Buttermilk Spice Muffins Recipe

Name: Buttermilk Spice Muffins
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour ((325 grams)); 2 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 2 tsp ground cinnamon; 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg; 1/2 tsp salt; 3 large eggs (room temperature); 1 cup granulated sugar ((200 grams)); 1/2 cup butter, softened ((1 stick, 113 grams)); 1 cup buttermilk ((237 ml)); 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1/4 cup brown sugar ((55 grams)); 1/4 cup granulated sugar ((50 grams)); 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon; 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

5 from 12 votes

Modified: Jun 17, 2025 · Published: Sep 17, 2022 by Erin Gierhart · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

↓ Jump to Recipe

This Buttermilk Spice Muffins recipe is based on the popular muffin from Mimi's Cafe. It is a tender and moist muffin with warm cinnamon and nutmeg spices, with a decadent cinnamon sugar topping.

Single muffin unwrapped on the liner and more muffins on a cooling rack.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Mimi's Cafe Fan Favorite - If you have ever ordered Mimi's Cafe Buttermilk Spice Muffins the chances are it quickly became your favorite muffin ever! It tastes like coffee cake but in the form of a moist muffin.

Light and Tender - The ingredients and process steps are carefully crafted to give you the softest and fluffiest muffins!

Fall Flavors - Buttermilk spice muffins make me dream of fall. It doesn't matter if I am eating them in the middle of a 100-degree Texas summer day or on a crisp fall morning. Enjoying a warm muffin in my PJs with a cup of coffee makes any morning just about perfect.

If you are really in a fall baking mood, you have to make some Pumpkin Bread, Banana Bread, or Apple Cider Donuts!

And if you're craving summer flavors, my Peach Muffins and Cherry Chocolate Muffins are both delicious choices. One is filled with sweet, tender peaches, and the other is packed with juicy cherries and rich chocolate.

Key Ingredients

Looking for the full recipe? The recipe card at the bottom of this post includes the complete list of ingredients, measurements, and instructions.

Buttermilk - Just like in my Texas sheet cake with buttermilk recipe, the addition of buttermilk makes these muffins extra tender because of how the acid interacts with the proteins. If you do not have buttermilk on hand then mix 1 tablespoon of white vinegar into regular milk. Let it sit for a couple of minutes before adding to the batter.

Baking Powder - This leavening agent helps the muffins rise tall. I tested this recipe just using baking soda but it was denser. A combination of baking powder and baking soda works best.

Butter - Adds moisture and great flavor to the muffin. For an even softer muffin, replace half of the butter with canola or vegetable oil.

Spices - The simple mixture of ground cinnamon and nutmeg gives these muffins more flavor than cinnamon spice muffins, but is also not overpowering.

Nuts - The authentic Mimi's Cafe muffins have walnuts but my family prefers pecans. Either will work! If you do not like nuts then leave them out completely.

Instructions

Step One: Mix Dry Ingredients

Whisking the dry ingredients in a separate bowl helps distribute the ingredients evenly throughout the batter.
Set the flour mixture aside while preparing the wet ingredients.

Step Two: Cream Wet Ingredients

Place the eggs in a large bowl and beat on high speed using an electric mixer until light colored and fluffy. This step helps build the muffin texture, keeping it light.
Add the sugar and butter and continue beating for a couple of minutes to incorporate them fully into the eggs.
Mix in the buttermilk and vanilla extract, then stir in the dry ingredients on low speed until just combined.

Step Three: Finish Muffin Batter

Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients on low speed.
Do not mix too much or your muffins will be dense instead of fluffy. Just mix it until the dry ingredients are no longer visible.

Step Four: Prepare Topping

Mix the cinnamon, remaining sugars, and nuts in a small bowl.
Cut the butter into the sugar and flour mixture using a pastry cutter or your fingers, until the butter is in small crumbs.
If you are adding nuts, go ahead and add them in.

Steps to make mimi's cafe buttermilk spice muffins.

Step Five: Bake

Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
Fill each of the paper liners ¼-inch from the top with the muffin batter (about ½ cup for each muffin).
Sprinkle one heaping tablespoon of the cinnamon sugar mixture on top of each muffin cup of batter.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown. To check doneness, insert a toothpick in the middle of the muffin. If it comes out clean then the muffins are fully baked.

Bake Any Size✨

Whether you’re making a batch for little hands or want that bakery-style look, this recipe adjusts easily. For minis, bake at 350°F (177°C) for 12–15 minutes. They freeze well and reheat in just 30 seconds. For jumbo muffins, use 1 cup of batter per liner and bake for 25–30 minutes.

Muffin sliced in half on a plate with butter.

Recommended Recipes

Let me know how you like this recipe by leaving a review! And follow along on Instagram @stateofdinner for behind-the-scenes and to be among the first to know when new recipes post!

Recipe

Comments

5 from 12 votes (11 ratings without comment)

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Key Ingredients