These Famous Department Store Blueberry Muffins Are the Best I’ve Ever Made

As a kid, breakfast at my house was simple and straightforward—it was a bowl of cereal or oatmeal. If my brother and I were lucky, sometimes it was blueberry muffins. My mom, a self-proclaimed non-baker, would buy the box kit with crumble topping, get up before us to mix up a batch, and bake them. The scent of muffins in the oven was a clever way to lure two teenagers out of bed on those early mornings.

I’ve loved blueberry muffins ever since, and after making almost every recipe out there—because unlike my mom, I love to bake—I’ve determined that Jordan Marsh’s Blueberry Muffins are the absolute best. It yields a tender, moist muffin, with the perfect amount of blueberries and thankfully doesn’t require much time or effort to make. 

How To Make Jordan Marsh’s Blueberry Muffins

Jordan Marsh was a Boston-based department store that served customers from 1851 until the late 1990s. Their flagship store had a bakery that made these blueberry muffins. The muffins became famous and after making them, I think you’ll see why.

The recipe only requires nine ingredients and most of them are staples, which means you can easily whip up a batch when your blueberry muffin craving hits.

It starts with beating some softened butter with sugar. Once that’s nice and creamy, you add eggs and some vanilla extract. Sift flour, salt, and baking powder together, and then add that to the wet mixture, alternating with a bit of milk. Mash up a few blueberries and fold them into the batter, then finally add a bunch of whole blueberries.

Divide the batter among paper-lined muffin cups, top with a bit of sugar and bake for about 30 minutes in a 375°F oven. It’s that easy!

The result is a tender, blueberry-packed muffin with the most delicious crisp topping! My preference is to let them cool just a bit and then enjoy them warm with a cup of coffee. I’ll try to just eat one, but they’re so darn good that I’ll often have a second. Luckily, if we run out of muffins, there’s no need to worry since I’ve got all of the ingredients to make another batch and they’re so easy.

Tips for Making Jordan Marsh’s Blueberry Muffins

• Follow the instructions: Muffins can be a tricky thing to make, but if you follow the instructions, you’ll get fabulous results. Take the time to cream the butter and sugar together and mix well after adding each egg. Also, a few gentle folds is all you need to incorporate those blueberries in at the end. Don’t overmix the batter.
• Consider the blueberries: To get big blueberry flavor, this recipe calls for mashing some of the blueberries. This helps distribute them throughout the muffin. This technique works best if you’re using fresh blueberries. If you’re using frozen, thaw them first, and you can skip this step since the act of folding will break them down and distribute the berries in a similar way.
• Add some lemon zest (or make a berry swap): I really love these muffins just as they are, but I can’t leave even a good recipe alone. The simple addition of just a teaspoon of fresh lemon zest adds a lovely touch of brightness and pairs beautifully with the blueberries. I’ve also increased the vanilla extract with good results and have even played around with a variety of berries—each one as delicious!