Jordan Marsh’s Blueberry Muffins Recipe (2024)

By Marian Burros

Updated Nov. 13, 2023

Jordan Marsh’s Blueberry Muffins Recipe (1)

Total Time
40 minutes, plus at least 30 minutes' cooling
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Rating
5(16,152)
Notes
Read community notes

In 1985, The Times published a recipe for the blueberry muffins served at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Boston, which Marian Burros, who adapted the recipe, judged among her favorite muffins in the city. A few years later, a reader wrote Marian to say that the best blueberry muffins in Boston were in fact from the now-closed Jordan Marsh department store. Marian tracked down and adapted that recipe so you can judge for yourself. But the origins of the Jordan Marsh recipe were unclear until 2023, when Mara Richmond of Burlington, Vt., wrote The Times to say that the developer of the recipe was her father, Arnold Gitlin, then the executive food consultant for Allied Stores, which owned Jordan Marsh at the time. His recipe, Richmond said, was an adaptation from one in Esther Howland’s 1847 cookbook, “The New England Economical Housekeeper, and Family Receipt Book.” Everything old is new again. This version has a lot more sugar and butter and fewer eggs than the Ritz-Carlton muffins. It also calls for mashing a half cup of berries and adding them to the batter. This produces a very moist muffin, one that will stay fresh longer.

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Ingredients

Yield:12 muffins

  • ½cup softened butter
  • cups sugar
  • 2eggs
  • 1teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2cups flour
  • ½teaspoon salt
  • 2teaspoons baking powder
  • ½cup milk
  • 2cups blueberries, washed, drained and picked over
  • 3teaspoons sugar

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (12 servings)

260 calories; 9 grams fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 3 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 42 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 25 grams sugars; 4 grams protein; 174 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Jordan Marsh’s Blueberry Muffins Recipe (2)

Preparation

Make the recipe with us

  1. Step

    1

    Preheat the oven to 375.

  2. Step

    2

  3. Step

    3

    Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla.

    Jordan Marsh’s Blueberry Muffins Recipe (4)
  4. Step

    4

    Sift together the flour, salt and baking powder, and add to the creamed mixture alternately with the milk.

  5. Step

    5

    Crush ½ cup blueberries with a fork, and mix into the batter. Fold in the remaining whole berries.

    Jordan Marsh’s Blueberry Muffins Recipe (5)
  6. Step

    6

    Line a 12 cup standard muffin tin with cupcake liners, and fill with batter. Sprinkle the 3 teaspoons sugar over the tops of the muffins, and bake at 375 degrees for about 30-35 minutes.

    Jordan Marsh’s Blueberry Muffins Recipe (6)
  7. Step

    7

    Remove muffins from tin and cool at least 30 minutes. Store, uncovered, or the muffins will be too moist the second day, if they last that long.

Ratings

5

out of 5

16,152

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

John Frank

Toss the berries in flour before adding, to keep them from sinking to the base of the muffin.

Deborah

The original John Pupek recipe, which I have used for years, calls for 1 cup of sugar, 1/4 tsp.salt, and he includes 1 tsp. vanilla as well. I don't know why the recipe above makes the salt optional. Salt is used in cooking as a flavor enhancer, and if it is left out of baked goods, the final product will not taste right.

Heidi

I would recommend adding a teaspoon of cinnamon and, MOST important, a tablespoon of lemon zest (thanks to Mark Bittman). Also I would use much less sugar -- I find that half a cup is enough, or three-quarters tops.

Lucas

I made a half batch (~8 muffins) and they were gone within six hours.I live alone.Despite my substitution of GF flour and a few mistakes, these are hands down the best blueberry muffins I've ever made.

marianne

I make these regularly at the inn where I am the cook. Some adjustments that really work (some echo others here): european butter, buttermilk instead of milk, reduce sugar to taste, add one teaspoon vanilla, (sometimes i add lemon zest), wild maine frozen blueberries instead of fresh, and sprinkle with brown or turbinado sugar before baking. Foolproof recipe.

Joe Schlabotnik

From Sam Sifton on the site newsletter: to help keep your blueberries from sinking to the bottom, "John Pupek, [Jordon Marsh's] head baker, long retired, told WCVB's Maria Stephanos to toss the berries in flour before adding them to the batter. The coating helps suspend them better during cooking so you don't get as much sinkage."

Diane Strauss

To create muffins that rival the originals, cover the tops with a full teaspoon or more of sugar before baking. This produces the crispy tops that some of us remember from Jordan's. You can watch the original baker in this video: http://www.wcvb.com/news/legendary-boston-baker-shares-recipe-techniques...

Roni Jordan

How bizarre to see this today since I just used the original Jordan Marsh recipe to make 4 jumbo-sized mega muffins yesterday. The differences? No liners used, muffin tins buttered inside and on the perimiter of the wells, 1/2 cup more blueberries; 1/4 cup less sugar in the batter. For mega-muffins, baked at 350 for 40 minutes. They're outstanding!

cindy

I reduce sugar in everything by half, never miss it + fruit is sweet

nancy

take the flour to toss the blueberries from the 2 cups so as not to add extra flour to the recipe and leaden the final product.

re "optional" salt, i think it's because many home bakers use salted butter and therefore, the extra salt isn't necessary.

Barak

I almost wept with joy when a friend walked into my house and said, "I baked blueberry muffins--the Jordan Marsh recipe." I grew up with those, and even though she cut back on the sugar and didn't sprinkle sugar on the top, they were incredible (and she promised to follow the recipe exactly the next time!). I don't know what this nonsense about Ritz-Carlton muffins is all about. Never heard of those. Tea at the Ritz. Muffins from Jordan Marsh. Everyone knows that.

Lisa W

i made this recipe twice. once as written (with wild organic blueberries) and the second time i omitted the vanilla and added grated lemon peel from a medium lemon. the addition of lemon peel brought the recipe to life. it is so simple to make and this has become my go to blueberry recipe.

Chuckersnut

Cooking at 8,000 feet required the following mods: 1tsp baking powder, 3/4 cup milk, 3 additional tbsp flour, oven at 400F, reduced time to 25 minutes.

Amy

Like most others I made these and love the way they turned out! I also decreased the sugar to one cup, but may go to 3/4 cup next time. Unfortunately I didn't read the notes about making sure the unmashed berries be bone dry and coating them in flour, but they still turned out OK. One note I want to include for anyone who isn't a seasoned baker (because I just learned this in the last couple of years) is that in order to get the butter and sugar "light" you really need to beat it for 10 minutes.

cheryl

Substitute Buttermilk for the regular milk for moist flavorful muffins

Claire

You'll want to fill the muffin cups up to the brim and then some. Important to note if, like me, you're making a double batch and you're eyeballing the amounts. Otherwise instructions are great. Lemon zest is a tasty additional, and halving the sugar makes these more like muffins than cupcakes.

sojo

Smushing 1/2 the blueberries in advance disperses the flavor more and prevents clusters of berries. Adding a little lemon zest in the dry adds a little flavor in you want the berries to pop more. This is by far the best blueberry muffin/muffin base recipe that is out there. I cannot tell you how many batches I've made.

Louie

Made these, but made a few adjustments. I substituted the butter for canola oil for a healthier batter and traded in the blueberries for fresh cherries. These came out beautiful, and I will definitely be making them again!

Mary

I'll use cupcake papers next time. I don't normally, but these stuck despite greasing the pan like I normally do for muffins. I also added lemon zest to the butter and sugar and lemon juice to the milk for a "buttermilk." They were delicious! I also didn't mash the 1/2 cup of blueberries. Instead, I added them while mixing in the last of the flour, and that ended up with a few mashed.

Bea

You guys....... this one is really good.I'll try using less sugar next time, as they turned out a bit sweet for me, but the muffins come out delicious. Blueberries are quite expensive where I live, so I made one batch using blueberries and another one using orange and grapefruit zest and dark chocolate chips.Also didn't have milk so I used natural organic yogurt with a bit of water.Delicious, smelled amazing, look great, I'll definitely be making these again.

justincg

I have made these twice and they do not rise and there is too much filling for 12 muffins so they just go flat at the top and drip over the pan edges. It is like a bad cupcake instead of a nice muffin.

yl

Crumble con’t:- 2 tbsp brown sugar (25g)- lemon zest (optional)Mix everything in small bowl w fork Press on top of wet batter in muffin cups before baking Also when using frozen strawberries, do not defrost. Toss in flour and fold in just before distributing Batter into cups

Hez B

I can confirm these are the blueberry muffins of your dreams! I took some of the other comments to heart and added less sugar and the zest of one lemon. They are perfectly moist, lots of blueberry flavor and the little sugar on top gives them some pop.

amali

Didn't have milk on hand and used heavy cream. Added some lemon zest and cinnamon, as per reviews. Results were so delicious- the lightest, fluffiest, most delicious blueberry muffins I have ever had. Incredible recipe!

D

3/4 cup sugarZested lemonSqueezed lemon (1/4)1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

St Mark's Girl

We used to take the Red Line from Fields Corner to downtown Boston where we'd buy our plaid school uniforms at Gilchrist's. Got a box of Jordan Marsh muffins to eat on the train home. One time my mother noticed some blood on one of the muffins and we never got them again. Thanks for this recipe. I'm making them today in California.

Popsicle blueberry

If you use frozen blueberries, keep them frozen, so they don’t turn all the muffins a weird color

Sabrina E

This recipe is amazing, so easy to make! A family favorite! I’ve made it at least a dozen times so far

sad muffin man

DON'T USE FROZEN BLUEBERRIES LIKE ME. My muffins came out a creepy shade of blue. Only use frozen blueberries if you want a halloween zombie shade of muffin.

John A

Add some lemon zest and top the muffins with a small sprinkle of large granulated sugar prior to putting in the oven. Makes excellent muffin tops as well.

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Jordan Marsh’s Blueberry Muffins Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to moist muffins? ›

How to Make Homemade Muffins Moist: Our Top Tips
  1. Tips to Make Homemade Muffins Moist.
  2. Keep Wet and Dry Ingredients Separately.
  3. Add All Flavorings Last.
  4. Consider Paper Liners.
  5. Don't Overfill the Muffin Cups.
  6. Check the Temperature of Your Oven.
  7. Test if Muffins Are Fully Cooked.
  8. Top Your Muffins with Flavor.
Aug 9, 2021

What is the secret to high muffins? ›

The idea here is to start the muffins in a very hot oven for just a short amount of time. This activates the baking powder and allows the muffins to shoot up in height quickly. We then turn the heat down and continue to cook for longer. This is done to avoid over-browning and overbaking.

Why do my muffins not rise enough? ›

Muffin was underbaked and cell structure wasn't set. When the cell structure doesn't set, the air spaces created by the leavening in the recipe collapses, causing the muffin to sink. Oven temperatures vary over time. To insure the correct temperature each time you bake, always use an oven thermometer.

What not to do when making muffins? ›

Common Muffin Making Mistakes To Avoid
  1. Over mixing the batter.
  2. Overfilling the muffin tray.
  3. Leaving the muffins in the pan after they have baked.
  4. Berries, nuts, and chocolate chips sink to the bottom.
Mar 12, 2019

Is it better to use oil or butter in muffins? ›

Using oil as a substitute for butter in muffins can result in a lighter and more tender crumb, but it may also produce a slightly different flavor, depending on the type of oil used. Applesauce can also be used as a substitute for butter in muffins, as it provides moisture and can help to keep the muffins tender.

What does adding an extra egg do to muffins? ›

If there isn't enough egg, your batter or dough may not be able to hold its structure or could end up overly dry or dense. On the other hand, if there is too much egg, your baked goods could lose their shape due to excess liquid, or have a rubbery (or even overly cakey) texture depending on the recipe.

What does adding more eggs do to muffins? ›

Eggs are responsible for giving baked goods structure, which means the amount you use directly affects the resulting texture. Using too few eggs will make your desserts dense, but using too many will make them rubbery.

How do you make blueberry muffins rise higher? ›

Start the oven on high

Bake your muffins at 400°F for the first 5 minutes, then drop the temperature to the more standard 350°F for the remainder of the bake time. This method sparks the leavening agents (especially baking powder) in the batter to react quicker, creating that gorgeously risen top.

Should you let muffin batter rest? ›

Quickbreads and muffins are hydrating batters, which means the flour absorbs the liquid over time, resulting in a very moist muffin, and improving the flavor. So let your muffin batter rest, up to 24 hours if possible.

How do I get my muffins to rise higher? ›

For an extra boost in rise, you can start baking the muffins at a slightly higher temperature (e.g., 425°F / 220°C) for the first 5 minutes, then reduce it to the recipe-specified temperature. This initial high heat can create a burst of steam and rapid expansion.

How do you make high domed muffins? ›

According to O. Corriher, the way to get a perfectly puffed up dome on your muffins is to increase your oven heat. She says that 400° should do it, no matter what the recipe says. The higher baking temperature means that the the outside edges of the muffin will set while the middle is still liquidy.

What is the blueberry muffin syndrome? ›

'Blueberry muffin syndrome' is the descriptive term used for an infant born with multiple blue/purple marks or nodules in the skin. These are due to the presence of clusters of blood-producing cells in the skin (extramedullary erythropoiesis), or bleeding into the skin (purpura), or spreading cancer (metastases).

What is the best temperature to bake muffins? ›

Ideal Muffin Cooking Temperature

That being said, the standard oven temperature for baking desserts like quick breads and muffins is commonly set to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Setting your oven to this temperature will almost always produce a well-cooked muffin recipe.

What are some signs that you overmixed your muffins? ›

Overmixing batter can lead to tough muffins

Overmixing batter can inhibit that, ending with dense muffins instead of fluffy. This happens when you mix for too long. It can destroy air bubbles that are necessary for a light and airy texture (via The Kitchn).

What oil is best for moist muffins? ›

Choosing vegetable oil is the best option for baking moist, delicious baked goods. Canola oil, the most common vegetable oil used in baking, doesn't add a strong flavor. It allows your cake's flavor will shine through while still achieving a moist texture.

How do you moisten baked muffins? ›

First, prick the muffin tops all over with a toothpick. Next, pour your liquid of choice (e.g., milk or fruit juice) into a bowl, dip a pastry brush into it, and brush the tops of the muffins. The liquid will seep into the muffin's interior, soaking the crumb and softening the muffins, turning them as good as new.

Why are bakery muffins so much better? ›

The best bakery-style crumb muffins start with cake flour

Cake flour is more finely ground and has less protein, which leaves the muffins with a fine, light crumb and soft texture. Using cake flour is an easy way to avoid heavy, dense muffins even if you end up stirring just a bit too much.

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