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    Home » Sweet

    Date Muffins

    Published: Aug 11, 2026 by Lee-Ann · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    These Date Muffins are soft and fluffy, just like the ones you get from your local cafe, and they couldn't be easier to make at home. With just a few simple steps, you can be serving these delicious muffins to your family and friends in no time.

    Muffins sitting on a marble tray.
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    Perfect for lunchboxes or an afternoon snack, these date muffins will be a hit with everyone.

    Table of Contents

    • Why I think you will love this recipe
    • What you need to make date muffins
    • Substitutions
    • How to make date muffins
    • My top tips for the best result
    • Storage
    • More muffin recipes you may enjoy
    • More date recipes you may enjoy
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Date Muffins

    Why I think you will love this recipe

    • Easy to follow recipe.
    • Pantry ingredients.
    • Freezer-friendly.

    What you need to make date muffins

    *Please see the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients with exact quantities and detailed instructions

    Collage showing the ingredients needed to make this recipe including labels.
    • buttermilk
    • salted butter
    • vegetable oil
    • golden syrup
    • vanilla extract
    • an egg
    • self-raising flour - self-rising flour
    • light brown sugar
    • caster sugar
    • dates

    *Please see the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients with exact quantities and detailed instructions

    Substitutions

    • No buttermilk? - make your own by adding 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or fresh lemon juice to 1 cup (250ml) of whole milk, then leave for 5-10 minutes at room temperature, until the mixture looks slightly curdled and thickened. This link has more alternatives.
    • Salted butter - substitute unsalted butter with a pinch of salt.
    • Self-raising flour - to make your own: for every cup (150g) of plain flour (all-purpose flour), add 2 teaspoons of baking powder and sift together well. For this muffin recipe, as written, you will be adding 5 teaspoons of baking powder to 375g of plain flour.
    • Dates - in case you don't want to use dates in date muffins...you could use raisins or sultanas instead.

    How to make date muffins

    1. In a large jug or a small bowl, combine buttermilk, vegetable oil, melted butter, vanilla, golden syrup and egg (wet ingredients).
    2. Whisk to combine (it will look a bit curdled) and set aside.
    A series of images showing the process of making this recipe.
    1. Add flour, brown sugar, and caster sugar to a large bowl and whisk to combine (dry ingredients).
    2. Then pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and fold until almost incorporated - importantly, don't overmix!

    Want to save this recipe?

    Email yourself a link to this page and come back later.

    A collage of images demonstrating how to cook this recipe.
    1. Lightly mix in the dates.
    2. Scoop the batter evenly into a lined 12-hole muffin tin and bake.
    Step-by-step photographs showing how to make this recipe.

    My top tips for the best result

    • The secret to light and fluffy muffins is not to overmix the batter. The more it's worked, the tougher and tighter the texture of your date muffins will be. Use as few strokes as you can and try to make each one count - I use a silicone or rubber spatula.
    • Stop mixing in the flour with a few streaks remaining, because the mixture will continue to be mixed as you incorporate the chopped dates.

    Storage

    These date muffins will last for up to 5 days in an airtight container at room temperature.

    These muffins are suitable for freezing.

    More muffin recipes you may enjoy

    Cinnamon Raisin Muffins - studded with juicy raisins, and the tops of the muffins dusted with a crunchy cinnamon sprinkle, these muffins taste like cafe-style cinnamon raisin bread.

    Lemon Blueberry Muffins - a combination of juicy blueberries and bright lemon flavour, baked with a lemony crumble topping.

    More date recipes you may enjoy

    Date and Walnut Slice - full of dates and walnuts, plus light and dark brown sugar for a rich and chewy baked slice.

    Date and Coconut Rolls - a delicious snack made with the natural sweetness of soft, chewy Medjool dates, almonds and coconut for a yummy treat with no added sugar.

    📖 Recipe

    Muffins sitting on a marble tray.

    Date Muffins

    These easy date muffins are soft and fluffy, just like the ones you get from your local cafe or bakery, and they are simple to make at home.
    Print Pin Rate
    Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Serving: 12
    Calories: 342kcal
    Author: Lee-Ann Grace

    Ingredients

    • 250 ml buttermilk
    • 60 g salted butter melted
    • 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
    • 1 tablespoon golden syrup
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 1 egg
    • 375 g self-raising flour self-rising flour
    • 150 g light brown sugar
    • 50 g caster sugar
    • 200 g dates chopped

    Watch me make this recipe

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 180℃.
    • Line a 12-hole muffin pan with muffin liners and set aside.
    • In a large jug or small bowl, combine buttermilk, melted butter, vegetable oil, golden syrup, vanilla, and egg, then whisk to combine and set aside (the mixture will look curdled, that's normal).
      250 ml buttermilk
      60 g salted butter
      4 tablespoons vegetable oil
      1 tbsp golden syrup
      2 teaspoons vanilla extract
      1 egg
    • In a large bowl, place self-raising flour, light brown sugar, and caster sugar and whisk to combine.
      375 g self-raising flour
      150 g light brown sugar
      50 g caster sugar
    • Add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture, then fold gently until it's almost incorporated with a few streaks of flour remaining - don't overmix!
    • Add the chopped dates, and fold until incorporated, and the mixture is just combined.
      200 g dates
    • Scoop the batter into the prepared pan, dividing it equally between the prepared muffin cups.
    • Bake for 20 - 25 minutes, or until a skewer or toothpick inserted into the centre of a muffin comes out clean.
    • Remove the muffins from the tin and place on a wire rack to cool.

    Notes

    • The secret to light and fluffy muffins is not to overmix the batter. The more it's worked, the tougher and tighter your muffins will turn out. Use as few strokes as you can and make each one count - I use a silicone or rubber spatula.
    • Stop mixing in the flour with a few streaks of flour remaining; the mixture will continue to be mixed as you incorporate the chopped dates.
    *Please note that the amount of calories per serve is provided as a guide only, as ingredients and cooking methods can vary greatly*

    Want to save this recipe?

    Email yourself a link to this page and come back later.

    Calories: 342kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 64mg | Potassium: 193mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 182IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 1mg

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