batter evenly into 12 muffin cups. Sprinkle turbinado sugar on top of batter if desired.
- Bake at 350º for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. (Also makes a great zucchini bread, I cooked mini loaves for 35 minutes.) When muffins are done, cool for a few minutes in the muffin pan before removing to cool on a wire rack.
Notes
Nutrition
Zucchini Brownies, Food Finery
Chocolate Zucchini Bread, Our Best Bites
Healthier Zucchini Bread, Mountain Mama Cooks
Grandma’s Zucchini Cake Recipe, Simply Recipes
Zucchini Pineapple Bread, Brown Eyed Baker
Zucchini Cookies with Chocolate Chips and Dried Cranberries, Two Peas and Their Pod
Maria
Love the cinnamon chips in there!
Heidi @ Food Doodles
What perfect looking muffins! I actually have a zucchini that’s too big in my fridge right now so I think I’ll try these out today. The pumpkin pie spice looks especially good and I love that you used whole wheat flour 😀
Peggy
I just made cinnamon pull-apart bread last night, so I’m really in the cinnamon mood right now! These muffins will definitely be on my to-bake list =)
Linda
I know what you mean about vegetables hiding – I just spotted a cuke in my garden that has turned bright yellow and is nearly the size of a football. 🙂 Sadly, my zucchini and squash didn’t produce anything but vines. I think it was too hot for the bees. 🙁
I love the idea of cinnamon chips in these, and they look delicious. I think I’ll break down and buy some zucchini at the store and give these a try.
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
they look delicious mum! And I like the crackly pattern on top of them too! 🙂 xxx
Kitchen Belleicious
absolutely delightful and heavenly. I am looking at these muffins while i eat my bland cereal and wishing i had one right now! Love Love the fact you added cinnamon to the zucchini. great combo of flavors
Rosa
those muffins must be wonderful! I cannot resist baked goods that contain cinnamon.
Cheers,
Rosa
sheila @ Elements
I’d love to have a zucchini plant!!! We eat so much zucchini you wouldn’t believe it! Your muffins look wonderful!!! I’ve never tried cinnamon chips before but I can only imagine how they must taste inside the zucchini muffins! Sounds so good to me! 🙂
Kathleen
These look over the top YUMMY!
Marla
Zucchini in baking is magical. Love those little cinnamon chips – have not had them in years. My kids would love these muffins.
Ellie | Gourmand Recipes
I like the flavor combo. Brilliant, Barbara.
Peggy Clyde
I have some zucchini waiting to go into these muffins. Thanks.
Becki @Becki's Whole LIfe
I love cinnamon chips and anything zucchini is wonderful to me! These look delicious – great recipe – thanks!
Bonnie
I came home after two weeks to 5 bigger than baseball bat zuccs. I have plenty if anyone needs them. Come on over. (As if it could be that easy to get rid of them).
Good thing you have shared this recipe. I’ve never made zucchini muffins but these look wonderful. Tomorrow!!!!
Maris (In Good Taste)
I can not think of a more delicious way to start the day!
foodwandenderings
Barbara, I swear I love zucchini muffins, breads, but every time I attemp to make them they miserably fail. I think the entire concept of veggie in sweets was so foreign to me that by the time I started loving it, I was already jinxed! Good looking as I am sure delicious muffins.
Kathy
Thank goodness…. a recipe for zucchini!!! We have lots and lots!!! =)
Lauren from Lauren's Latest
Amazing! If only I could find some cinnamon chips….
Bree
Looks splendid! If I have cinnamon chips from Pantry Secrets (without white chocolate in them) do you think that would work as well? Thank you – looks delicious!!
Barbara
Hi Bree – I’m not familiar with Pantry Secrets, but I’m assuming they are a similar “white chocolate chip” product since they won’t ship them if it’s over 70º. Are they smooth and creamy?
Bree
No, I’m pretty sure it’s just pure cinnamon and a touch of brown sugar packed together I think – they’ve got a hint of a crunch if you bite into one in the cinnamon bread I used them for 🙂 Maybe I should get some of the ones you recommend and back a batch with each – I doubt it will be bad and then there’ll just be twice as many yummy muffins to go around 😉
Barbara
Sounds like a great plan! Let me know how it goes.
laura
these look delicious – you had me at cinnamon! 🙂