Today’s Maple Pecan Muffins are dedicated to Tracey.
Tracey, you are dear and darling… and 15, which is equal parts hard and rad, I know.
Let me tell you a little about Tracey. Tracey had her 15th birthday last week. Tracey’s best friend Maggie sent me a pretty precious email asking me if I would send Tracey an autographed picture of myself for her birthday. See, Tracey is a great baker and a huuuuge fan of my site.
I’m not the sort to have pictures of myself to autograph on hand… that would be totally weird, so I sent Tracey a little birthday gift and handwritten note. Easy enough, right? In return Tracey sent me a very long, very excited, exceedingly adorable email to thank me for her birthday present. Seriously friends… this girl is priceless.
After reading Tracey’s email a handful of times (it was packed to the gills with information), here are a few things I want you to know about my new friend:
Tracey makes a mean lemon pound cake with blueberry sauce.
Tracey almost set her house ablaze trying to make these doughnuts.
Tracey is obsessed with muffins… and feeds them to her dog. Let’s all just pretend like that’s normal.
Tracey got a “Tracey the Baker” apron for her birthday. Clearly I have competition.
By sharing loads homemade cookies, Tracey is well on her way to becoming the most popular girl in school. Don’t get too popular Tracey… it might be overrated.
Tracey giggles a lot… not in emails, but this is just something I’ve surmised from being 15 and eating a lot of sugar once upon a time.
Tracey? Is that Jesus peeking over your shoulder on your fridge there? If so… awesome. If not… awkward.
Tracey these muffins are my little shout out to you because it seems like you get as excited about eggs and butter and sugar and flour as I do. That makes me happy. Thank you.
Oooh Maple Pecan Muffins. Holy smokes these muffins are good.
Here’s the trick with these muffins: use real maple syrup. Don’t even think about using the pancake syrup you might have hiding in your fridge. No way friend-o!
These muffins are moist, sweet, drenched in maple flavor and just lovely for Autumn. The pecans round out the sweetness and add just the right crunch. Weekend breakfast? Heck yes! You win!
Maple Pecan Muffins
adapted from The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook
makes 12-16 cupcakes
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1/2 vanilla bean scraped or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 Tablespoons browned butter (start with 6 tablespoons and melt it down just over 5 Tablespoons)
3/4 cup maple syrup, divided
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans, plus 12 pecan haves (or the largest pecan pieces of the bunch for topping the muffins)
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a cupcake pan with paper liners and set aside.
In a small saucepan, melt 6 tablespoons of butter over medium flame. Butter should crackle and foam and then produce little brown bits at the bottom of the pan. Turn flame to low, scrape brown bits from the bottom of the pan (that’s where all the flavor is hiding) and remove from heat to cook a bit before using.
In a large bowl sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a small bowl whisk together buttermilk, egg and vanilla bean or extract.
Add the wet ingredients all at once to the dry ingredients and stir with a large spoon until just incorporated. Add melted butter and carefully mix until incorporated. Add the chopped nuts and half of the maple syrup (you can eyeball half of 3/4 cup) and fold until evenly dispersed throughout the batter.
Fill the muffin cups until about two thirds full (I was able to make 16 cupcakes). Place a large pecan piece on top of each unbaked muffin and drizzle all of the muffins with the remaining maple syrup.
Bake muffins for 20-25 minutes or until a metal skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
Allow to cool in the muffin pan for 10 minutes before removing to serve.
Abbie
These are SO heavenly! I used Pamela’s GF baking & pancake mix and replaced the buttermilk with homemade kefir. Worked beautifully! My hubby said they were the best muffins he’s ever had. I’d have to agree :) yum yum!
Emily
These look awesome! Any ideas on how I could convert these into cupcakes instead? I’m thinking about turning these into a dessert I can ice for the holidays since my mom bought some new icing tools.
Jessica
I have made the original Hummingbird version of these a few times, and they are A-MAZ-ING. The pecan half on top is like a little piece of heaven. Shame that the pecans and maple syrup are so expensive so I can’t afford to make them that often.
I like to blast a muffin in the microwave for a few seconds and eat it with coffe for breakfast. What, muffins are totally a breakfast food.
Kristen
Just took these out of the oven – they are delicious! Tastes like pancakes with maple syrup…but a little different. Very nice with the brown butter step. I will definitely be making these again! =)
Marta
These muffins look amazing! I cannot wait to make them myself. The pictures make my mouth water!
funderbug
Having some friends over on Sunday and these are definitely on the menu!
Chelsea
Thanks for the great ideas Joy! My mother, Deanna Glancy, made those Maple Pecan Muffins the other night. Mmmm!
joythebaker
awesome chelsea! i’m so glad you liked them! your mom is the best!
Chelsea
I could not agree more Joy! :)
Neesie
This made my day and lifted my heart! I’m putting together a cooking class for young mom’s right now and I hope that I can inspire them to get into the kitchen like this young lady. I love your blog and it always makes me smile when I need one! Thanks…
Tameka
I made these muffins for my neighbors this weekend as a thank you… and ended up eating 2 before they were even packaged. These were very good and very easy. A great way to begin a relaxing Sunday morning. Thanks for the recipe!
Maggie M
Thanks so much Joy for helping me! ( and for putting up with my awkward emails!!) You are so sweet!
The Cookbook Apprentice
I love it! I wish I was baking at 15 but I’m glad to be sharing my love for it now with my 10 year old daughter. What a great post! Happy birthday Tracey!
Katya Simkhovich
It great to know I’m not the only 15 year old who is OBSESSED with baking. When I’m not doing homework (junior year, ugghhhh) I’m in the kitchen baking. I’m actually really grateful. This year i was given the opportunity to bake even more because my mom brings the things i bake, after i taste them of course, to work and sells them and the money goes to charity. Of course, i share some with my friends too (and maybe taste more than just one myself). ;)
dawn
loooooove these! fabulous
Natalie
I’m 15 too! Your blog is cool!
charlotte s
you’re SO sweet joy!
Lena
Joy – What a sweet way to make Tracey’s birthday special! This post has made my day.
Michele
You are tooooo cool and fun! I LOVE your site ~ I just wish baking didn’t cause weight gain…well, I guess the baking part doesn’t…but how can I bake and NOT eat!!! Oh well…
Andie
Wow. Joy the Baker is a teen idol! That’s awesome…Tracy, you’re a doll~~Happy Birthday!!
I remember when I used to share with the world that it was my birthday, now it’s just my little secret….
Alicia
How cute – it must be nice to know that you have people looking up to you :)
Darcy
I am one of Tracey’s really good friends, we go to school together, you should have seen the look on her face when she opened up your gift! I swear she was about to cry! She brought in these muffins to school today :) When she saw that you posted about her, she walked around with a smile on her face all day!
Dawn
Joy, your parents gave you the perfect name! That was so sweet of you to spread such joy to Tracey! And to all of us who got to read about it.
Kate @ Savour Fare
Oooh. Another trick is to use Grade B maple syrup — it’s more “impure” which translates to better maple flavor + cheaper, so it’s a win win.
I love that Tracey’s your biggest fan, Joy!
Cindy
I made these last weekend with Grade B Trader Joe’s maple syrup. I was disapointed because there seemed to be NO maple flavor. Is this just because I’m used to the sweet fake stuff?
Katie @ goodLife {eats}
Happy Birthday Tracey! So cute! Looks like you and Bakerella are both in the wish granting department this week. Did you see the proposal on her site?
These sound awesome and I love that you drizzle syrup on top of the muffin batter.
hiral
hello joy,
love your blog and this recipe!! have a question – can i substitute the egg with something else? maybe apple sauce? if you have any suggestions then please do share.
thank you :)
chocolate shavings
What a great story, she seems like a real baker in the making! Those muffins sound delicious: using good quality maple syrup makes you want to never buy the commercial kind again!
Whitney
Joy, you have such a sweet spirit. I love to see you do this kind of stuff! It definitely rubs off on people, too. I’m jealous of Tracey and her freakin’ sweet apron. She seems like she has it way more together than I did at 15. (I didn’t realize I could make friends by baking until college.) Kudos to Tracey for being all around awesome, probably because she has an all around awesome role model.
PS- Maple pecan muffins. Glorious. Can’t wait to use this excuse to convince my household to buy a $20 bottle of Vermont’s finest.
food librarian
Joy, this is awesome! You made her birthday and so much more! And those maple syrup muffins…yummmmmy!
linda
such an amazing post…being a role model for a
15 year old…awesome! off to buy real maple syrup!
Andrea
Oh Joy!! This was such a delight to read !! You must have made her day…let alone year. I’m a stylist and i’ve been telling other lady bakers how great your blog is. My daughter (young mom/baker) and I love chatting about your wonderful recipes. I just laughed and smiled over todays post. Keep being you…YOU are so much fun!
rachel h.
joy, i have a confession.
when you weren’t looking i took a second muffin from the bag on the counter.
i ate two of these. back to back.
don’t judge.
xxr
Annalisa DeMarta
Great post! I had to make these today — the only problem is I’m temporarily on crutches unable to navigate my kitchen — I waited until 10pm for help. This recipe did not disappoint. These are like moist like pancakes and have such a simple flavor. Thanks for such a great muffin recipe. I would love to make these for a holiday breakfast or brunch.
Claire
as one of tracey’s friends, we were all so excited to see that you blogged about tracey. of course, she could not help but make your delicious muffin recipe this evening and i look forward to tasting them tomorrow. thanks to tracey, all of her friends, including myself, are now addicted to your site. i can’t wait to try even more of your recipes!!!
Kate D
Tracey and Joy — What fun!!! Happy Birthday, you dear girl! And Joy, I might as well wish you a very merry unbirthday. This post was sweet as sugar (or in this case maple syrup — yum).
zestycook
These look amazing Joy!
Tracey
Joy, thank you so much for dedicating these to me! I’m about to make them right now. They look so great! This post pretty much made my year!
Blaire
Oh my god tracey you look so cute…its a pretty big picture to…claire told there were 4 of them though
Beth
I am sitting at the computer eating my kid’s animal cookies and wishing I had some of those muffins! Or that bourbon butterfinger drink… Baking this wkend!
katie
Happy Birthday Tracey I love you! I have tasted Traceys baking and she is amazing! She bakes everynight for us (her friends) and it is so delious by senior year we will have put on about 50 pounds. I am definitly going to try this recipe…for tracey. looks great
Nicole
This look delicious for the weekend. Thanks!
Kylie of Thin Crust, Deep Dish
You know what, Joy? I’ve got to say this. I’m not eating sugar OR white flour right now and yet, STILL, I visit your blog every day. With full knowledge that I won’t be baking your great recipes, I still come back, because you just make me smile! And laugh. I love that your personality comes through the screen. It must have made Tracey’s month that you posted about her. Adorable.
Old Baker, New Stuntman
Brown sugar, Maple syrup, And Pecans all in one Muffin?
Oh,Oh,oh,oh,oh
Now see what you’ve done? I have to wipe drool off my keyboard… Again!
Kristen D.
Joy, it’s always refreshing to see someone so cute on the outside be even more beautiful on the inside! I hope I can raise my daughters to have as much poise and kindness as you do and hope that when they are 15, are interested in baking and not the other less-than-cool-sorta-destructive things! Thanks for such a fun read, you’re a doll!
Erika
Besides the fact that these muffins look delish, what you wrote about Tracey and that you sent her a gift is so rad. :-)
Chaya
Your post is delightful and your muffins look delicious, my hubby’s favorite kind.
Food Fascination
These are BEAUTIFUL. I plan to make these next week. I am a big fan of muffins too!
~Gracie
The Nomadic Gourmet
I must say this is the single nicest blog post I’ve ever seen, period. That was really sweet of you :)
Kelly
Happy Birthday, Tracey!
Jessica
“By sharing loads homemade cookies, Tracey is well on her way to becoming the most popular girl in school.”
I play in a symphony and bring “concert cookies” for backstage at intermission. The Alton Brown chewy chocolate chip cookies were a HUGE hit! mmmm…
Anyway, great post. Happy Birthday to Tracey! Those muffins look delish.
Jovian
I love a Jesus in the kitchen! It’s the happiest place in the house :-)
Shauna from Piece of Cake
Oh, my God. This is by far the sweetest story in the food blogosphere this week. How adorable is she?!
Love your Surfas liners! Their patterns are super cute. I went with the yellow stripe. :)
Lindsay
that was such a cute post : )
Leah
Yum, yum. I just made my own version of maple pecan muffins, but sadly I polished off the last one this morning. I look to your site for baking inspiration a lot. I’ll have to try it with buttermilk like this. Thanks Joy!
Noreen
Aww, Tracey is so cute!! I know she is having a great birthday with this shout-out from her baking mentor/idol!! Those muffins look great & I think I even have some real syrup someone brought me back from a trip to Vermont. Have a great day & happy fall baking =)
Deanna
These sound look, sound and I am sure taste amazing! Making some tonight!
Anna
What a great thing you dod for Tracey! You know I wish blogging or the itnernet was around when I was her age and aspiring to be a baker….imagine the endless recipe ideas!
Thanks so much for another great recipe, I hear this once calling my name too…
Erika from The Pastry Chef At Home
MMM BROWNED BUTTER – that stuff is close to my heart.
Tracy is adorable! So cute. As are those red and white striped muffin liners :)
Pat
I love to bake and I love your blog! Who could use the fake syrup? LOL Seriously, maple & pecan combo is something I want to try today.
Tracey is adorable! She needs a blog that we can follow.
Holly
Tracey sounds like an awesome 15 year old. She’s adorable too. Thanks for your site.
Libby
Happy Birthday Tracey! What an awesome birthday gift! Yummmm!
Jeanne
Happy Birthday Tracey!
Joy, these muffins look delicious! I have a love for all things maple as a result of growing up in New England. And I would never dream of using that fake “syrup”!
Casey
Happy Birthday Tracey!
Sophia
LOL I love this post! Happy birthday Tracey!
Kara
A couple of things and I can’t decide which goes first…
a – your cake stand… GORgeous… wow, where do you find all of your pieces (plates, baking tins, etc.)??
b – the comment about Jesus just had me rolling – I think it’s pretty cool too if it’s really him but the “if not, awkward” just was hysterical
c – (last but not least) the muffins, ooh, the muffins – can’t wait to make these
Shobhna Iyer
Lovely.
Happy birthday Tracey! :)
sam
this looks so perfect! delicious! thank you!
happy birthday tracey!
joy, you’re rad ;)
Roberta
Joy you are the coolest! I am sure Tracy will never forget this birthday because of your generosity. You are a wonderful person, and sharing your thoughts and recipes help more then you can ever know. Whenever I am feeling down, I just visit your site, and read or sometimes re-read posts, and go away with a smile on my face!
Silvia
They look yummy! Can I use hazelnuts instead of pecans?
Thanks
Emily
Ok, Tracy is obviously awesome. And so is Joy. What a great post and gesture, and what a cool fan. I am one too, but at 40 I can’t pull it off like Tracy without seeming a trifle scary. ;) But your site is wonderful, and I hope you continue posting for a long time.
Rebecca
These look great. Happy Birthday Tracey, I hope it was spectacular. Joy, thanks for keeping it real. I love everything that you post and it inspires me to be not only a better baker, but a better person!
brandi
those look fantastic! What a great fall recipe.
ABowlOfMush
These are absolutely gorgeous!
Yum maple and pecan!
Peggy
Oooooh the apron !!
That’s a must have. I’ll be making the muffins of course but what I really want is the “recipe” to a custom “joy the baker” apron.
Love the site in every way.
Chanina
YUMM-O!
Happy Birthday Tracy!
can’t wait to try these out, they sound delish and I love that pecan on top!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is
They look incredible. I love the pecan in the middle…so classy.
heather
one question…how come your cupcake papers look so nice?
do you use some secret special kind? mine always seem to have barely visable prints by the time i’m done baking (not that anyone complains)…just curious…pretty and delicious is a lethal combination…
ps. you and Tracey are BOTH awesome and sweet
Sophie
Hi Joy
I’ve been reading for a while but I’m trying to be a more proactive commenter. Your blog is the highlight of my day. I love to bake, I only wish it were my job.
thank you for brightening up my inbox
Sophie
Mandie
Ohhhhh, these make my mouth water….do you think another kind of nut would go well with these? My poor mom is allergic to pecans and almonds. I was thinking maybe hazelnut would go nicely with the maple…???
peachkins
these are wonderful looking muffins!
ErinsFoodFiles
Maple is my #2 favorite fall flavor, right behind pumpkin of course! These muffins are too cute!
zarpandit
OMG! looks delicious :))))
Marina
Oh Joy!! You’re so cute!
What a great birthday present!