Fluffy Buttermilk Goat Cheese Muffins Recipe

Fluffy Buttermilk Goat Cheese Muffins Recipe for Breakfast Joy

Soft, pillowy buttermilk goat cheese muffins dance between savory and sweet, offering a delightful twist on traditional breakfast fare.

These tender morsels blend tangy goat cheese with the rich, velvety backdrop of buttermilk for an irresistible combination.

Each bite promises a warm, comforting embrace of flavors that surprise and delight the palate.

The delicate crumb melts in your mouth, releasing layers of subtle cheese notes and subtle richness.

Perfectly golden and studded with creamy cheese pockets, these muffins elevate any morning routine.

Weekend brunch or weekday breakfast, they bring a touch of gourmet elegance to your table.

You won’t be able to resist grabbing seconds of these delectable, cheese-laden treats.

Buttermilk Goat Cheese Muffin Ingredients

For Dry Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of the muffins, providing structure and tender crumb with a soft, pillowy texture.
  • Baking Powder: Helps the muffins rise and creates a light, airy consistency, ensuring a perfect lift.
  • Salt: Enhances the overall flavor profile and balances the richness of the cheese and butter.
For Dairy and Wet Components:
  • Buttermilk, Goat Cheese: Creates tangy, creamy depth with a luxurious moisture that keeps muffins incredibly soft and adds a sophisticated flavor twist.
  • Cold Butter: Ensures flaky, layered texture when worked into the dough, creating pockets of richness.
  • Parmesan Cheese: Adds a sharp, salty finish that elevates the muffins with a delightful crispy topping.
For Finishing Touch:
  • Melted Butter: Provides a golden, glossy exterior and extra richness, helping the muffins achieve a beautiful bronze color and irresistible sheen.

Equipment Checklist for Savory Muffin Success

  • Cast iron skillet: Essential for even heating and creating a crispy exterior.
  • Biscuit cutter (2 ½-inch): Perfect for cutting uniform, round muffin shapes.
  • Medium bowl: Ideal for mixing dry ingredients and combining the dough.
  • Sifter: Helps to evenly distribute flour, baking powder, and salt.
  • Measuring tablespoon: Accurate for portioning butter and buttermilk.
  • Pastry brush: Great for coating muffin tops with melted butter.
  • Baking surface: Clean, floured area for kneading and shaping dough.
  • Cooling rack: Optional for resting muffins after baking.

How to Make Buttermilk Goat Cheese Muffins

  • Skillet Preparation

Warm up a 10-inch cast iron skillet in a 425ºF oven, creating the perfect cozy baking environment for these rustic muffins.

  • Dry Ingredient Blend

Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl, creating a light and airy foundation for the muffins.

  • Texture Magic

Crumble cold butter and goat cheese into the flour mixture using fingertips, transforming the ingredients into a sandy, crumbly texture.

  • Liquid Integration

Gently pour buttermilk into the mixture, folding until a soft dough forms. Add extra buttermilk if the dough seems too dry.

  • Buttery Skillet Setup

Remove the hot skillet and coat with melted butter, ensuring a golden crisp exterior for the muffins.

  • Dough Shaping

Transfer dough to a floured surface and softly knead. Pat into a rectangle about 1½ inches high and cut into rounds using a biscuit cutter.

  • Baking Finale

Arrange rounds in the buttered skillet, brush with additional melted butter, and bake for 14-16 minutes until beautifully golden.

  • Cheesy Finish

Sprinkle warm muffins with Parmesan cheese and serve immediately for a delightful, melt-in-your-mouth experience.

Flavor Ideas for Goat Cheese Muffin

  • Explore creative twists that elevate these buttermilk goat cheese muffins to new heights.
  • Chop fresh rosemary, thyme, or chives and fold into the dough for an aromatic burst of flavor that complements the tangy goat cheese perfectly.
  • Experiment with different cheese combinations by mixing in sharp cheddar, crumbled feta, or aged Gruyère to create unique flavor profiles that will surprise your taste buds.
  • Fold in toasted pine nuts, sunflower seeds, or cracked black pepper to add unexpected crunch and depth to your muffins, making each bite more interesting.
  • Prepare the dough in advance and refrigerate for up to 24 hours, or freeze the cut rounds on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer bag for spontaneous baking whenever the craving hits.

How to Serve Muffins with a Savory Twist

  • Pair with Fresh Salad: Serve these tangy goat cheese muffins alongside a crisp mixed green salad dressed with light vinaigrette for a balanced meal.
  • Create Breakfast Sandwich: Split the warm muffins and layer with scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, or smoked salmon for a delightful morning treat.
  • Enjoy as Appetizer Companion: Offer these muffins with herb-infused olive oil or a dollop of herb cream cheese for elegant pre-dinner nibbles.
  • Complement Hearty Soups: Dunk these tender muffins into creamy tomato soup or rich butternut squash bisque for a comforting lunch combination.

Save and Reheat Buttermilk Muffins Right

  • Maximize Freshness: Store muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, keeping them soft and delicious.
  • Freeze for Later: Wrap individual muffins in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. Freeze up to 1 month for quick breakfast or snack options.
  • Reheat with Care: Warm refrigerated or frozen muffins in a 350ºF oven for 5-7 minutes to restore their original crispy exterior and tender inside.
  • Meal Prep Magic: Prepare the dry ingredients and cut the butter and cheese the night before to streamline morning baking and save precious time.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Calories: 201 kcal

Servings: 13

Print
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Fluffy Buttermilk Goat Cheese Muffins Recipe

Fluffy Buttermilk Goat Cheese Muffins Recipe


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4.6 from 22 reviews

  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 13 1x

Description

Buttermilk goat cheese muffins blend tangy and rich flavors in a delightful breakfast treat. Baked with care, these muffins offer a perfect balance of creamy goat cheese and tender crumb that you will savor to the last bite.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (240 mL / 8 fl oz) buttermilk
  • 2 cups (280 g) flour
  • 4 tbsps (56 g / 2 oz) cold butter, cut into small pieces
  • 4 tbsps (56 g / 2 oz) good quality goat cheese, cut into small pieces
  • 2 ½ tsps baking powder
  • 1 ¼ tsp salt
  • 2 tbsps (28 g) butter, divided, to grease the pan and top the muffins
  • ¼ cup (25 g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Preparation: Preheat oven to 425°F (218°C), positioning a 10-inch cast iron skillet inside to thoroughly warm.
  2. Dry Ingredients: Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into a mixing bowl, ensuring a uniform dry mixture.
  3. Texture Development: Crumble cold butter and goat cheese into the flour mixture, using fingertips to blend until the texture mimics coarse cornmeal with irregular particles.
  4. Dough Formation: Pour buttermilk into dry ingredients, gently folding to create a cohesive dough. Adjust moisture by adding a tablespoon of buttermilk if the mixture appears too crumbly.
  5. Skillet Preparation: Remove heated skillet from oven, coat bottom with melted butter by tilting to ensure even distribution.
  6. Dough Shaping: Transfer dough to a floured surface, knead briefly to smooth the texture. Flatten into a rectangular shape approximately 1.5 inches thick.
  7. Muffin Cutting and Arrangement: Use a 2.5-inch biscuit cutter to create round muffin shapes. Place dough rounds in the buttered skillet, allowing them to slightly touch.
  8. Finishing Touch: Brush muffin tops with melted butter for a golden exterior. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese before baking.
  9. Baking: Cook for 14-16 minutes until muffins achieve a light golden-brown color with crisp edges. Remove from oven and let the Parmesan cheese melt slightly.
  10. Serving: Serve warm, allowing the muffins to showcase their rich, developed flavors and tender texture.

Notes

  • Butter Temperature Matters: Use cold butter and goat cheese for the most flaky, tender muffin texture, ensuring small uneven butter pieces create delightful layers.
  • Handling Dough Gently: Minimal kneading prevents tough muffins; fold and handle dough delicately to maintain a light, soft interior.
  • Skillet Preheating Technique: Heating the cast iron skillet beforehand creates a crispy, golden-brown exterior and helps muffins rise evenly.
  • Moisture Control Tip: Add buttermilk gradually and adjust with an extra tablespoon if the dough seems too dry, ensuring perfect muffin consistency.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 13
  • Calories: 201
  • Sugar: 1 g
  • Sodium: 247 mg
  • Fat: 10 g
  • Saturated Fat: 6 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 23 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 5 g
  • Cholesterol: 30 mg
Michael Rivera

Michael Rivera

Co-Founder & Culinary Instructor

Expertise

  • Classic French Cuisine
  • Artisanal Bread Baking
  • Plant-Based Culinary Innovation
  • Recipe & Menu Development
  • Interactive Online Instruction

Education

The French Culinary Institute (now part of the International Culinary Center)

  • Program: Classic Culinary Arts
  • Focus: An intensive curriculum rooted in classical French techniques, artisanal bread production, and contemporary culinary methods.

Michael Rivera is a seasoned chef and culinary instructor based in San Francisco, CA. Trained in Classic Culinary Arts at The French Culinary Institute, he refined his skills in Michelin-starred kitchens, mastering classic French techniques and artisanal bread baking. 

Passionate about making gourmet methods accessible, Michael co-founded thatsmyhome.com to share his expertise through interactive online lessons and innovative, plant-based recipes. He loves blending traditional techniques with modern ideas, encouraging home cooks to enjoy the art of cooking in a relaxed, fun environment.

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