Making a Low Sodium Blueberry Muffin was essential since when I do make muffins you can bet they will have blueberries in them. They still deliver that extra buttery, moist and soft coffee shop type muffin you are craving. With some fresh blueberries and basic baking ingredients, you can make this easy breakfast or dessert recipe.
Sodium in blueberry muffins
Just one basic store-bought muffin can be up to 370mg of sodium! And it’s hard telling what a bakery or coffee shop muffin might be up to.
Typical sodium amount per serving | 370mg |
Sodium per for jumbo muffin | 52mg |
Sodium per for regular muffin | 26mg |
Calories per serving | 537 |
Most average recipes are listed at 160-250mg of sodium per muffin. Though looking at the ingredients lists I would say that number is still on the low side.
These low sodium blueberry muffins have only 52mg of sodium for the jumbo size and 26mg for the regular muffin size. Much, much lower, though there is still a lot of sugar and fat content. So that would need to be considered in your choices or portion sizes.
A crunchy, crumbly cinnamon streusel
I had been under the impression that streusel was a topping that more resembled an icing type topping. But, it turns out that it has been one of my favorite types of topping for muffins all along, I just didn’t know it.
Streusel is a crumbly topping or filling that is commonly made from fat, flour, sugar, and often cinnamon.
I left out the extra butter and added some pecans (or walnuts) in the brown sugar and cinnamon to make my streusel. Once I sprinkled over the muffin I gently tapped it into the surface of the batter to adhere.
They came out perfect, still have a crunchy brown sugar streusel topping without the added fat!
Fresh or frozen blueberries?
It really doesn’t matter much whether your berries are frozen or fresh. If using frozen berries don’t defrost them first before stirring into the batter. Otherwise, they tend to just get wet and sloppy besides, they are apt to turn your batter blue. In this case, I believe fresh is best!
Tips for tall muffin tops that pop!
For big coffee shop style muffin tops, there are a few easy things to do and follow:
Your muffin batter should be thick and sticky when finished mixed.
Evenly fill your muffin pan pockets all the way to the top as much as you can.
Bake the muffins for 5 minutes at an initial high temperature of 425°F for 5 minutes, and then reduce to 350°F for the remainder of the cooking time. A high oven temperature will quickly lift up the muffin top and when the temperature is lowered, the centers of the muffins will finish baking.
Be sure ingredients are at room temperature. When eggs, butter, and other dairy ingredients are at room temperature, they form an emulsion (bakery science, haha) that traps air. So when baking in the oven, that trapped air expands and produces a fluffy muffin. Plus cold ingredients just do not incorporate and mix together as easily.
Are blueberry muffins healthy?
I wouldn’t consider (or could say) these are especially healthy. They still have a lot of fat and sugar used in them. But this blueberry muffin recipe is considerably lower in sodium than any regular recipe or store-bought muffin.
But as I don’t make them that often, it makes for a nice occasional breakfast muffin or special occasion snack. Plus, since they’re homemade with natural ingredients you know exactly what’s inside the batter. Only you know what you need to achieve and your limits to choose.
Freezing blueberry muffins
Muffins may be frozen for several months. Completely cool muffins on the cooling rack and then place muffins in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag or air-tight container. Thaw in the refrigerator or put out on the counter. To warm up, microwave on high for about 30-40 seconds or bake at 250°F for about 8 minutes.
A few of my other great dishes to enjoy!
Recommended Equipment & Ingredients For This Recipe.
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Jumbo Muffin Pan
Baking/Cooling Rack
Hains Featherweight No Sodium Baking Powder
Please let me know how these Low Sodium Blueberry Muffins turn out for you in the comments and a rating! I’m always eager for your feedback and hope my recipes turn out amazing for you. You can follow me on Facebook and Pinterest also, to hear about new recipes.
Low Sodium Blueberry Muffins
Ingredients
Crunchy Streusel Topping
- 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (1 – 2oz. package)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Muffins
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 2 ½ teaspoon Hain’s Featherweight baking powder sodium free
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (soft at room temperature, 1 stick)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt (room temperature (5.3oz. yogurt cup))
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup 2% milk (room temperature)
- 1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Spray a 12-count or 6-count jumbo muffin pan with nonstick spray. Set aside.
- Mix all of the crunchy topping ingredients together. Set aside.
- Whisk the flour and no sodium baking powder in a medium bowl, evenly distributed, loose and fluffy. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl use a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or beater attachment, beat the unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together on high speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes.
- On a medium speed, add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the yogurt and vanilla extract on medium speed until combined. With the mixer running on low speed, slowly add or portion in the dry ingredients and milk into the wet ingredients and beat until no flour pockets remain. Carefully fold in the floured blueberries.
- Spoon the batter into muffin tins, filling them all the way to the top. Top each with crunchy topping, lightly press it down into the surface so it sticks.
- For standard size muffins – Bake for 5 minutes at 425 then, keeping the muffins in the oven, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (177°C). Bake for an additional 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- For a jumbo muffin pan – Bake at 425°F for 5 minutes, then reduce to 350°F for 22-25 minutes for a total of 27-30. Makes about 6.
- Allow the muffins to cool for 5 minutes in the muffin pan, then transfer to a wire rack to continue cooling.
- Muffins stay fresh covered at room temperature for a few days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Mix blueberries witha sprinkle of flour. It helps them not sink in muffin while baking.
Notes ______________________________________________
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Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. Please understand that not everyone’s sodium and dietary requirements are the same, therefore some recipes may be higher than you’re allowed.
https://tastyhealthyheartrecipes.com/main-dishes/breakfast/low-sodium-blueberry-muffins/© 2024 Tasty Healthy Heart Recipes
Below is nutrition information for the 6 count jumbo size muffins and the 12 count regular size muffins
Nutrition Information – The information shown is provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be substituted for a doctor’s or nutritionist’s advice. Please understand that not everyone’s sodium requirements are the same, therefore some recipes may be higher than you’re allowed. Always consult with your doctor for your recommended daily sodium allowance.
Delicious! Very moist.
The recipe for this called for no sodium baking powder, However, in the directions, it states to add baking soda? Which product did you use?
I am correcting to state baking powder. Thanks Bill
Bill
Thanks for the recipe. It was alsome
I made these muffins and they are delicious! I followed the recipe exactly and they came out perfect. The best blueberry muffin I have ever made.
Glad you enjoyed them. Thanks so much Pam!
They were absolutely delicious!! I tweaked a few things including adding less sugar – only bc I only had vanilla yogurt but it had less sugars than another brand (no sweeteners). Also used about 1/2 the van extract for the same reason. Cut back on the sugar in general, added some oats for extra protein and used crushed walnuts and pecans for the topping. Also used 2C blueberries.
I rarely go strictly by a recipe. I never knew about the 1st 5 mins at 425 then lowering the temperature to finish baking. They came out very nice!
[I also think the leftover muffins would make a great blueberry “French toast” bake! Cut left overs into bite size pieces, stir in some egg beater type egg mixture with a bit of milk till moist but not mushy, top lightly with sprinkling of brown sugar or a tiny drizzle of syrup re-bake/heat for 10-15 mins @ 325.
Wow! Some great ideas there Tracy! Thanks for your comment, Bill
I made with gluten free flour and they were delicious.
Excellent, Thank you!
The muffins were delicious! I included a little butter in the streusel. It didn’t show how much you eliminated but I guessed 2.5 T.
There is a typo in the recipe. The recipe list calls for yogurt but the written words in the recipe say sour cream. I went with the later since that is what I had and they were yummy.
Hi Jackie,
In researching I have seen streusel with as much as 1/4 cup of butter. But about 2 tbsp would be about normal. I wanted to cut as much fat out as I could and just tapping the topping down into the batter seemed to work as well as having a butter binder. I have read that you could also use a bit of vegetable oil if you wanted to try that.
Ah I see, the sour cream was from my first go around making these. I actually liked the yogurt better though as they seemed more moist to me. But either one will work.
Thanks for the catch and the comment.
Bill
Super excellent!
I doubled the recipe and added 2 dashes of salt. End result is 65mg sodium per jumbo muffin. I could only eat half so that worked well for my sodium count.
Additionally I took the blue berries and Coated them in a half cup of flour from the recipe requirement and let them sit for 30 mins before introducing to the batter. It helps suspend the berries in the batter.
Next time I will increase the sugar at my husbands request.
Thanks
This is a keeper.
Kim
Delicious. Like bake shop muffins. Light, tasty, nice sized, filling. Everyone loved them!
Thank you Sandra!