Discover the best grab-and-go cupcake and muffin recipes from Out of the Box Baking! From bakery-style muffins to decadent cupcakes, these easy recipes are perfect for busy mornings, bake sales, or sweet celebrations.
The Perfect Hand-Held Treats!
If you love sweet treats that are easy to grab on the way out the door, you’re in the right place! Cupcakes and muffins are the ultimate handheld desserts—no forks or fancy plates required.
Whether you’re packing lunchboxes, prepping for a bake sale, or simply craving a little something sweet with your morning coffee, these portable bakes are sure to satisfy.
I’ve gathered my favorite muffin and cupcake recipes from the blog, each one tested, tasted, and loved in my own kitchen. Let’s dive in!
Favorite Cupcakes and Muffins
From breakfast muffins to frosted cupcakes, these grab-and-go recipes are perfect for any time of day! Discover easy, delicious treats you can bake ahead, pack up, and enjoy wherever life takes you.
Cupcakes to Bake
Cupcakes are like miniature celebrations you can hold in your hand. They’re quick to make, easy to decorate, and perfect for every occasion—from birthdays to baby showers to Tuesday afternoons. In this section, you’ll find a variety of cupcakes made from scratch or doctored cake mixes, all soft, flavorful, and beautifully frosted. Whether you crave something classic like chocolate or something festive like pumpkin spice, there’s a recipe here to make your day a little sweeter.
These delicious cupcakes are perfect when you want a delicious dessert or treat that will impress everyone.
This rich carrot cake recipe is filled with warm spices, carrots, and other add-ins.
These yummy DIY trifles will be fun for your party guests to put together.
Warm, spicy, perfect for the holiday season. These cookie butter cupcakes are loaded with cookie butter and biscoff cookies!
These dreamy velvety cupcakes are perfect for Valentine's Day. They're loaded with flavor and have a wonderful homemade taste and texture.
If you love the tropical flavors of lime and coconut, have I got a treat for you! These simple coconut cupcakes with lime curd filling are divine, and so easy to make. Best of all, they start with a box of white cake mix.
If you love a rich chocolate cupcake but you’re also a fan of coffee, this is the recipe for you! In this post I’m going to show you how to make the easiest espresso cupcakes ever. Best of all, they start with a box of cake mix!
If you’re looking for a quick treat for an upcoming Christmas party, this is the post for you. I’m going to show you how I made this simple pull-apart cupcake snowflake.
Every now and again you come across a cupcake that makes you do a double-take, one so full of flavor and pizazz that you must make it. This is that cupcake!
If you’re looking for a simple but delicious vanilla cupcake recipe, one that doesn’t require a box of cake mix, this is the perfect one for you! This yummy vanilla cake is easy to whip up and very adaptable!
Warmly spiced gingerbread meets a coffee-kissed buttercream — your kitchen will smell like a holiday coffee shop.
Moist, spiced pumpkin cupcakes topped with rich coffee buttercream create the ultimate fall treat. Perfect for pumpkin spice lovers and coffee fans alike!
These Apple Cider Cupcakes are bursting with cozy fall flavors! Made with a spiced apple juice reduction and topped with cinnamon cider buttercream, they’re the perfect autumn dessert for parties, bake sales, or holiday gatherings.
If you love a light pineapple cupcake but you’re in a hurry to make it, have I got a treat for you! This simple recipe has only three ingredients and comes together in literally minutes!
Muffins to Make
Muffins might look humble, but don’t underestimate their charm. These cozy, bakery-style treats are ideal for breakfast, brunch, or a midday pick-me-up. You’ll find everything from fruity and wholesome to sweet and indulgent—some even made with sourdough or cake mix shortcuts! They’re easy to mix, bake, and pack, making them a go-to for busy mornings or quick snacks.
Ready, set. . .bake! It's time to pull out those muffin tins, y'all!
These yummy muffins merge two favorites: orange and cranberry.
These muffins are loaded with oats, apples, and pecans. Best of all, no white flour and NO added sugar. They're a lovely substitute for a sugary muffin, guaranteed to please.
Loaded with the richness of bananas and the sweetness of chocolate, these muffins are the perfect breakfast food, snack, or dessert!
Enjoy this recipe for these simple and delicious peanut butter chocolate chip muffins.
If you're a fan of cinnamon, spice, and everything nice, then this yummy recipe for my Cookie Butter Banana Muffins will be just the ticket! They are simple to make and have a light fluffy cake-like texture that you simply don't find in most banana-based products.
If you love coffee and chocolate, this is the muffin for you!
Delicious and healthy, these muffins are perfection!
If you're looking for an amazing cinnamon streusel muffin with crunchy topping you've come to the right place. This recipe, which features a streusel topping over a moist cinnamon-y muffin, is perfect. Whether you're baking for a breakfast treat, an afternoon snack, or even a tasty dessert, these bakery style muffins will hit the spot.
If you love caramel apples, apple pie, or monkey bread… You’re going to absolutely love this new recipe for apple pie monkey bread biscuits. You can whip them together in minutes just like traditional monkey bread but this recipe focuses on individual portion sized muffins that you can share with your friends and family without the mess!
The crisp goodness of oats and the tender juciness of blueberries come together in this tasty breakfast muffin from Out of the Box Baking.
You love lemon. You love the tangy sweetness of berries. And when you merge the two? Perfection! These luscious lemon berry muffins have the right blend of fruity flavors. They're perfect for breakfast or even for dessert of a mid-afternoon snack!
Fluffy and light, gluten free and sugar free, these muffins are a great treat for those who are trying to be careful!
If you love the combination of cinnamon and brown sugar and you're in a hurry, these muffins will be perfect for you. They come together (start to finish) in under 20 minutes. And best of all, they start wiht a simple white cake mix.
If you're in the mood for banana muffins but you don't want to take the time to make them from scratch, I have great news for you! You can start with a simple white cake mix and turn it into the best banana muffin you've ever tasted!
If you love the rich taste of banana and the crunch of walnuts or pecans, this is the recipe for you! This simple from-scratch banana nut muffin recipe is incredibly easy. It's also delicious and economical!
In this post I'm going to show you how to take leftover packets of instant oatmeal--in any flavor you happen to have on hand--and turn them into luscious muffins.
In this post I'm going to show you how to make a healthy and delicious muffin that gets its name from one of my favorite cakes--Carrot Cake! This is a simple recipe, one you can whip up in a hurry. And it won't even make you fall off your diet!
Enjoy this simple and delicious butterscotch muffin. This is a versatile recipe, perfect for muffins, bundt cake, or even cookies! Best of all, this is a low-calorie recipe!
If you love a rich banana muffin loaded with chocolate flavor, I’ve got a treat for you. These delicious muffins are easy to make and packed full of flavor!
If you’re living the gluten-free lifestyle but you love a delicious banana muffin, this is the post for you! I’m going to show you how to make a muffin so tasty, and so simple that you won’t need to pull out the mixer!
If you're looking for the world's easiest banana muffin recipe, you've found it! This one comes together in minutes and starts with an ingredient that makes baking so much easier--Bisquick!
If you’re a fan of homemade muffins but you’re also love that delicious coconut pecan frosting that comes in a canister, this is the perfect recipe for you. This is a from-scratch muffin recipe that added frosting directly to the mix.
This is an easy go-to recipe for banana nut muffins with streusel topping. Best of all, it’s versatile and delicious!
Turn your sourdough discard and ripe bananas into these loaded, tender muffins filled with sweet add-ins like Craisins, coconuts, and pecans. Easy to make, incredibly moist, and perfect for breakfast or snacking!
If you love the sweetness of blueberries and the rich hearty flavor of a sweet muffin, have I got a treat for you. These traditional Blueberry Muffins are loaded with flavor, have a crunch topping, and are easy to make!
Every now and again you stumble across a muffin recipe that’s so delicious, so packed with flavor, that you simply can’t resist. This is that recipe.
If you’re looking for the perfect muffins for the 4th of July or any other patriotic holiday, this is the treat for you! These muffins are full of red and blue berries, and packed full of flavor and moisture!
These soft, naturally low-carb almond flour muffins are packed with rich chocolate chips, crunchy pecans, and sweetened with monk fruit for a guilt-free treat. Perfect for a healthy snack or breakfast on-the-go!
These Sweet Potato Muffins with Oat Streusel Topping are cozy, moist, and packed with warm fall flavor. Made with mashed sweet potatoes, a hint of spice, and topped with a buttery oat streusel, they’re the perfect bakery-style muffin for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon treat. Easy to make and irresistibly delicious, these muffins are a great way to use up leftover sweet potatoes while creating a crowd-pleasing dessert or snack. Pair them with coffee or tea for the ultimate fall indulgence!
Start your morning with Rise and Shine Spice Muffins! These soft, fluffy molasses muffins are topped with crunchy raw sugar and bursting with warm spices.
That's it for this post, friends! Thanks for stopping by! Before you go, why not pin some photos to your Pinterest boards?
About the Baker (Janice Thompson)
Hi, I’m Janice Thompson—author, baker, and creator of Out of the Box Baking. I believe baking should be joyful, not stressful, and that even busy bakers can create beautiful, delicious treats. My goal is to share simple, dependable recipes that make your kitchen smell heavenly and your loved ones smile. Whether you’re whipping up muffins for breakfast or cupcakes for a party, I hope these recipes inspire you to bake something wonderful today!