10 Best Muffin Mixes in 2022 (Chef-Reviewed)

We picked our 10 best muffin mixes based on the following criteria:

• The muffin flavor
• What extra ingredients you'll need
  
• How the mix's ingredients affect taste and texture
• Any dietary restrictions or needs
• How many muffins it makes
  

Make sure to check out our Buying Guide for more information and tips to help you choose your perfect muffin mix. 

Here are our 10 best picks for muffin mixes. We made our choices based on the points listed in the buying guide below, as well as reviewer comments when available.

*Please note that these products were chosen after extensive research by mybest writers. The choices are not necessarily affiliated with or recommended by Jim Quast.

There are so many muffin mix flavors to explore, including everything from decadent triple-chocolate to simple, plain muffins. While your favorite flavor is no doubt important to take into account, you can also try selecting a flavor that will complement a special occasion or season.

For example, a nice fall get-together may call for something warm with a bit of spice, like apple cinnamon or pumpkin spice muffins. If you want a simple companion for dinner, bake up corn muffins; they are usually not that sweet and taste heavenly with a dab of butter.

Want a muffin that pairs well with the bitterness of your coffee? Try flavors like chocolate or vanilla to go with your morning cup of coffee. When it comes to chocolate, there are different levels that you can choose from. If you're a chocoholic, go for a mix with double or even triple the amount of chocolate for extra indulgence.

On the other hand, fruity muffins pair well with tea. Blueberry, lemon poppy seed, and banana muffins can bring out the depth of your tea. You can also choose a basic muffin mix if you want to add different ingredients to create your own flavor. 

The majority of muffin mixes will ask you to add extra ingredients like eggs, butter, oil, milk, or water. However, if you have dietary restrictions, allergies, or just want to make healthier muffins, then check the product's description to see if there are any substitute options.

If a recipe calls for butter, you can choose any kind of oil instead. While butter provides a rich flavor, oil will increase the moistness and density of your muffins. Aside from coconut or olive oil, oil doesn't offer up much flavor on its own. Muffins baked using butter are usually fluffier in texture since butter is a solid fat, which helps muffins rise.

Water, dairy-free milk, and regular milk can usually be used interchangeably as well. Milk usually adds more fat, density, and extra flavor to your muffins. On the other hand, water will give your muffins a lighter, simpler taste. 

You will often see eggs as a requirement to make muffins, and a mix may call for more than one. The more eggs, the firmer your muffins may be, as eggs help maintain structure and serve as the glue of all the ingredients. Also, eggs increase moisture. To replace eggs, ingredients such as applesauce, flaxseed, ripe bananas, or tapioca starch are some great options to consider.

As mixes might need accurate measurements and specific ingredients to turn out right, changes in ingredients might modify the muffins' flavor or texture. Look through the product's description and check out comments from reviewers to see which substitutes do the trick. 

Two mixes with the same flavor may yield muffins of different texture and taste, regardless of the brand. Two blueberry mixes, for example, can differ in flavor if one uses real blueberries, while the other uses bits of sugar and starches artificially flavored and colored to mimic a real blueberry. The latter is more common than you'd expect.

Flavor intensity can also be affected if one mix is generous with its amount of fruit, nuts or chocolate chips and the other is more conservative. Try checking buyers' photos and reviews to see how the muffins actually turn out.

Muffin mixes that use non-traditional or healthier recipes can differ from their regular counterparts by way of texture in particular, as they often use coconut flour, almond flour, and tapioca starch, which may result in muffins with a grittier or more crumbly texture.

If you are sticking to a stringent diet, such as keto, low-carb, or vegan, screen the ingredient list and nutrition information to make sure the product suits your dietary needs. Luckily, many mixes cater to a variety of dietary requirements.

Many products are crafted with almond flour, coconut flour, and tapioca starch in lieu of wheat flour, so they contain fewer carbohydrates while being pretty high in fiber and protein.

If you are allergic to ingredients like wheat, soy, or nuts, check the product's description to make sure the product is truly suitable for your diet. Make sure to look at the "may contain" information, too. Muffin mixes might get cross-contaminated if they are manufactured in a shared facility with allergens.

If you're watching your sugar intake, choose a product sweetened with zero-calorie sweeteners. Usually, artificial sweeteners such as sucralose and aspartame have an aftertaste. Instead, you can go for a natural sweetener derived from fruits and vegetables like stevia extract and monk fruit for a more pleasant flavor. 

When selecting a product, don't forget to check how many muffins it can make. Some mixes will only allow you to make 12, while some help you bake up to 24 muffins. There are also muffin-mix cups that are perfect for individual portions.

If you have a muffin pan, take note of its size. Mini pans usually have 24 cups, standard pans usually have 12 cups, and jumbo pans usually have six cups. So, don't focus on only the yield number on a package. If you are using a standard pan, but a muffin mix says it yields six large muffins, you will probably have enough mix to make 12 standard muffins, if not more.

Mixes can help you bake up muffins in a matter of minutes, but they might not deliver the yummiest muffins you've ever had. If you want your muffins to taste homemade, choose a mix that's made with simple, wholesome ingredients without any preservatives or additives. 

The most delicious muffins often contain the fewest ingredients, but it can be fun to add complementary flavors and textures, too!

Put your baking skills to the test and try experimenting with different add-ins and toppings. If you want a fruity flavor, try adding fresh or frozen fruit, like blueberries or strawberries, while lemon or orange zest works wonders for adding a burst of aroma and a tangy kick.

If you want a nice surprise with each bite, add some cream cheese filling, jam, or custard! Whipped cream, streusel topping, or sweet glaze can elevate the flavor of muffins as well. You can even mix in something like corn, cheese, or ham for a nice savory taste.

You don’t have to limit yourself to the instructions laid out. In fact, some muffin mixes have recipe suggestions on the back of the box to give you some new ideas.

Don't have time to go shopping for ingredients? Try a baking mix! Check out our articles for some suggestions that can help you bake up some tasty treats in no time. 

If you still haven't been able to narrow down your choices or want to get an idea of what other people are picking out, head on over to Amazon's best selling list of muffin mixes.

Author: Thuy Nguyen

Updated by: Rui, 6/10/2022