Ambrosia Muffins Recipe

This delightfully tropical Ambrosia Muffin recipe transforms the classic fruit salad into an irresistible baked treat. With juicy pineapple, tart cherries, coconut, and a hint of orange zest—all topped with a crunchy crumble—these muffins bring sunshine to your breakfast table any day of the week. They’re surprisingly simple to make but taste like you spent hours in the kitchen!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Tropical Escape in Every Bite: These muffins bring vacation vibes to your kitchen with their perfect blend of pineapple, coconut, and citrus flavors.
• Make-Ahead Friendly: Bake a batch on Sunday and enjoy bakery-quality muffins all week long—they actually get even more flavorful after a day!
• That Crumble Topping: Let’s be honest, the brown sugar, coconut, and pecan topping is absolutely irresistible and adds the perfect textural contrast.
• Not Your Ordinary Muffin: When you’re tired of blueberry and banana muffins, these unique treats will revitalize your breakfast routine.

this Recipe

Ingredients You’ll Need

• All-purpose flour: Creates the structure of our muffins—just be careful not to overmix to keep them tender.
• Granulated sugar: Provides sweetness while allowing the fruit flavors to shine through.
• Baking powder: The leavening agent that gives these muffins their perfect rise.
• Kosher salt: Enhances all the flavors and balances the sweetness.
• Coconut milk: Adds moisture and a subtle tropical flavor that makes these muffins special.
• Crushed pineapple: Be sure to drain it well to prevent soggy muffins, but save that juice for smoothies!
• Canola oil: Keeps the muffins moist without adding competing flavors.
• Eggs: Provide structure and richness to the batter.
• Orange zest: The secret ingredient that brightens all the flavors and makes these muffins sing.
• Dried tart cherries: These add lovely chewy texture and tangy flavor that cuts through the sweetness.
• Brown sugar: Creates that irresistible caramelized flavor in the crumble topping.
• Butter: Makes the crumble topping rich and indulgent.
• Pecans: Add a wonderful nutty crunch to the topping.
• Sweetened flaked coconut: Toasts beautifully in the oven for an extra dimension of flavor.

Variations

Want to customize these tropical treats? Here are some delicious twists:

• Berry Ambrosia: Swap the cherries for dried cranberries or blueberries for a different fruity experience.
• Tropical Paradise: Add 1/2 cup of diced mango (dried or fresh) alongside the pineapple for an extra tropical punch.
• Nutty Delight: Try walnuts or macadamia nuts instead of pecans in the topping for a flavor variation.
• Citrus Lover’s Version: Replace the orange zest with lime zest for a more tangy profile.
• Chocolate Twist: Add 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips to the batter for a surprising sweet addition.

How to Make Ambrosia Muffins

Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Muffin Tins

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line 18 muffin cups with paper liners and give them a light spray with non-stick cooking spray. This ensures your beautiful muffins won’t stick to the papers.

Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and kosher salt until well combined. This even distribution ensures every muffin tastes perfect.

Step 3: Combine the Wet Ingredients

In a separate medium bowl, stir together the coconut milk, well-drained pineapple, canola oil, lightly beaten eggs, and orange zest until the mixture looks uniform.

Step 4: Make the Batter

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir just until combined. The batter might look a bit lumpy, and that’s perfectly fine! Gently fold in those tart cherries with a wooden spoon.

Step 5: Create the Crumble Topping

In a small bowl, mix the flour, brown sugar, and softened butter with your fingertips until crumbly. Then stir in the chopped pecans, flaked coconut, salt, and orange zest until everything is well distributed.

Step 6: Fill and Top the Muffins

Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups. They should be about 2/3 full. Generously sprinkle that amazing crumble topping over each muffin.

Step 7: Bake to Golden Perfection

Bake for 16-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The tops should be golden brown and slightly firm to the touch.

Pro Tips for Making the Recipe

• Room Temperature Ingredients: Using room temperature eggs and coconut milk creates a more uniform batter that rises better.
• Don’t Overmix: Stop stirring as soon as the dry ingredients are incorporated to keep your muffins tender and fluffy.
• Properly Drain the Pineapple: Take an extra minute to really drain that pineapple well—too much liquid will make soggy muffins.
• Crumble Technique: For the perfect crumble, use your fingertips to work the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles coarse sand.
• Cooling Period: Let the muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack—this prevents them from getting soggy bottoms.

How to Serve

These versatile muffins work beautifully in multiple settings:

Breakfast Pairing

Serve warm with a spread of cream cheese and a cup of coffee for a luxurious breakfast.

Brunch Star

These make a standout addition to any brunch spread, especially alongside some tropical fruits and yogurt.

Afternoon Tea

Pair with Earl Grey or a fruity herbal tea for a delightful afternoon pick-me-up.

Dessert Transformation

Warm slightly and top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an unexpected dessert that will impress guests.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store completely cooled muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. The flavors actually develop and improve after the first day!

Freezing

These muffins freeze beautifully for up to 3 months. Wrap each muffin individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. This method prevents freezer burn and allows you to grab just one at a time.

Reheating

For that fresh-baked taste, reheat frozen muffins (unwrapped) in a 300°F oven for about 10 minutes, or microwave for 20-30 seconds if you’re in a hurry.

FAQs

Can I use fresh cherries instead of dried?
Fresh cherries contain much more moisture than dried and would likely make the muffins soggy. If you really want to use fresh, reduce the amount to 3/4 cup, chop them finely, and pat them dry with paper towels before adding to the batter.

I don’t have coconut milk. What can I substitute?
Regular milk or almond milk will work, though you’ll lose some of the tropical flavor. For a closer substitute, use 1 cup of whole milk mixed with 1/3 cup of coconut cream.

My crumble topping melted into the muffins. What went wrong?
This usually happens when the butter is too warm or over-softened. Next time, make sure your butter is just softened, not melty, and consider chilling the prepared crumble for 10 minutes before topping the muffins.

Can I make these gluten-free?
Absolutely! Replace the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend. The texture might be slightly different, but they’ll still be delicious. Add 1/4 teaspoon of xanthan gum if your blend doesn’t already include it.

Final Thoughts

These Ambrosia Muffins bring together all the beloved flavors of the classic fruit salad in a convenient, handheld treat. They’re perfect for busy mornings, special brunches, or anytime you need a little tropical escape. The combination of pineapple, cherries, coconut, and that irresistible crumble topping creates something truly special that friends and family will request again and again. Give them a try this weekend—your kitchen will smell amazing, and your taste buds will thank you!

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