What are scuffins? A scone crossed with a muffin! Quick and easy to make, these berry scuffins are perfect for breakfast, snacks, or lunches.
Have you ever tried scuffins? Perhaps you have. This isn’t an entirely new recipe, I posted these scuffins on my blog a couple of years ago.
However, I’ve been busy freshening up the food photography for my site, and these scuffins needed some visual love!
Whatever the choice, most days it’s got to be fuss-free. I want to get those ingredients into a bowl, mixed and into the oven! So, I look for ways to be inventive with new flavors and textures without adding extra steps.
What Are Scuffins?
I love the idea of scones, but they can be fussy to bake. I have a recipe in ed&bv for Raspberry Chocolate Chip Scones. They’re delicious – not difficult to make – but they take just a little more time.
So, I began experimenting to create something similar to a scone, but with the ease of muffin-baking.
I was pretty chuffed with the results!
These Berry Scuffins aren’t exactly like a scone – they aren’t as hefty and rich – but they are darn close. Plus the important bonus: they are quick and easy!
I first made them with frozen blueberries. I prefer the small wild blueberries here as they bake more evenly through the batter.
However, use whatever you have on hand, and just check for doneness. Fresh blueberries can also be used.
Then I tried them with fresh strawberries.
Just WOW! The smell while baking is intoxicating, and the scuffins are so tender, fragrant, and fresh.
Our girls devour them. Well, two of our girls. 🙄 I sometimes bake a couple without berries, I’ve accepted it.
I think these Scuffins are best fresh out of the oven or enjoyed the same day, so I’ve created the recipe yielding a modest batch. Enjoy on their own, or with a drizzle of nut butter or dollop of jam.
Try pairing with a hot tea or cool glass of plant milk! Also, since these are nut-free, they make another terrific snack to pack for school lunches.
Hope you love the scuffins. Please let me know which berry version you prefer and how YOU best enjoy them!
x Dreena
Vegan baking in our household includes lots of healthy snacks at least a few times a week! These are a few of the favorites that we have for breakfast and dessert:
- Vegan Banana Bread Recipe
- Pumpkin Snackles
- Cinnamon Bun (“Cinnabon”) Muffins
- Chocolate Vegan Zucchini Bread Recipe
- Vegan Muffins and Healthy Baked Goods
Berry Scuffins
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups oat flour
- 3/4 cup rolled oats
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp lemon zest use organic
- 1/2 cup plain non-dairy yogurt see note
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
- 3-5 tbsp non-dairy milk see note
- 1/2 cup chopped strawberries (cut in pieces) or blueberries (can use frozen, see note)
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients (including zest). In a small bowl, whisk together the yogurt, maple syrup, and milk until well combined. Add wet mixture to the dry, folding through until just nicely combined. Add blueberries, and gently/quickly fold in so they don’t bleed too much color. Using a scoop, place mounds of the batter (about 3-4 tbsp each) on your baking sheet. You should have about 9-10 ‘scuffins’. Bake for 15-16 minutes, or until set (gently touch one in the centre, it shouldn’t sink to the touch). Remove, let cool for a minute or two on the pan, and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. Makes 9-10.
Recipe Notes
- Milk note: How much milk you use will depend on the consistency of your brand of non-dairy yogurt. Some brands are quite dense and thick, so I find I may need another 1-2 tbsp of milk. Other vegan yogurts are much looser, and you may need just 3 tbsp of milk. Start with 3 when whisking the wet ingredients, and then with folding through, if the mixture is very stiff, add the 1-2 tbsp of extra milk.
- Berry Note: If using frozen berries, baking time may be a little longer. Test, and give another minute or two if needed to set. With raspberries, the color will bleed a little more, but flavor is delicious!
- Yogurt Note: If you only have vanilla yogurt, you can use it, but reduce the maple syrup so the scuffins aren’t too sweet. Use 1/3 maple syrup, and use the extra couple tablespoons of milk.
food photos by: Charlotte Singh
Tina says
These are phenomenal! I made them two days ago and we’ve already devoured them. I have a huge weakness for baked goods (especially muffins), and these were exactly what I needed. My 2 little boys couldn’t stop eating them! Thanks for such a great recipe! On to make batch number 2 today (:
A vercueil says
What is Oat flour please I’ m in SA and dont think I ever seen this ?
Dreena says
Oat flour is the flour made from oat groats – just like whole-wheat flour is made from wheatberries. You can see brands here: https://amzn.to/3bjocGi
Also, I just did a post about stocking a pantry. Lots more information there: https://bit.ly/Vegan-Pantry
Si says
Vercueil,
I made my own oat flour.
I took some of my rolled oats and blended them in my blender .
Dreena says
Thanks Si, yes that works beautifully when you can grind to a fine flour in a good blender. Thanks for the note.
Laura says
Wow the variety we could make is pretty limitless. I think this recipe deserves a re-look. Since in quarantine I am using more subs-
I will search for a link? To your yogurt recipe ( could you add it?) and after reading all the comments would love
To also see a tofu/lemon option listed in the yogurt notes.
I ENDED UP MAKING EARL GREY BLACKBERRY AND TOPPED WITH LEMONzeSt/Maple cashew glaze. Family really enjoyed them Easter weekend
Emily says
These Scuffins look so tasty! I have never heard of them before but what a great idea! I’ve saved this recipe to make this weekend.
Dreena says
Thank you Emily, delighted you want to try them!
Ellen says
These scuffins are excellent! I have made them twice already, both with sour cherries (from a neighbor’s tree!) I had frozen. These scuffins are flavorful and light. Oftentimes fat free baked goods are dense, but these are absolutely not. Thank you very much for sharing!
Tiffany says
Hi Dreena, I can’t believe I waited so long to make this recipe! It was amazing. I used your cashew yogurt and absolutely adored these strawberry scuffins. I used a mini ice cream scoop and it made the perfect size and I got about 13 scuffins.
Thank you!! Xoxo
katie says
Hello I’m not vegan but try to be a plant-based dieter. This recipe is really convincing!! I gonna make an oat flour myself but want to know how to measure it. Should I measure it after grinding? And how about the yogurt.Can i sub it with a plain greek yogurt? Thanks 🙂
Bitter and Murky says
I haven’t had yogurt in years, since going vegan, but I do plan to try your simple yogurt recipe soon.
Until then, just playing with the idea, could you substitute a nut butter in the scuffins instead of yogurt?
Or is that already another recipe of yours? 🙂
Thanks!
Blake says
I am going to make these for my sons preschool class, cut in half and with a spread of almond butter.They always have a whole grain, protein, fruit and dairy item. My son is not vegan like me (unfortunately he wants to eat like daddy), but I would like to do a vegan snack. I can’t think of a dairy alternative (they usually do string cheese and dishing out non dairy yogurt may be timely). Do you have a suggestion? Thank you!
shan says
The scuffins look perfect and what a great name. They are like muffin tops?
Any suggestions for those without non-dairy yogurt and/tofu? I never have yogurt and am trying to cut back the soy.
Thanks so much!
Dreena says
Thanks Shan – yes, very much like a muffin top! For the yogurt, I have a recipe on my blog, just posted it a few weeks ago – “Vanilla Cashew Yogurt”, you could try that. Also, there are many soy-free vegan yogurts on the market now – coconut, almond, etc – if you want to buy one that is soy-free. Good luck!
Rebecca Cody says
I’ve never been able to find plain plant based yogurts in our city. I have made my own soy yogurt, but it’s not nearly as thick or tangy as I’d like. I was thinking I’d try using soy milk with a tablespoon of lemon juice, which will thicken it somewhat, instead of yogurt. What do you think?
Christine says
Oh, these are delicious!! The batter too!! I made half blueberry and half chocolate chip (so my boys won’t think twice when I offer them as dessert). I love the raspberry scones in ED&BV though so I’m going to try a raspberry version next. I’m curious about the strawberry version too! I’m sure those are great also! I foresee more baking in my future! 😉
Thanks for another great recipe!!
<3
Dreena says
YAY! Can you believe I haven’t made them with chips yet Christine? um… why?!! Going to do so now that you’ve planted that seed. er, bean. 😉 xx
Liz says
Dreena,
I don’t ever have yogurt in the house. Do you think some pureed silken tofu would work in lieu of that? Should I add an acid to it with a bit of lemon juice to leaven and lighten?
Dreena says
Liz, you can sub with my cashew yogurt (posted a few weeks ago). You could also use pureed tofu with some acid, I think it would work ok. I’d puree first, then measure (I’d use maybe 2 tsp of lemon juice).
John Coblentz says
As always, I love your recipes! This one is so beautifully simple and fast. This time, I switched out berries for 1/4 cup ginger chips and 1/2 cup chopped pecans. I switched out maple syrup for ginger syrup, and added 1 tsp. Lemon extract. I used a whole 6 0z. Carton of coconut yogurt. All else the same. One of the things I like about your work is that it stimulates my thinking. Some tasks become treasured moments… thanks.
Dreena says
Those are wonderful substitutions, John, I bet those tasted amazing! So kind of you to say that, thank you.
Betty says
I made these for a dinner dessert this evening and they were very good all by themselves–didn’t need nut butter or jam. Tomorrow for breakfast I’ll warm one up and expect it’ll still be good plain.
Annie says
These look great. What can we substitute for yogurt since we are vegan
Thanks
Dreena says
Hi Annie, I am vegan too (20 years this yr!) so all my recipes entirely vegan. I use either a soy or coconut yogurt, you can choose another dairy-free yogurt if you prefer.
Jennie says
These are in the oven now and I love the lemon zest taste (batter is yummy!) Mine are blueberry this time around. Thank you for a great recipe and it will go great in my kids lunch boxes!
Dreena says
Wonderful! Agree Jennie, the lemon zest makes such a flavor difference – just a little thing to go a long way. I think it’s especially good with the blueberry version. Glad you are enjoying the recipe already! 😀
Kristina says
as a blueberry fan, those will be my first try (and I honestly love how blueberries make a kind of tye-dye stain…)
raspberries are my favorite, those might get in there too! 😉
Dreena says
Thanks Kristina! Glad I’m not along with the blueberries – they add baking character! Plus, I love ’em, they are my fave berries. Blue teeth not quite as cool as blue tye-dye baking. 😉 xx
Maryea {happy healthy mama} says
Oooh I don’t think I could pick a favorite variation! They all look so good. I’m trying these soon!
Dreena says
We like them all too! Hope you enjoy. 🙂
Kate says
Hi Dreena – these look yummy and easy! If there’s no maple syrup on hand (like now, at my house), can agave nectar be subbed?
Dreena says
You sure can Kate, should work without a hitch!