With their crunchy crumb topping, these cherry cobbler muffins are like a dessert you can eat for breakfast!
I wish I could say that today’s recipe has a history behind it, like it’s been passed down from generation to generation since my Huguenot ancestors fled France with nothing but the clothes on their backs and a hand-written recipe for cherry cobbler muffins.
But it’s not. It’s something I put together on the fly last week when I couldn’t sleep because I was sure a serial killer was hiding under my bed. Or in my closet or outside the sliding door in my living room. But definitely somewhere nearby, waiting to pounce.
Why was I convinced of such a crazy thing? Because I make bad choices. Kelsie: baker of cakes, maker of bad decisions.
Before I went to bed I was listening to the Ted Bundy episode of Last Podcast on the Left. I don’t know why this, of all podcasts, kept me awake because I’m kind of a serial killer connoisseur, and I’ve read pretty much everything written about Ted Bundy.
So there you go. No lovely family history lesson, although there is a tangential connection with my mother, from whom I inherited my fascination with all things gruesome. (She got me started on Ted Bundy when she gave me a copy of The Stranger Beside Me. I was all of 10 years old.)
And so began my obsession with serial killers.
But let’s return to present day and cheerier subjects, i.e. cherry cobbler muffins.
Full of cinnamon and allspice and topped with a crunchy crumb topping, these muffins taste just like cherry cobbler. But you can eat them for breakfast! (Not that I’d ever say cobbler isn’t a breakfast food.)
The smell of muffins in the oven has to be one of the most comforting things in life; they smell like lazy Sundays spent in pajamas in the safety of my parents’ kitchen, drinking endless cups of tea and playing speed with my sister.
Therefore, they’re the perfect thing to take one’s mind off the ugliness that exists out in the world. And they come together quickly enough that you can whip them up late at night and still get a reasonable night’s sleep afterward.
As long as you can resist listening to more creepy podcasts. Or reading the unresolved mysteries sub on Reddit, but that’s another story for another day.
Cherry cobbler muffins are like dessert you can eat for breakfast!
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
- 1 egg
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup chopped + pitted fresh or frozen cherries
- Place the butter and sugar in the bowl of a food processor and process until combined. Pulse in the remaining ingredients until the mixture is crumbly. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray or line with cupcake liners. Set pan aside.
- Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and allspice together in a large mixing bowl. Beat the egg, oil, and milk together in a small bowl. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients just until combined. (If batter is too thick, add 1 or 2 tablespoons of additional milk.) Gently fold the chopped cherries into the batter.
- Divide batter evenly between prepared muffin cups. Top each muffin with the streusel topping.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until lightly browned on top and a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean. Cool the muffins in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then remove. Serve and enjoy.
Adapted from How to Bake Everything
Ruby_&_Cake says
HAHAHA Oh my god I can relate to this post so much. I too have a slight obsession with serial killers – reading about fred and rosemary west at the moment and I get so worked up before bed time that I have to do a running jump to my bed so no hand reaches out for my ankles! WIll have to look out for last podcast on the left now!
These muffins look sublime. With a morning cup of coffee wht could be better? Great post Kelsie 🙂
Kelsie says
OHEMGEE! They are the creepiest couple ever. Last Podcast on the Left did an episode on them too–or some podcast did an episode I listened to, cringing the whole time. I’ve definitely done the running jump out of bed. . .Thank you Ruby! Have a great week!
evolvewithmary says
I love crumble toppings, they are my fave!!! So sweet so tasty and sooooo crunchy. I loved learning the history behind these muffins, super cool 🙂 I can’t believe they only left with the clothes on their backs and a hand-written recipe, now I have to make these muffins. I need to check out this podcast, it sounds super interesting.
Kelsie says
Thank you Mary! It’s really interesting! And it seems well researched too. Have a great rest of your week!
Thao @ In Good Flavor says
Yikes! Those nights are the worst! I refrain from all things scary and gruesome because I would have sleepless nights for days. Anyway, I have never seen cherry muffins before. These look fantastic, Kelsie! And love the streusel topping!
Kelsie says
Thank you Thao! Streusel makes everything better 🙂
Katherine | Love In My Oven says
I seriously think we are the same person – although my ancestors most definitely did not flee from France!! I have a weird fascination about serial killers as well, but GIRL that was a bad idea to listen to that madness before bed. The baking needs to happen before bed – soothing, right!? These muffs sound so yummy!! And I must say your pics are awesome on this post 🙂
Kelsie says
I know. . .I just can’t stop myself sometimes! Thank you so much, Katherine! Have a great week!
Carol Yarbrough says
I love muffins, I am going to make these! Sorry about the scary night, glad you are ok!
Kelsie says
Thank you Carol! You’ll have to let me know what you think!
Amy (Savory Moments) says
Have you read the book “Killer on the Road” by Ginger Strand? I found it pretty fascinating! These muffins look scrumptious too!
Kelsie says
I haven’t but I’m looking it up right now! Thank you Amy!
marcie@flavorthemoments says
So when I was younger, I was drawn to the Jack the Ripper story and even dragged my husband on a Jack the Ripper tour when we went to London years ago. I’m not into horror movies or books anymore but the long and short of it is I get your Ted Bundy thing. lol And that stuff is creepy enough to keep you awake! Aside from that, I’m in love with these cherry cobbler muffins so something really great did come out of your sleepless night!
Kelsie says
I’m pretty sure I went on the same tour, or one like it anyway! Haha! Thank you Marcie!
hummingbirdthyme says
Anything with Cherry Cobbler in the name speaks to me loudly – these sound amazing! And now, I have to decide whether to listen to this Podcast. Fortunately I usually listen in the morning, but I do value sleep, so that might be a tough decision. Although there’s always wakeful baking…. As an aside, one of my daughter’s teachers (she’s about 70 now) once dated Ted Bundy. And lived to tell about it. Super creepy story.
Kelsie says
Definitely don’t listen to it after about 2 p.m. It’s just spooky! But it’s well researched at least :). That is SOOOOO creepy about your daughter’s teacher. Just terrifying!
annie@ciaochowbambina says
Hahahaah! I would definitely need to get up and get moving after scary thoughts like that! I love that you thought to make muffins! Nothin’ more comforting than that!
Kelsie says
Right? Nothing beats muffins in terms of comfort 🙂
Ben|Havocinthekitchen says
When I was a kid, I would read a lot of detective and mysterious books. One of my favorite author was Agatha Christie. Certainly, her books didn’t have so gruesome characters; however, some episodes still were creepy. I’m telling you – I did have many sleepiness nighs. Not because I was afraid to go sleep – mostly cause I couldn’t stop reading. Also, I loved some novels of Edgar Po, and that was the different story – I believe I had plenty of nights I was just terrified to go sleep 🙂 I agree with David – I think you could use these muffins like garlic is used against vampires, just with the positive connotation. While garlic scares all bad things, these delicious muffins would probably turn all these killers, zombies, and mummies into quite nice creatures 🙂
Kelsie says
I’m right there with you; I’ve stayed up many nights because I couldn’t put down a good mystery :). I’ll for sure start carrying baked goods in my purse to ward off zombies and vampires, haha! Thank you Ben! Hope you’re having a great week!
Carlee says
Cobbler for breakfast? I’m in! You can keep the serial killers for yourself though! ?
Kelsie says
Oh don’t worry. I’m pretty sure all the serial killers are hanging out in my upstairs closet :). Have a great week, Carlee!
Maria Doss says
The mash-ups of all mash-ups!! Two favorites into one. Loooove this my dear:)
Kelsie says
Thank you Maria!
Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says
Girl, why would you do that to yourself right before bed? Why? However, least you got to make these beauties so high five for that! P.S. Read Milena’s comment and loved Dexter! Have you seen? P.P.S. send muffins 😉 Smeared with lots of butta and I’m set!
Kelsie says
That’s the question, Dawn! I have zero idea what was going through my head :). I’ll send you alllll the muffins! Have a great week!
Milena | Craft Beering says
Please say that you are a fan of Dexter and that you cried and cried (like I did) after you watched the very last episode of the very last season. I need some of these cherry cobbler muffins because now I’m feeling nostalgic. Maybe I will binge watch the entire thing as soon as I am ready to let go of Game of Thrones come fall. Hopefully.
Kelsie says
I’m a total Dexter fan. However, I haven’t made it all the way through the series yet. I’ve been binge-watching it the last few weeks, but had to take a break because that was disrupting my sleep too :). As soon as I get to the end I’ll let you know so we can discuss! Have a great week, Milena!
pglooney says
I am loving all things cherries right now, how did you know! These look great even if they don’t have a crazy history.
Kelsie says
Haha! I’m glad I could provide you a cherry recipe then. Have a great week, Patrick!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Guuurl, we must be cut from the same cloth! As a chick with a degree in psychology, I am OBSESSED with serial killers. I kid you not, I wrote a paper in college about Ted Bundy! And, umm, you wanna know something kinda crazy? I was in the Chi Omega sorority at FSU… obviously I wasn’t in the sorority when he killed a bunch of women there. But I always had the weirdest feeling in one of the bedrooms upstairs. Anyways, that can be our secret, okay? 😉 Hmmmm how to transition to muffins now?? Lol. These look AWESOME! I’m so loving that you turned cherry cobbler into muffins! GENIUS!!!! Can’t wait to try these! Cheers, doll!
Kelsie says
NO YOU WERE NOT! That is sooooo creepy! I’m glad we discovered our mutual gruesomeness though :). Thank you so much, Chey! Have a great week!
Mary Ann @ thebeachhousekitchen says
Hilarious post Kelsie! So glad you decided to whip up these muffins to keep your mind occupied with something other than serial killers! They look delish!
Kelsie says
Thank you Mary Ann! Have a great week!
Kelly @ Kelly Lynn's Sweets and Treats says
Mmmm these look like breakfast perfection!! I love Dateline NBC and all those kinds of shows. But yeah….probably not something calming to watch or listen to before bedtime lol!! Have a great week! Xoxo 🙂
Kelsie says
I KNOW! What was I thinking? Haha! Thank you Kelly!
wearenotmartha says
omg I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I listened to that before bed either. BUT if the result of you listening to the podcast is these muffins, then I’m totally OK with you losing some sleep 🙂 I want this to be my breakfast right now!
Sues
Kelsie says
Thank you Sues! Have a great week, my dear!
David | Spiced says
I love that you are an armchair detective, Kelsie! In truth, I kinda fancy myself to be one, too. Either that, or I just wanna wear the Sherlock Holmes’ hat. Speaking of Sherlock, have you read those? That collection is legit! I think I’ve read it through like 3 times now. Anyways, I digress. Baker by day, amateur sleuth by night! I bet if you packed a bag full of these muffins, then all of the bad guys in the world would just confess right then and there. That could be your secret weapon! 🙂 Haha. Seriously, though, I love the flavor combo you’ve got going on here! Cherry cobblers (and all cobblers) are up there really high on my list of awesome things! Well done, my friend, well done.
Kelsie says
HAHAHA! I’m going to start carrying muffins with me just in case. If nothing else, I could throw them at murderers to confuse them long enough to run away :). Love Sherlock Holmes! It’s been too long since I read them. I’ve been in a book slump lately so maybe I’ll go back to the classics. Thank you David! Have a great week, my friend!