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Two tall golden zucchini muffins stacked on a white surface, with white paper liners, coarse sparkling sugar on the domed tops, and green zucchini flecks throughout. Whole dark green zucchini, cinnamon sticks, and a pale green plaid napkin appear softly in the background.
5 from 1 vote

Zucchini Muffins

These easy Zucchini Muffins are soft, moist, and fluffy with plenty of freshly shredded zucchini, warm cinnamon and nutmeg, and a crunchy sparkling sugar topping. They bake up with tall, golden tops and make a delicious breakfast, brunch, or afternoon snack.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Servings: 12 Muffins
Calories: 252kcal

Ingredients

  • cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 2 large eggs - at room temperature
  • ¾ cup light brown sugar - packed
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup neutral oil - such as avocado oil or vegetable oil
  • ¼ cup full-fat sour cream - at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • cups finely shredded zucchini
  • 2-3 tablespoons coarse sparkling sugar - for topping, optional

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a standard 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
  • Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg to a medium bowl. Whisk until evenly combined.
    1¾ cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon fine sea salt, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • In a separate large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Add the oil, sour cream, and vanilla extract and continue whisking until smooth.
    2 large eggs, ¾ cup light brown sugar, ¼ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup neutral oil, ¼ cup full-fat sour cream, 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • Add the dry ingredients to the bowl with the wet ingredients. Use a spatula to gently fold everything together just until the flour is incorporated. Avoid overmixing.
  • Fold the shredded zucchini into the batter until it is evenly distributed.
    1½ cups finely shredded zucchini
  • Divide the batter evenly among the 12 prepared muffin cups, filling each one almost to the top. Sprinkle the tops generously with coarse sparkling sugar.
    2-3 tablespoons coarse sparkling sugar
  • Bake at 425°F for 5 minutes.
  • Without opening the oven door, reduce the temperature to 350°F. Continue baking for 14-17 minutes, or until the muffins are tall and golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.
  • Let the muffins cool in the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Notes

Zucchini: You do not need to peel the zucchini before shredding, nor do you need to squeeze out the extra moisture.
Forgot to take your eggs out ahead of time? Place the cold eggs in a bowl of warm, not hot, water for 10-15 minutes while you prep the other ingredients.
Storage: Once completely cooled, store the muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. I like to add a paper towel to the container to help absorb excess moisture.
Freezing: Freeze completely cooled muffins in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or gently warm an individual muffin in the microwave before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 252kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 162mg | Potassium: 131mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 106IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 1mg
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