Name: Gingerbread Muffins with Vanilla Glaze Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 &frac23; cups all-purpose flour; 2 ¼ teaspoons baking soda; 1 tablespoon ground ginger; 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature; ½ cup granulated sugar; 2 large eggs, at room temperature; ½ cup dark molasses; 1 cup cold water; 1 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted; 1 teaspoon vanilla bean powder; 1 tablespoon whole milk (plus more as needed)

If you’re looking for the ultimate cozy treat, you’ve got to try this Gingerbread Muffins with Vanilla Glaze Recipe. I absolutely love how these muffins come out so moist, perfectly spiced, and topped with a sweet vanilla glaze that takes them over the top. Whether it’s a chilly morning or a festive gathering, these muffins bring warmth and smiles every time. Keep reading—I’m sharing all my tips and tricks to help you nail this recipe easily at home.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Rich Warm Spices: The combination of ginger and cinnamon creates that classic gingerbread flavor you crave.
Moist and Tender Muffins: The molasses and water blend keeps the texture just right—never dry or crumbly.
Simple Vanilla Glaze: The vanilla bean powder in the glaze adds a subtle depth that pairs beautifully with the spices.
Beginner Friendly: You’ll love how straightforward the steps are, even if you don’t bake often.

Seven brown cupcakes sit evenly on a silver cooling rack over a white marbled surface. Each cupcake has a dome-shaped top with a texture that looks soft and slightly coarse. They are decorated with white icing drizzled in diagonal lines in a casual pattern over the top of each cupcake. The white icing contrasts clearly against the rich brown color of the cupcakes. The cooling rack lines form a grid beneath them, adding structure to the composition. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Gingerbread Muffins with Vanilla Glaze, cozy gingerbread muffins, spiced muffin recipes, holiday breakfast treats, moist gingerbread muffins

Ingredients You’ll Need

The ingredients for this Gingerbread Muffins with Vanilla Glaze Recipe are pantry staples for the most part, which means you might already have everything laying around. The key is to use good-quality molasses and fresh spices for the best flavor punch.

Flat lay of a small mound of all-purpose flour, a neat pile of golden brown granulated sugar, two whole uncracked brown eggs, a rectangular slab of unsalted butter at room temperature, a small white ceramic bowl with dark amber molasses, a small white bowl of cold water, a small white bowl filled with fine confectioners’ sugar, a small white bowl containing whole milk, a heap of warm brown ground ginger, a small pile of cinnamon powder, a pinch of salt arranged as fine crystals, and a small white bowl with vanilla bean powder, all arranged symmetrically and balanced on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997 - Gingerbread Muffins with Vanilla Glaze, cozy gingerbread muffins, spiced muffin recipes, holiday breakfast treats, moist gingerbread muffins

All-purpose flour: This is your muffin’s base, so measure it well for the perfect texture.
Baking soda: Helps the muffins rise and get fluffy.
Ground ginger: The star spice—make sure it’s fresh for maximum zing.
Ground cinnamon: Adds warmth and depth to the spice blend.
Salt: Balances flavors and brings out sweetness.
Unsalted butter: Use at room temperature so it creams easily and blends better.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens the muffins and helps with browning.
Large eggs: Provide structure and moisture.
Dark molasses: This gives the traditional gingerbread flavor and rich color.
Cold water: Keeps the batter smooth and helps achieve tender crumb.
Confectioners’ sugar: For the glaze — it dissolves beautifully.
Vanilla bean powder: Elevates the glaze with natural vanilla flavor, but you can substitute vanilla extract if needed.
Whole milk: Adjusts glaze consistency perfectly.

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I love how versatile this Gingerbread Muffins with Vanilla Glaze Recipe is. Over the years, I’ve played around with a few tweaks to make it fit any occasion or preference. And honestly, you’ll find it’s just as delicious no matter what personal twist you add!

Spiced Up: I sometimes add a pinch of cloves or nutmeg for an extra warm spice kick, especially around the holidays.
Vegan Swap: Replacing butter with coconut oil and using flax eggs works surprisingly well for a dairy-free version.
Maple Glaze: Swap vanilla bean glaze for a maple syrup glaze—I did this once for brunch and it was a hit!
Seeded Delight: Toss in some chopped crystallized ginger or crushed crystallized seeds like pumpkin to add a surprise texture.

How to Make Gingerbread Muffins with Vanilla Glaze Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Oven and Tin

First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a standard 12-tin muffin pan with cupcake liners, and spray them lightly with nonstick baking spray. I sometimes add liners even if I’m not planning on freezing the muffins, because it helps with easy removal and cleanup. Trust me on this one—no muffin sticking to the pan is a win!

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, and salt. Doing this step well ensures the spices are evenly dispersed, so every bite bursts with that perfect gingerbread flavor. Set this bowl aside for now, and no peeking—your dry ingredients are ready to mingle with the wet ones soon!

Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugar, Then Add Eggs & Molasses

Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment—or a hand mixer if that’s what you have—beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. This step is crucial because it traps air and helps give the muffins that tender crumb. Next, add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Then pour in the molasses and beat until everything is well combined. Make sure you scrape down the sides of your bowl so no buttery goodness gets left behind.

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Now, carefully add half of the dry ingredient mixture to your wet mixture. Beat on low just until incorporated—overmixing at this stage can make your muffins tough, so gentle is the way to go. Then add the rest of the dry mix, scraping down the sides as needed, and beat until thoroughly combined. With the mixer still running low, pour in the cold water and continue beating for about 2 minutes until the batter is smooth and silky. This extra mixing time with the water is what makes these muffins so deliciously moist.

Step 5: Bake to Perfection

Divide the batter evenly into each muffin cup, filling about ¾ full to allow room for rising. Pop the pan into your preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes. The best way to test doneness here is the trusty toothpick test—insert it into the center of a muffin and if it comes out clean, you’re golden. Let the muffins cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Patience is key if you want to glaze them without melting away the delicate icing.

Step 6: Whip Up the Vanilla Bean Glaze

While your muffins cool, mix up the glaze. In a small bowl, combine sifted confectioners’ sugar, vanilla bean powder, and whole milk. Whisk until smooth and then adjust the consistency by adding more milk, a teaspoon at a time, until it’s just right for drizzling. I like mine thick enough to stay on top but thin enough to run down the sides slightly—that look is irresistible! Drizzle your glaze generously over the cooled muffins and get ready to enjoy.

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Pro Tips for Making Gingerbread Muffins with Vanilla Glaze Recipe

Room Temperature Ingredients: Always use room temperature butter and eggs for better mixing and fluffier muffins.
Don’t Overmix the Batter: Overworking the batter can lead to dense muffins, so mix just until ingredients are combined.
Test Your Oven Temperature: I discovered my oven runs a bit hot, so I use an oven thermometer to avoid overbaking.
Perfect Glaze Consistency: Add milk slowly to the glaze to control thickness and avoid it being too runny.

How to Serve Gingerbread Muffins with Vanilla Glaze Recipe

A group of brown muffins with a soft, moist texture are shown on a silver cooling rack placed over a white marbled surface. Each muffin has white icing drizzled in thin, even lines on top. One muffin in the front has a large bite taken out, revealing its dense crumb inside. There is a close-up detail of the crumb texture along with a few crumbs scattered on the marbled background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Gingerbread Muffins with Vanilla Glaze, cozy gingerbread muffins, spiced muffin recipes, holiday breakfast treats, moist gingerbread muffins

Garnishes

I like to keep it simple and fresh—sometimes a tiny sprinkle of crushed crystallized ginger or a delicate dusting of cinnamon on top of the glaze just before serving adds a little extra charm and zing. For festive occasions, a small edible gold star or a few festive sprinkles on the glaze can make these muffins look too good to resist.

Side Dishes

These muffins are lovely on their own, but if you want to turn your snack into a breakfast or brunch spread, pairing them with a creamy hot latte, chai tea, or even a scoop of vanilla yogurt makes the experience even richer. My family enjoys them with a side of fresh fruit or a dollop of spiced apple butter too.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I’ve arranged the muffins on a tiered serving tray surrounded by cinnamon sticks and fresh rosemary sprigs to add that festive aromatic touch. Wrapping each muffin in a little parchment with a twine bow makes for cute little gifts or party favors too—guaranteed to impress your guests!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I’ve found the best way to keep these muffins fresh is to store them covered at room temperature for up to two days—the glaze softens nicely over time. If you want to keep them longer, place them in an airtight container in the fridge where they’ll stay good for up to a week. Just let them come to room temp before serving for best flavor.

Freezing

These muffins freeze wonderfully! I usually freeze them without the glaze to avoid any texture issues. Wrap each muffin tightly in plastic wrap and put them all in a freezer-safe bag. When you want a treat, thaw overnight in the fridge and add the glaze fresh—this keeps them tasting like they were just baked.

Reheating

To warm up leftover muffins, I pop one in the microwave for about 15-20 seconds or heat it gently in a toaster oven until just warm. If they’ve been glazed before storing, a quick warm-up softens the glaze back to that lovely drippy consistency, but fresh glaze is always my favorite touch after reheating.

FAQs

Can I use regular vanilla extract instead of vanilla bean powder for the glaze?

Absolutely! While vanilla bean powder offers a subtle speckled look and extra depth, you can substitute it with 1 teaspoon of good-quality vanilla extract. It’ll still give that lovely vanilla flavor to your glaze.
Can I make these muffins ahead of time?

Yes, you can bake the muffins up to 2 days in advance and store them covered at room temperature. I recommend glazing them right before serving to keep that fresh sweetness and texture.
What can I substitute for molasses if I don’t have any?

Molasses gives authentic flavor and richness, but if you’re out, you could try using dark corn syrup or brown sugar mixed with a little water as a last resort—though the flavor won’t be quite the same.
How do I know when the muffins are done?

The best way is to insert a toothpick in the center. If it comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs, they’re perfectly baked. Don’t rely on time alone—oven temperatures vary! Also, the muffins should spring back lightly when touched.

Final Thoughts

I honestly can’t get enough of this Gingerbread Muffins with Vanilla Glaze Recipe. It brings that nostalgic, comforting vibe to every bite, and I love sharing it with friends and family during the cooler months. If you’re looking for a recipe that’s both familiar and a little special, this one’s your new go-to. Give it a try—you’ll be amazed at just how easy and rewarding homemade gingerbread muffins can be!