Muffins, Scones, and More Quick Bread Recipes to Bake and Enjoy Any Time (2024)

If you want the fun of baking without the hassle of dealing with yeast, make one of our quick bread recipes. Quick breads are a category of easy-to-make baked goods that includes muffins, biscuits, scones, cornbread, and loaves. They are leavened with baking powder and/or baking soda instead of yeast. This baking technique yields fast results because you can pop your bread directly into the oven without allowing time for the dough to rise, a step that's always required when baking with yeast.

While banana bread might be the most well-known quick bread, there are so many other delicious options to choose from—and not all are shaped like loaves. In fact, individual treats, like scones and muffins, bake faster than a loaf of chocolate-zucchini bread or a cranberry loaf.

Quick breads are wonderful paired with a cup of tea or coffee for a snack or afternoon tea, they also make wonderful breakfasts. Turn to our quick bread recipes when you want an easy, tasty homemade baked good.

29 Muffin Recipes You'll Be Baking All the Time, From Classic to Creative

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Lemon Scones

Muffins, Scones, and More Quick Bread Recipes to Bake and Enjoy Any Time (1)

One of our favorite quick bread recipes, these lemon scones are easy to make and rich and decadent to eat. There's heavy cream in the batter and a two-ingredient lemon drizzle on top.

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02of 23

Classic Cornbread

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A classic indeed, cornbread is a versatile quick bread that's just as toothsome served bare bones as it is punched up with other ingredients, like hot peppers and honey. This traditional take has a balance of soft and crumbly textures that lends itself well to being an accompaniment to chili, soup, and more.

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Pumpkin-Orange Bread

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Pumpkin lovers will rejoice over this quick-bread, and you will too because it's so easy to make. Using canned pumpkin keeps the preparation time to a minimum—just 15 minutes for a treat that tastes like it took much longer to make.

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Cinnamon-Sugar Ragamuffins

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A hybrid of biscuits and cinnamon rolls, this delightful quick bread is taken to the next level by sprinkling the top with sanding sugar.

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05of 23

Cranberry Bread

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If you need a last-minute dessert for a holiday party or potluck, consider this cranberry bread. It comes together in a few simple steps and the cranberries give this quick bread a tart, invigorating bite that will have everyone coming back for seconds and thirds.

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Blueberry Scones

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Blueberry muffins are a classic and this recipe proves that blueberry scones should be too. Enjoy these buttery sweet treats for breakfast, brunch, or afternoon tea.

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Apple-Oatmeal Muffins

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Diced McIntosh apple and quick-cooking oats give these muffins a delightful flavor and texture while a buttery crumb topping puts them over the top.

Apple-Oatmeal Muffins

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Streusel Banana Bread

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Thanks to its glorious, nutty streusel topping, notes of cinnamon, brown sugar, and salt speckle every bite of this banana bread-coffee cake hybrid.

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Strawberry Bread

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Strawberries are the star ingredient of this recipe—they're mashed, simmered in a saucepan, and mixed into a batter spiced with cinnamon. Spread each slice with softened cream cheese to add a creamy element to this sweet treat.

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Lemon-Poppy Seed Buttermilk Biscuits

Muffins, Scones, and More Quick Bread Recipes to Bake and Enjoy Any Time (10)

These fluffy biscuits come together in 20 minutes and are perfect served with butter and jam for breakfast. They're also an ideal dessert option when topped with a dollop of whipped cream and sliced strawberries.

Lemon-Poppy Seed Buttermilk Biscuits

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One Batter, Four Muffins

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Use this easy batter to make blueberry or raspberry muffins, strawberry muffins, or banana-pecan muffins. It's sure to become your go-to muffin recipe.

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Chocolate Zucchini Bread

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Semi-sweet chocolate and cocoa powder give this zucchini bread a double whammy of rich-chocolatey flavor. Make the treat extra sweet by whipping up an easy, three-ingredient glaze with confectioners' sugar, whole milk, and poppy seeds.

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Martha's Soda Bread with Rye and Currants

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Although it's most often enjoyed at St. Patrick's Day, Martha's soda bread is so good you'll want to serve it year-round. The recipe calls for familiar ingredients, such as currants and caraway seeds, but is also a little different thanks to the addition of rye flour and wheat bran.

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Carrot-Asiago Bread

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Carrots work great in savory baked goods as well as sweet. Sour cream and Asiago cheese give this quick bread a creamy, smooth texture while the nutty topping adds a subtle crunch.

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Test Kitchen's Favorite Buttermilk Biscuits

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No biscuit cutter or pastry blender is needed for this easy biscuit recipe! Use a sharp knife to cut the dough into neat squares—and enjoy the fluffy biscuits with a pat of butter, swipe of jam, or a drizzle of gravy.

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Vegan Banana Bread

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Looking for a dairy-free option? This vegan spin on a classic quick bread uses coconut oil, ground flaxseed, and almond milk in place of dairy for an moist, scrumptious banana bread.

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Zucchini-Parmesan Bread with Poppy Seeds

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Looking for a way to use up zucchini? This savory bread is a delicious option. It's loaded with tender zucchini, freshly grated Parmesan, and poppy seeds add a welcome crunch.

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Morning Glory Muffins

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With layers of flavor thanks to the grated apples, carrot, coconut, and golden raisins, these generously sized muffins work well as a filling, nutritious, grab-and-go breakfast option.

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Herb-Cheddar Scones

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Elevate your morning breakfast sandwich by using our herb-cheddar scones instead of the usual toast or bagel. Scallions, sharp cheddar, and dill are used in the dough for a depth of earthy flavor.

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Irish-Style Brown Bread

Muffins, Scones, and More Quick Bread Recipes to Bake and Enjoy Any Time (20)

Similar to the bread you might find on a traditional Irish table, this version cuts whole-wheat flour with rye flour. The five-ingredient recipe comes together in less than an hour and can be enjoyed with butter and jam for breakfast or dipping into soups and stews for dinner.

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Cheddar Bread

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If you're in the mood to bake but don't want to dirty a bunch of dishes, consider this cheddar bread. The ingredients are whisked together by hand in two bowls and baked in a loaf pan. It's easy to make, easy to clean up after, and absolutely delicious.

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Test Kitchen's Favorite Banana-Chocolate Chip Bread

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There are so many ways to make banana bread but we think this is one of the best. Buttermilk makes it tender and adding semisweet chocolate chips seals the deal.

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Dark and Spicy Pumpkin Loaf

Muffins, Scones, and More Quick Bread Recipes to Bake and Enjoy Any Time (23)

As its name suggest, this gluten-free treat is just the thing for pumpkin fans. The recipe calls for familiar ingredients, like pumpkin purée, cinnamon, and nutmeg, which are combined with buckwheat and rice flours for a treat everyone can enjoy.

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Muffins, Scones, and More Quick Bread Recipes to Bake and Enjoy Any Time (2024)

FAQs

What is the muffin method for quick bread? ›

The purpose of this method is to limit the amount of gluten production during the mixing process, keeping quick breads light and tender. To achieve this, the dry ingredients are combined in one bowl, the wet ingredients are combined in a separate bowl, and then the two mixtures are combined together.

Why are quick breads called quick because they are baked immediately after the ingredients have been mixed? ›

Quick breads use the chemical leavening agents of baking powder and/or baking soda. Baking powder and baking soda do not require time for rising, so the batter for quick bread is cooked immediately after mixing.

When using the muffin method for making quick breads What should the fat be? ›

And that fat is in liquid form, like oil or melted butter. You'll probably recognize this method in many recipes for quick breads, pancakes, corn bread, and more. There's generally less sugar in a muffin versus a cake, so that requires a different way of mixing.

What are three examples of quick breads? ›

Muffins, coffeecakes, scones, and pancakes are examples of quick breads, that like their name implies, can be prepared quickly in a kitchen.

Do you cream butter and sugar for muffins? ›

Tips and tricks for mixing the best muffins: Have your ingredients at room temperature (68 degrees F) before starting. The creaming method, which means to cream the butter, sugar, and oil together. You can do this by hand, but it's a lot easier with an electric mixer.

What makes muffins chewy? ›

One of the common reasons for muffins to become dense and chewy is overmixing. The standard technique for making muffins is very simple. You sift your dry ingredients together and whisk your wet ingredients together. Then, you combine the two, stirring until they're just mixed.

Are quick breads actually bread? ›

Quick breads are a type of bread made without yeast, instead relying on other leavening agents like baking soda or baking powder.

What is known as the fastest bread making method because it uses batter instead of dough? ›

The muffin method is a method of making quick breads in which liquid ingredients are lightly mixed into dry ingredients to create a batter with a slightly coarse yet tender texture.

What is the difference between bread and quick bread? ›

Explanation: The difference between yeast breads and quick breads is the leavening agent. Yeast is a living cell that multiplies rapidly when given the proper food, moisture, and warmth. It must "proof", or rise, to allow the production of carbon dioxide that allows the bread to rise during baking.

What not to do when making muffins? ›

Overmixing the batter.

When you overmix the batter, it crushes the air bubbles and ruins the fluffy texture. → Follow this tip: To ensure a batch of light, fluffy muffins, mix the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients until just barely combined, and no more dry flour is visible.

How wet should muffin batter be? ›

Depending on what ingredients you're using, the batter will range from runny (like thin cake batter) to very thick (like drop-cookie dough). As a general rule, the thinner the batter, the lighter the muffins will be when baked. But don't be afraid to bake thick, gloppy batter.

What are the 7 ingredients in quick bread? ›

Combine flour, baking powder and salt in bowl; set aside. Combine milk, sugar, melted butter, eggs and vanilla in another bowl; stir 20-30 seconds. Add flour mixture, one-third at a time, stirring after each addition just until smooth. (There may be a few small lumps in batter.)

What is the mixing method used in quick bread? ›

Three common mixing methods are the muffin mixing method, the creaming method and the biscuit mixing method. The muffin method suits muffins, loaf breads, pancakes, and waffles. Biscuits and scones benefit from the biscuit method, while the creaming method offers an alternative for muffins and certain bread types.

What best describes the muffin method of mixing? ›

Muffin Method (most common)

Mix the dry ingredients thoroughly in one bowl with a whisk or fork to distribute all ingredients completely. Combine the liquid (wet) ingredients in another bowl. Mix thoroughly. Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients all at once.

How is the muffin method different from the creaming method? ›

The muffin method tends to make more tender baked goods. Creaming entrains air and tends to make taller cakes and muffins. In the creaming method, cream the fat (butter or shortening) with the sugar until light and then add the other ingredients.

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