muffin

Muffin is a small, individually portioned baked product. In North America, muffins are quick breads or cake-like pastries baked in cup-shaped tins. They are usually leavened with baking powder or baking soda and can be sweet or savory, often featuring fruit, nuts, or flavorings. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the term muffin also refers to two different products: the American-style muffin and the English muffin, a round, yeast-leavened bread that is split and toasted.

Basic ingredients typically include flour, sugar, eggs, milk or buttermilk, and fat such as butter or oil. Additional components—blueberries, bananas, chocolate chips, bran, cornmeal, spices—are common. The batter is mixed until just combined to minimize gluten development, then portioned into muffin cups and baked until set and lightly domed.

English muffins are cooked on a griddle or skillet, yielding a flat, chewy loaf with a porous interior that tears easily. American muffins are usually soft and moist with a tender crumb. They vary by flavor and texture, from fruity or nutty varieties to denser bran or corn versions.

Origins of the American style trace to 19th-century quick breads in the United States; English muffins have earlier roots in yeast breads from Britain. Today muffins are widely sold in bakeries and grocery stores and are commonly eaten for breakfast or as a snack, often with spreads such as butter, jam, or cream cheese.