13 Best Summer Muffin Recipes

Summer is the perfect time for making muffins with all the fresh fruits in season. These recipes take advantage of juicy berries, sweet stone fruits, and tropical flavors that taste best during warm months. Most of these muffins are quick to mix up so you don’t have to spend long in a hot kitchen. They’re great for breakfast, picnics, or lazy summer afternoons with a cold drink.

Fresh Blueberry Lemon Muffins

The combo of bright lemon and sweet blueberries just screams summer. The lemon zest in the batter makes the blueberry flavor pop even more. Wild blueberries work best if you can find them since they’re smaller and distribute better in the batter. Some recipes add a lemon glaze on top which soaks in a little and adds extra zing. These are perfect for breakfast on the patio or packing for a beach day when you want something that isn’t too heavy.

Strawberry Shortcake Muffins

These taste like strawberry shortcake in muffin form. The diced strawberries release their juice while baking which keeps the muffins super moist. Some recipes add a crumb topping with bits of butter that gets crispy like the “shortcake” part. You can use frozen strawberries if you didn’t make it to the farmers market, but fresh ones have better flavor. These taste great slightly warm when the strawberry parts are extra juicy.

Peach Cobbler Muffins

The chunks of fresh peach in these get all soft and jammy when baked. The batter usually has cinnamon and sometimes nutmeg just like peach cobbler. Some recipes add a streusel topping to mimic the cobbler crust. The peaches make these super moist so they stay fresh for days. These are a good way to use peaches that are getting too ripe to eat out of hand. Perfect for summer brunches or afternoon snacks.

Blackberry Lime Muffins

The tart lime zest balances the sweet juicy blackberries in these. When the blackberries burst during baking they make purple streaks through the muffins which looks pretty. Some recipes add a lime glaze on top for extra citrus punch. The combo is more interesting than plain blackberry muffins. These are great for using up blackberries if you went picking and got carried away – happens to me every summer!

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

These are bright and citrusy which is perfect for hot summer mornings. The lemon flavor comes from both zest and juice so it’s really pronounced. The poppy seeds add a nice crunch and look pretty in the pale yellow muffins. Some recipes add a lemon glaze or a cream cheese frosting on top which makes them more special. These are lighter than most muffins which makes them good when it’s too hot for heavy breakfasts.

Coconut Mango Muffins

These have a tropical vacation vibe that’s perfect for summer. The diced mango adds moisture and sweet fruity flavor. The coconut can be flakes mixed in the batter, coconut milk instead of regular, or both. Some recipes add a sprinkle of lime zest which brightens everything up. These taste like something you’d eat at a fancy resort breakfast but are actually easy to make at home. Great for pretending you’re somewhere exotic even if your just in your backyard.

Raspberry White Chocolate Muffins

The combo of tart raspberries and sweet white chocolate is always a winner. The raspberries burst during baking and make little pockets of fruity goodness. The white chocolate chips stay melty longer than regular chocolate which is nice. Some recipes add lemon zest which goes great with raspberries. These look really pretty with the red berries and white chocolate against the golden muffin. Perfect for summer parties or brunch with friends.

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins

These are a smart way to use up all that summer zucchini from the garden or farmers market. The zucchini makes the muffins super moist but you can’t taste it at all under the chocolate flavor. The chocolate chips distract from the green flecks so kids will eat them without complaining about vegetables. These stay fresh for days because of the moisture from the zucchini. Great for breakfast, lunchboxes, or afternoon snacks when you need to use up that giant zucchini someone gave you.

Cherry Almond Muffins

These take advantage of fresh summer cherries when they’re at their peak. The almond flavor comes from extract and sometimes sliced almonds on top. The combo of cherry and almond is classic and works so well together. Some recipes add a sprinkle of coarse sugar on top which gets crunchy in the oven. These do take a little extra work to pit all those cherries but it’s worth it. Perfect for weekend baking when cherries are cheap.

Key Lime Muffins with Coconut Streusel

The tart key lime juice and zest in these makes them super refreshing for summer. If you can’t find key limes, regular limes work fine too. The coconut streusel on top adds great texture and tropical flavor. Some recipes include a lime glaze that soaks into the warm muffins. These taste like key lime pie in muffin form which is a lot more appropriate for breakfast! Great with iced coffee on hot mornings.

Pineapple Coconut Muffins

These have major piña colada vibes minus the rum. The crushed pineapple makes them super moist and gives bits of fruit throughout. The coconut is usually both in the batter and sprinkled on top where it gets toasty. Some recipes add macadamia nuts for crunch and even more tropical flavor. These taste like summer vacation in muffin form. Perfect for when you want something different from the usual berry muffins.

Plum Cardamom Muffins

These are a more unique summer muffin. The diced plums get jammy when baked and give beautiful purple streaks. The cardamom adds a subtle spice that works surprisingly well with plums. It’s enough to be interesting but not so weird that kids won’t eat them. Some recipes add a little brown sugar on top that gets crispy. These are great for using up plums when they’re super cheap in late summer. A nice change from the usual muffin flavors.

Lemon Crumb Muffins

These sound weird but actually work! The watermelon gets cooked down first until it’s concentrated, then added to the batter. The fresh basil adds an herbal note that’s unexpected but really good with the sweet watermelon. These are usually made as mini muffins since the flavor is pretty unique and a little goes a long way. They’re a fun conversation starter for summer parties. Not your everyday muffin but worth trying when you want something completely different.