These amazing bakery-style gingerbread muffins bring tall domes, warm spice, and that nostalgic molasses aroma that makes the whole kitchen smell like the holidays. They are soft and tender, and they stay fresh for days thanks to a few simple techniques. If you want a gingerbread muffin recipe that never turns out dry or flat, this is the one to make!
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Jump to:
- Why this gingerbread muffin recipe works
- Ingredients you'll need
- Substitutions and variations
- Watch the video recipe
- How to make gingerbread muffins (step-by-step)
- Pro tips for bakery-style gingerbread muffins
- Serving, storing, and freezing gingerbread muffins
- Frequently asked questions
- More holiday recipes
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
We didn't grow up eating gingerbread muffins, but the first time we tasted that warm mix of ginger, cinnamon, and clove, it took us straight back to the Christmas markets in Alsace. We spent three weeks driving our motorhome from one market to another, and everything smelled like spice and molasses!
Now we bake these muffins every December. They're tender, cozy, and full of that deep gingerbread aroma we love. If warm spices are your thing, these muffins deserve a spot on your holiday list. It fits right in with our Christmas recipe collection, especially if you want a gingerbread muffin recipe you can glaze and enjoy warm.
Why this gingerbread muffin recipe works
These muffins look bakery-made, stay soft for days, and bring that cozy gingerbread flavor without any fuss. Here's why they always make it onto our holiday baking list.
That tall bakery dome: You get those big, rounded tops that make homemade muffins feel special, the kind that look impressive on any holiday table without needing bakery skills.
Moist texture that stays soft: These moist gingerbread muffins don't dry out overnight. They stay tender for days, which means you can bake ahead and still serve muffins that taste freshly made.
Gingerbread flavor that feels like December: The warm blend of ginger, cinnamon, and clove gives you that classic holiday aroma the moment you open the oven, the cozy scent everyone hopes for in gingerbread baking.
Sweet glaze that actually shows: The vanilla glaze sits beautifully on top instead of disappearing, so every muffin looks polished and festive with just a quick drizzle.
Beginner friendly success: You don't need special pans, mixers, or bakery tricks. If you can stir a bowl, you can make these easy gingerbread muffins come out tall, soft, and picture perfect!
If you love reliable holiday bakes, our amazing easy family fruitcake has the same cozy vibes!
Ingredients you'll need
Here's what goes into these festive gingerbread muffins and why each ingredient matters for flavor, texture, and that cozy holiday feel.
Key ingredients notes:
Gingerbread spice blend: Ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves come together to create that classic holiday aroma and flavor.
Brown sugar: Adds tenderness and caramel notes that enhance the molasses.
Granulated sugar: Lightens the flavor so the muffins don't taste heavy.
Molasses: Gives color, depth, and that unmistakable gingerbread richness.
Neutral oil: Our secret to keep the muffins moist long after they cool.
Plain yogurt: Adds tenderness and helps the muffins stay soft for days.
You'll find all the exact measurements in the recipe card below.
Substitutions and variations
These ideas help you adapt this delicious gingerbread muffins recipe to what you already have at home or tailor it to the holiday flavors you love.
Molasses options: Black treacle is the closest substitute and gives a very similar deep gingerbread flavor. If you live in Europe, cane syrup works too, although the flavor is slightly lighter. Molasses still gives the most classic gingerbread taste.
Yogurt choices: Greek yogurt works well. Thin it with a teaspoon of milk if it is very thick so your muffins stay tender.
Oil flexibility: Any neutral oil, like sunflower or canola, keeps the muffins moist for days.
Chocolate chip version: Add chocolate chips for an easy gingerbread muffins dessert twist that kids love.
Ginger lover's version: Fold in chopped candied ginger for an intense, chewy ginger kick.
Coarse sugar topping: Skip the glaze and sprinkle coarse sugar on top so you get a golden bakery look without extra steps.
If you love easy holiday bakes that always turn out amazing, our mini panettone with chocolate chips is another festive favorite!
Watch the video recipe
See exactly how these fluffy gingerbread muffins come together from start to finish. The domes, the texture, and the glaze are easier to follow when you can watch each step in real time.
How to make gingerbread muffins (step-by-step)
These quick photos show you what each stage looks like so you can follow along with confidence. Refer to the recipe card below for all ingredient amounts and baking details.
Dry ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
Wet ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together oil, both sugars, and molasses until smooth. Add eggs, yogurt, milk, and vanilla. Whisk until fully combined.
Combine
Add dry ingredients to wet. Fold gently with a spatula until just combined.
Bake
Divide batter between 12 tall muffin liners. Bake 6 minutes at 425°F. Reduce to 350°F and bake another 18 minutes.
Cool
Leave for 5 minutes then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
Glaze (optional)
Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth and pourable. Drizzle over cooled muffins.
Pro tips for bakery-style gingerbread muffins
These small details will help your fluffy gingerbread muffins turn out tall, soft, and reliably crowd-pleasing every time.
- Use tall muffin liners: Taller cupcake liners help the muffins rise upward instead of spreading out, which gives you those impressive domes. We use IKEA muffin liners.
- Use fresh spices: Spices that haven't been sitting in the pantry for years will give your muffins a warmer, more vibrant flavor.
- Do not over mix: Gentle folding keeps the texture soft and fluffy.
- Bake on the middle rack: You get even color and reliable results.
- Let the muffins cool before glazing: The glaze sits beautifully on top instead of soaking in.
For another holiday recipe that is reliable and beginner friendly, try our creamy peppermint cheesecake with no water bath.
Serving, storing, and freezing gingerbread muffins
These soft gingerbread muffins with glaze are easy to serve, keep well, and freeze beautifully, which makes them perfect for holiday baking.
Serve
- Enjoy them warm for breakfast, add them to a holiday dessert table, or pack them as a cozy snack with coffee or tea. They look especially festive with the vanilla glaze.
Store
- Keep the muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 to 4 days.
- They stay soft and moist, but the glaze turns slightly opaque after a couple of days, so glaze only the ones you plan to serve soon.
Freezer
- Freeze the muffins without the glaze for up to 2 months.
- Thaw at room temperature, then glaze before serving so the ribbons look clean and fresh.
Make ahead
- Bake the muffins a day in advance, store them uncovered for the first hour to let the tops dry slightly, then cover.
- Glaze them the morning you plan to serve for the freshest look.
If you want a simple, make ahead dessert to serve alongside these muffins, our quick no bake Biscoff cheesecake cups are always a hit.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. They stay soft and moist for 3 to 4 days, so you can bake them the day before. Glaze them right before serving so the ribbons stay fresh and white.
Usually from not filling the liners to the top or from an oven that is not fully preheated. Tall domes need enough batter and hot air right from the start.
Yes. They are delicious on their own. You can also sprinkle coarse sugar before baking for a simple, bakery style finish.
You can replace up to one third of the flour with whole wheat, but the muffins will be slightly denser. For the tallest domes and softest crumb, all-purpose flour works best.
Yes. Freeze them without the glaze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature, then glaze before serving so the ribbons look clean and fresh.
If you want holiday muffins that rise tall, taste cozy, and stay soft for days, these fluffy bakery-style gingerbread muffins are the ones to make!
They bring together warm spices, a tender crumb, and an easy glaze that makes them look instantly festive. We hope this gingerbread muffins recipe becomes a yearly favorite in your home, just like it is in ours.
Did you try these bakery-style gingerbread muffins?
We'd love to hear from you! Please leave us a ★★★★★ rating and share your thoughts in the comments. If you post on Instagram, tag us, we'd love to see it!
Thank you! - Bea and Marco
📖 Recipe
Bakery-Style Gingerbread Muffins
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
Dry ingredients
- 2 cup (260 g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
Wet ingredients
- ½ cup (125 ml) neutral oil
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100 g) dark brown sugar, packed
- ⅔ cup (160 g) molasses
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- ½ cup (125 g) full-fat plain yogurt room temperature
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) full-fat milk room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Glaze (optional)
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
- 2-3 tablespoon milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C), no fan. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with tall muffin liners.
Dry ingredients
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.2 cup all-purpose flour, ¾ teaspoon baking soda, ¾ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoon ground ginger, 1½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
Wet ingredients
- In a large bowl, whisk together oil, both sugars, and molasses until smooth.½ cup neutral oil, ½ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup dark brown sugar, packed, ⅔ cup molasses
- Add eggs, yogurt, milk, and vanilla. Whisk until fully combined.2 large eggs, ½ cup full-fat plain yogurt, ⅓ cup full-fat milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Add dry ingredients to wet. Fold gently with a spatula until just combined.👉 Cue: batter should be somewhat thin yet scoopable, with no visible flour pockets. Small lumps are fine.
- Divide batter evenly into 12 cups, filling each about ¾ full.
Bake
- Bake for 6 minutes on the middle rack. Without opening the door, reduce to 350°F (175°C), and continue baking for another 16-18 minutes.👉 Cue: muffins are domed, deep brown, a few natural cracks. Toothpick in center comes out clean or with moist crumbs.
Cool
- Let muffins sit in pan 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Glaze (optional)
- Whisk powdered sugar, milk (add 1 tablespoon at a time until you get the desired consistency), and vanilla until smooth and pourable. Drizzle over cooled muffins.👉 Cue: glaze should form visible ribbons across domes without soaking in immediately.1 cup powdered sugar, 2-3 tablespoon milk, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Notes
- Spice balance: This blend is bold but balanced; the ginger leads, cinnamon supports, and clove gives that nostalgic holiday warmth.
- Domes and cracks: A few cracks on top are exactly what you want. They mean the muffins rose well and baked evenly inside.
- Glaze consistency: Add milk one tablespoon at a time. Whisk the glaze until it's pourable but not watery. It should sit visibly on the domes without soaking in.
Nutrition Facts
The nutrition facts provided are an estimate per serving. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
Bea & Marco says
We’ve been making these every holiday season because they take us right back to the Christmas markets we visited in Alsace. We hope you love them as much as we do!