Freezing breads and muffins after they have been baked is nothing new to me and, in fact, is the way I traditionally use up zucchini. I found that we actually ate it if I made a number of loaves, cookies, cupcakes, cake, etc. and froze them for use throughout the winter rather than grating and freezing the zucchini itself. I just don’t find it as easy to use once it’s been frozen, so grated zucchini just tends to sit in the freezer.
But this recipe for zucchini cinnamon freezer muffins is a revelation! You freeze the muffin dough before it’s cooked and then just cook as many as you need (no thawing needed) when you want fresh-from-the-oven muffins. After adapting this recipe to use zucchini, I cooked one muffin right away to see if I liked the muffin itself and I did, but I was waiting to see how they baked up from frozen before sharing with you.
All I’ve got to say is…find some zucchini and try this as soon as you can! They are so good and so easy, and actually, I think these may be the best zucchini muffins I’ve had. Imagine having warm muffins in 30 minutes without dirtying a bowl or even the muffin pan they cooked in!
After making the muffin batter, divide it into lined muffin tins and freeze for 30 minutes, or until firm. Then separate into baggies based on the number you’d like to cook at one time- for me that would be six to fit a six-cup muffin tin- label them and throw them back in the freezer. I like to add the directions to each bag so I don’t have to look it up each time and it also makes it easy to gift a bag of these muffins to friends and family.
Plop the frozen muffins in their liners into a muffin tin and bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for about 30 minutes, until lightly browned.
That’s it. Can you believe it? Oh, where have you been all my zucchini-growing life?
- 1-1/4 c. whole wheat pastry flour
- 1 c. unbleached flour (or use all ww pastry flour- I usually do)
- ½ c. brown sugar
- ¼ c. white sugar
- 2 t. baking powder
- ¾ t. baking soda
- ½ t. salt
- 1-1/2 t. cinnamon
- ⅔ c. plain yogurt or sour cream
- 4 Tbl. butter, melted
- 1 egg
- 2 c. shredded zucchini (peel first if you'd prefer not to see the green skin)
- Place liners in cups of a standard 12-cup muffin tin.*
- Stir together the flours, sugars, baking powder, soda, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl.
- In a smaller bowl (a 2-cup measure with pour spout is perfect), mix the yogurt, butter, and egg. Add to the flour mixture, along with the zucchini and stir just until mixed.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tin. Freeze for about 30 minutes until firm and then transfer the individual cups to freezer bags or containers, label and freeze until ready to bake (or bake immediately - see note).
- When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375 degrees and place as many frozen muffins as you want back into a muffin tin (to keep their shape). Bake for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean. Remove baked muffins from the tin and transfer to a baking rack to cool.
Notes:
-It really makes more than 12- you can get two or three more from one batch and 6 more from a double batch. Just freeze the extra in lined cups or small ramekins if you don't have more muffin tins.
-They tend to stick to the paper wrapper after being frozen and baked - you can let them cool fully or use easy-release muffin liners.
-You can bake them right away, as well: Bake at 375 for 20 minutes.
This is linked to:
Works for Me Wednesday
Ultimate Recipe Swap @ LifeAsMOM
Tasty Traditions
I love this idea! How wonderful to have those yummy muffins just waiting to be baked in the freezer. The recipe itself sounds really delicious – especially with the cinnamon. I’m bookmarking this one!! Thanks for sharing it.
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I am SOOO making these! Two questions though…
Can I just use regular (not pastry) whole wheat four and unbleached white flour?
How do you shred zucchini? Like with a potato peeler or a cheese grater???
Help! I’ve only baked and roasted it!
Yum! Looks good. Can’t wait to try them!
Jamie- Yes, you can use regular whole wheat with the unbleached white flour- pastry just makes a lighter finished product, but it’s not a huge difference. Grate zucchini with a cheese grater or in a food processor fitted with the grating attachment.
Hey- btw, have I told you that my middle name is Lynn, too? What are the chances…
Ok thanks for the info!
That is so cool that we are both Jami(or Jaime) Lynns!!!!!!! 🙂
I can’t wait to try this recipe! I love your blog and have found so much inspirational information and excellent recipe ideas here! I am awed by your preserving list!
Thanks for this recipe. I’ve still got lots of zukes lurking in the refrige. (Visiting from WFMW).
This is so great for those last minute visitors who sometimes pop by. I also love zucchini cakes and muffins so this recipe is perfect for me! Thanks for sharing!
What an amazing recipe. This way you can always have freshly baked muffins warm out of the oven. I love it. Thanks for sharing this recipe. By the way, I’ll be holding a CSN giveaway on my blog next week Monday, so be sure to check back then for a chance to enter.
smart! I’m hoping for some zucchini in my co-op basket tomorrow!
What a creative idea. it’s making me hungry! freezing goodness. .
I can smell them from here! I think I will love these! Making them soon!
Thanks!
Nancy
Thanks for sharing this recipe. It’s a good one to use for Freezer Day Cooking which I need to plan for this month. Great idea and healthy recipe. Have a great day!
I have made the Martha Stewart version of this recipe many times and enjoyed it, so I was excited to try your zucchini version. I made them this week and they were wonderful!! I baked some immediatly and froze the rest. I baked the ones that I froze today and they are just as good! Thanks for a yummy, healthful, recipe!!
I just made these for breakfast and they are AWESOME! Thanks so much for sharing! I am going to share them on my blog and link to you!
This is friggin’ genius.