Greek Yogurt Blueberry Muffins (Low Sugar Recipe)

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Everyone loves a good blueberry muffin, don’t they? Enter these super light, moist and airy blueberry muffins made with protein-packed Greek yogurt.

Super easy to make in around 30 minutes, these delicious yogurt muffins have a perfect ‘muffin top’ and always seem to turn out well. And as they’re relatively low sugar, you can enjoy one (or two – why not?) guilt free!

The inside of a fluffy Greek yogurt blueberry muffin on a paper liner and dark background with a light blue tea towel in front and more muffins and milk in the background.

Table of Contents

The best blueberry muffins you’ve ever had

I received a rare compliment indeed from Mr. Scrummy the first few times I made these Greek yogurt blueberry muffins.

He said “As you know, I’m not much of a muffin man, but I think this was the best muffin I’ve ever tasted. It was perfect.” I take this as an extra vote of confidence that these are good – really good.

Years later, I still make these muffins regularly for morning or afternoon teas, lunch boxes, portable and healthy-ish breakfasts, and even gifts. Every time, I think to myself that this is definitely one of the very best recipes here on Scrummy Lane. I really hope you try them, and come to love them as much as we do!

Why you’ll love them

✔ THEY’RE EASY. Like, I’ll stick my neck out and say that these yogurt blueberry muffins are impossible to mess up. I’ve made them more times than I can count. I haven’t always (ahem) been super accurate with the ingredients amounts, but they pretty much never fail.

✔ PERFECT TEXTURE. You’ll love how light, fluffy and moist they are! They’ve been described as the fluffiest muffins ever, and also as having ‘the perfect muffin top’ – nicely risen, golden brown, and lightly crisp!

✔ THEY’RE A HEALTHY BLUEBERRY MUFFIN RECIPE. Or at least healthiER. Low sugar, high protein, packed with nutritious blueberries, and fairly low calorie. Each of these muffins only contain about 270 calories.

[I’m not sure if that makes these ‘skinny’ muffins, but then again Starbucks’ skinny blueberry muffins contain 317 calories, so I’ll leave you to decide ;-)]

✔ SO QUICK TO MAKE. You can cook up a batch within about 30 minutes. No fancy beating or creaming of ingredients. Just mix the wet ingredients into the dry, pop into muffin cases, and bake.

✔ ENDLESSLY ADAPTABLE. Really. Take a look at the hundreds of comments below the recipe. It constantly astounds me how many successful adaptations and substitutions readers have tried. Apparently, they even turn out well at high altitude!

5* Reviews

“I have been baking for well over 65 years and these are the best blueberry muffins I have ever made. I love them!” (Marybeth)

“Unbelievably amazing! I’ve finally found the perfect blueberry muffin recipe, so light and fluffy. They’re perfect for both breakfast or dessert!” (Ella)

Greek yogurt blueberry muffins just baked in the muffin pan with a blue tea towel next to it.

About the ingredients

Overhead view of all the ingredients needed to make Greek yogurt blueberry muffins including blueberries, eggs, milk, Greek yogurt, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt, oil and sugar.

As you can see, you only need 7 main ingredients (plus raising agents and salt) to make these failsafe Greek yogurt muffins.

Here’s what you need to know.

All-purpose flour (plain flour): Sometimes I replace some of the flour with whole wheat flour (wholemeal). Readers have reported successfully using all white whole wheat flour, cake flour, and gluten free flour. I’ve also successfully substituted in a little spelt or coconut flour.

Sadly these muffins do not appear to work with all almond flour, but you can try substituting a little.

You may need to add a little more milk to compensate for different types of flour.

Baking powder: Yep, there’s a whole tablespoon of baking powder in these muffins – around a teaspoon per cup of flour. It might seem like a lot, but the muffins turn out with a great ‘muffin top’. And don’t worry, there is no horrible aftertaste.

Baking soda: Just a little, apparently to balance out the acid in the yogurt and make sure you get a good rise and colour on your muffins.

Sugar: For me, just half a cup of plain white sugar provides the perfect amount of sweetness. If you have a sweeter tooth, you might like to sprinkle a little extra over the top of the muffins before baking. You can also use even less sugar if you like.

The recipe doesn’t seem to depend on the sugar for the texture of the cake. Many readers have successfully replaced all or some of the sugar with alternative sweeteners such as Stevia.

Salt: After feedback from readers over the years, I now include half a teaspoon of salt to round out the other flavors.

Eggs: 2 large, lightly whisked. I haven’t tried it myself, but several readers have successfully used egg replacements to make the muffins vegan.

Oil: I use either canola oil (or another vegetable oil), light olive oil, or a mixture of the two. Another oil such as melted coconut oil would work, as would melted butter.

Several readers have tried substituting around half of the oil with more yogurt. They’ve been happy with the results!

Greek yogurt: I always use an authentic style Greek yogurt made with just yogurt cultures and milk. However, readers have reported using ALL KINDS of Greek and Greek style yogurts in this recipe, even flavored versions. It seems they all work!

Since the yogurt is the key ingredient in these muffins, I wouldn’t try to completely miss it out.

Milk: I usually add between a quarter and a half cup of milk. The amount I add seems to depend on the particular brand of yogurt that I use i.e. how thick it is. Add even more if you think the batter needs it. It should be quite thick and fluffy, but not dry.

Blueberries: Around a cup and a half of fresh blueberries makes sure there are blueberries in every bite! Feel free to use frozen blueberries. Frozen sometimes create a few blue streaks in the muffin batter. I don’t find this to be a problem if I fold the fruit in carefully with just a few brief folds with a wooden spoon.

How to make them

The step-by-step guide below should help you make the recipe perfectly first time. Scroll down to the end for the full recipe including ingredient amounts.

it couldn’t be easier to make a batch of these healthy blueberry muffins with yogurt. Here’s what you do.

Step 1: Line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper liners (or silicon if preferred). I usually lightly spray them with oil to help prevent sticking. I also start preheating the oven at this point.

Step 2: Mix together all the dry ingredients (including the sugar) in a large mixing bowl.

Step 3: Mix together all the wet ingredients in a medium mixing bowl or jug.

collage of 2 images showing Making the batter for Greek yogurt chocolate chip muffins

Step 4: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry. Stir with a wooden spoon or spatula until ‘just’ combined.

Step 5: If the mixture is at all dry, add a little more milk until it isn’t any more.

Closeup of Greek yogurt muffin batter in a big glass bowl on a marble background and with a wooden spoon in it.

Step 6: Fold the blueberries through the mixture gently. Then divide batter between the muffin liners (you can fill to the top).

Step 7: Bake for anything from 17 to around 25 minutes. This will depend on the size of the muffins, really. As soon as a skewer or sharp knife poked into the center of a muffin comes out clean, they’re ready!

Just baked blueberry muffins from above on an old table with a light blue tea towel.

Helen’s top tips

  • Don’t forget the ‘basic’ rule of homemade muffin making i.e. keep the dry and wet ingredients separate until the last minute, then mix until barely combined. A few lumps are fine.
  • Don’t be afraid to add a little more milk than the recipe calls for. The batter should be thick but not dry.
  • Experiment! Feel free to tweak the recipe to make these blueberry yogurt muffins your very own (see ideas for variations below!).

Variations

These Greek yogurt muffins are the most (successfully) tweaked and altered recipe on the site! It’s a fantastic recipe to experiment with and make your own.

Here are my favorite ideas (thanks to reader feedback over many years).

  • Replace some or all of the blueberries with different fresh or frozen fruit. Make alternative healthy berry muffins with raspberries or blackberries, or how about grated apple, chopped pear, chopped banana or peaches? I’ve tried nearly all of these. All turned out great, and I’m pretty sure other fruits would work too.
  • These Greek yogurt blueberry muffins have proven so popular that I decided to create a chocolate chip version. Take a look at my recipe for Greek yogurt choc chip muffins (also fairly low sugar) as well. Enjoy!
  • Add chopped nuts or dried fruit.
  • Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract or almond essence, or some lemon zest.
  • In the mood for a slightly sweeter treat? Sprinkle a little brown sugar and cinnamon on top before baking.
  • Make a Greek yogurt blueberry bread instead! It’s just as phenomenally delicious as the muffins. Simply reduce the oven temperature by 50F/10C and bake for about an hour until a skewer poked into the center comes out clean.
Greek yogurt blueberry muffins on a cooling rack from above.

Recipe FAQ

How long do these blueberry muffins last?

4 days after baking, these muffins are still light, moist and delicious if they’ve been stored in an airtight container in a cool spot. In the summer, it’s best to keep them in the fridge. They’ll keep well for up to 5 days.

When they truly are on their last legs, just pop them in the microwave for about 15 seconds before eating. Spoon over a little extra Greek yogurt (why not?) and enjoy!

Can you freeze them?

Yes, these yogurt muffins freeze really well. Just make sure you cool them completely, then store in freezer bags for up to 3 months. Perfect for a grab-and-go healthy breakfast, or for school lunches or afternoon snacks.

Can these muffins be adapted to suit special dietary requirements? (gluten free, dairy free, sugar free etc.)

A thousand times YES! I’ve never received so much positive feedback on a recipe after people have made different substitutions! You can make these with dairy free Greek yogurt (try coconut) and dairy free milk, with gluten free flour, with a sugar substitute such as stevia, and even with an egg substitute to make them vegan.

As already mentioned, you can even replace some of the oil with more yogurt, and reduce the sugar more if you like. If I haven’t mentioned the particular substitution that you want to try, I highly recommend browsing through the reader comments below. There’s a good chance your substitution has already been tried!

Can I make mini muffins instead?

You can! Simply bake for 10 to 13 minutes, checking after 10 and then every minute after that if not ready.

More healthier cakes

Or check out all my healthier desserts.

Also check out this list of 25 low sugar cakes (that still taste great!).

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The inside of a fluffy Greek yogurt blueberry muffin on a paper liner and dark background with a light blue tea towel in front and more muffins and milk in the background.
4.87 from 497 votes

Greek Yogurt Blueberry Muffins (Low Sugar Recipe)

By: Helen Schofield
These Greek yogurt blueberry muffins are the lightest, fluffiest and most versatile blueberry muffins ever! They're pretty low in calories, and they couldn’t be easier to make – just throw the wet ingredients into the dry, stir, and bake!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 12 – 14 muffins
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Equipment

Ingredients 
 

  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour, (= plain flour) Cake flour also works. You can substitute some or all for white whole wheat flour if you like.
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda, (= bicarbonate of soda)
  • ½ cup sugar, (heaped)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • ⅔ cups oil, (I use either canola or light olive oil, but any oil is fine.)
  • 1 cup Greek yogurt, I prefer authentic Greek yogurt, but any Greek yogurt works. You may have to adjust the amount of milk.
  • ¼ cup milk, (Actually, ¼ to ½ cup. The mixture should be quite thick, but if it's dry add a little more milk.)
  • 1½ cups blueberries
  • extra sugar, for sprinkling (optional)

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 375F/190C (this is the temperature I bake them at in my convection/fan oven. If you're using a conventional oven, increase temperature to 400F/205C.)
  • Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar and salt in a large bowl.
    2½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ cup sugar, ½ teaspoon salt
  • Combine the eggs, oil, yogurt, and milk in another bowl or jug.
    2 large eggs, ⅔ cups oil, 1 cup Greek yogurt, ¼ cup milk
  • Add the wet ingredients to the dry. Stir until just combined. Fold in the blueberries. Add a tiny bit more milk if the mixture still seems too thick (the consistency of the batter can vary depending on which brand of yoghurt you use). The batter will be fairly thick, but not dry.
  • Spoon the batter into muffin cases placed in muffin pans (you can fill almost to the top). Sprinkle a little extra sugar (white or brown) over the top of the muffins, if you like, then bake for 17 to 20 minutes or until risen and golden and a skewer pushed into the centre comes out clean.
    extra sugar
  • Cool on a wire rack, then store in an air tight container.

Notes

Sugar content
These are NOT like the super sweet blueberry muffins you usually find in cafes and bakeries. If you have a sweeter tooth and think you’d prefer them a bit sweeter, simply sprinkle a bit of extra sugar over the top of your muffins before baking. Brown sugar works well!
Batch size
Although I’ve said this recipe makes 12 to 14 muffins, it really depends on the size of your muffin cases! I’ve made just 10 in big muffin cases, and a lot more in smaller ones.
If you prefer to make mini muffins, bake for 10 to 13 minutes, checking after 10 minutes and every minute after that.
Getting your batter just right
I find that sometimes my batter is a bit thicker than other times, depending on which brand of yoghurt I use. If the mixture still seems dry or super thick (you want it to be quite thick, but not at all dry) just add a little more milk.
Don’t worry too much. These muffins are hard to mess up!
Bake time
Although I usually bake my muffins for 17 to 20 minutes, sometimes they take longer to bake if they’re bigger.
Really big muffins could take 5 to 10 minutes longer to bake. Just keep checking with a skewer every couple of minutes if you don’t think they’re done after 20 minutes.
A final note on substitutions/variations!
This is now one of my oldest and most successful recipes! 
I still make these fluffy blueberry muffins regularly – at least once a month. So we can safely say this is a tried and tested recipe. I hope you like it as much as we do. 
Feel free to make substitutions e.g. whole wheat flour, dairy free yogurt, sugar substitutes. Of course I haven’t tried them all. I recommend taking a read of the comments below to see the different ways readers have adapted them.
Note: A few readers have tried making these with almond flour, but unfortunately it does not work well. I recommend looking for a different recipe instead of trying to adapt this one using almond flour. Sorry!
How to make Greek yogurt blueberry bread instead
I sometimes make a blueberry loaf out of this recipe instead of muffins, and it’s just as moist, fluffy and delicious! Simply pour into a lined and oil sprayed loaf pan and bake for about an hour until a skewer comes out clean. Reduce the oven temperature by about 50F/10C and keep an eye on the top. If it’s browning too quickly, just tuck a piece of aluminium foil over the top.
Not in the mood for blueberries? 
Replace the blueberries with another berry or grated or chopped fruit. Alternatively, try these Greek yogurt chocolate chip muffins, these carrot banana muffins (these ones are dairy free), or these Greek yogurt banana muffins instead.

Nutrition

Calories: 272kcal, Carbohydrates: 32g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 28mg, Sodium: 65mg, Potassium: 183mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 11g, Vitamin A: 60IU, Vitamin C: 1.8mg, Calcium: 77mg, Iron: 1.5mg
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

About Helen Schofield

Don't expect to find anything fussy or complicated here. Just QUICK, EASY & (mostly!) HEALTHY recipes from the Mediterranean and beyond. ENJOY!

Read More About Me

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Recipe Rating




1,021 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I make these weekly for lunchboxes. I often substitute flavours but the core recipe is brilliant basis.
    Favourites in my house are both with a little vanilla extract. Then one with cocoa powder and choc chips (this needs a little more milk for consistency) and the other child loves the addition of raspberry and white choc chips.
    They freeze well too.
    Thank you

    Reply

    1. I absolutely love how you’ve adapted this recipe to suit each member of your family, Pip! I like the sound of those raspberry white choc ones. Thank you so much for the lovely feedback! 🙂

      Reply

  2. Hello, thanks for the recipe, I can’t wait to try it. Just a bit confused though as to how much yoghurt it needs? I can’t find the yoghurt amount anywhere sorry! 🙂

    Reply

    1. Hello Kate! I’m so glad you’re wanting to try the recipe. Just hit ‘jump to recipe’ at the top of the page, or scroll down to the printable recipe card and you should find everything you need there. Let me know if you’re still having trouble finding it. I hope you enjoy it!

      Reply

  3. Oh my goodness! Delicious!
    I shared with my son and sister in law! Rave reviews! Will definitely make again!

    Reply

    1. I’m incredibly thrilled to hear this, Jolayne – thank you so much for letting me know. Feedback as good as this always makes my day! I hope you and your family have a wonderful week!

      Reply

    1. I’m so thrilled to hear this, Kim. Thank you so much for letting me know how you got on! 🙂

      Reply

  6. 5 stars
    These came out beautifully! They look like they came from a bakery! I have been buying my flour from Italy lately as it has less gluten. I sifted the flour and used homemade yogurt. Delicious. My only change for next time is my muffin liners were a bit oily so will add some uncooked rice to the bottom of the muffin tins before adding the paper liner. Thank you for this delicious treat!

    Reply

    1. I’m very impressed that you made your own yogurt for these, Dru! And yes, the flour can make such a difference, can’t it. I bet these were the best blueberry muffins ever! Re. the liners, I looked into this before when another reader mentioned the same issue, and it seems some muffin liners cause this whereas others don’t. Apparently the thin paper ones can get oily. Any labelled ‘greaseproof’ should be fine as should highly quality parchment paper ones. To be honest, I just usually use whatever my small supermarket is selling, and I haven’t noticed that problem. Otherwise I’m sure your rice solution will help too! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave your feedback!

      Reply

    1. Hello Iris! Yes, other readers have tried this successfully. Try replacing just a little of the flour with it to begin with, say half a cup, and go from there. Good luck and I’d love to hear how you get on!

      Reply

  8. 5 stars
    Heya! I made some modifications and wanted to pass along that they work and these turned out amazing!!! I used oat milk instead of dairy milk without issue. I also subbed apples ( + added cinnamon and nutmeg) and the resulting apple cinnamon muffins are delish! I think next time ( and there WILL be a next time ) I’ll try the substitution someone else mentioned of apple sauce + more yogurt rather than oil to add to the appley-ness .
    Anyways I never comment on recipes but had to for this one. Truly delicious and can’t wait to devour them all so I can make more

    Reply

    1. Hello Aleks! I’m truly honored that you took the time to let me know how you got on, especially as you don’t usually do that. I love the sound of your adaptations and am thrilled that they worked out so well for you first time. I hope this becomes a firm family favorite! Have a great weekend!

      Reply

  9. 5 stars
    I just made this recipe and had to come review it right away!

    Super easy and quick to throw together. Perfect, lovely crumb. Sooo appreciate that these aren’t super sweet and the blueberries add the perfect pop of flavour, colour and natural sweetness to these muffins. I can’t wait to experiment with adding some lemon zest (and maybe a squeeze of the juice?) next time!

    I live in Canada and, for a brief moment, wondered if maybe some difference in ingredients would throw off the results for me, but that wasn’t the case at all.

    Reply

    1. Hello, Pris! Aw, I’m thrilled that these turned out so well for you! I’ve had this recipe on the site for years and the overwhelming feedback has been that little differences in ingredients don’t matter at all. I’m so glad you found that too! They’re lovely with lemon zest and you can certainly add some of the juice as well. Thank you so much for the feedback! 🙂

      Reply

  10. 5 stars
    I don’t think you understand – this recipe you have created has changed my life. I sub the oil with an extra 1/3 cup Greek yogurt and 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce. I also add 2 tsp of lemon zest. I make mini muffins. 350 degrees 15 minutes – It is literally perfect. You can’t even tell it’s “healthier” like most recipes that claim they’re healthier. Not bland at all and the perfect amount of sweetness. THANK YOU!

    Reply

    1. Aww, you are making me blush, Hailey!! I’m THRILLED that you’ve managed to create your own version of the recipe and have even tweaked it to make mini muffins. Still one of my favorite recipes after many many years of making them. I’m so glad they’re a favorite for you too 🙂

      Reply

  11. 5 stars
    Made these muffins with some alternatives and additives! They were delicious! The raw sugar on top really brought a good sweetness to the low sugar muffin.
    Used avocado oil, honey instead of sugar, added flax seeds, used vanilla Greek yogurt, added a scoop of vanilla protein powder, and subbed almond milk.

    Reply

    1. I love that you made these work for you even better by tweaking the recipe, Ashley. Thank you so much for letting me know!

      Reply

  12. 4 stars
    The base of this recipe is very good. Solid 4.5 stars. I am a bit surprised it didn’t call for vanilla extract which I did add and felt like it made a huge difference. I good quality extract can change the profile of a baked good in the best of ways (or sometimes the worse!)

    I also used whole wheat flour and almond milk instead of reg milk (followed the same amounts). I was unsure about the wheat flour substitute but it made no difference in flavor or baking!

    Some other changes I made:

    1. Mashed banana (2)
    2. Whey choc. protein powder (left over batter turned into pancakes) for extra protein
    3. Shredded Coconut to batter (when you bite into it, you get a nice slight surprise!)

    I will keep this in my file!

    Reply

    1. Hello Ky! I really appreciate your feedback, and love that you’ve already tweaked the recipe and made it your own. You can by all means add vanilla extract – I do that myself sometimes. It makes me very happy to hear that you’ve added it to your personal file. Thanks for letting me know how you got on!

      Reply

  13. This recipe is super easy and tasty. I used nectarine instead of blueberry and the muffin came out super moist and soft. I will definitely keep this marked and make again! Thanks for sharing your recipe!

    Reply

    1. Hello Ava! This makes me very happy! I love the idea of your nectarine version. Try adding some raspberries to that mix next time too! It’s the biggest compliment that you’re going to make them again. Thank you so much for your feedback!

      Reply

    1. Very happy you liked them, Karen! Thanks so much for the great feedback! 🙂

      Reply

    1. Very happy to read this, Mary. Thank you for trying the recipe, and I’m so glad you liked them! 🙂

      Reply

  16. 5 stars
    Holy Batman blueberry muffins! I made these on Sunday and they turned out SO GOOD! Saving this recipe for sure, thank you!

    Reply

    1. So happy to read this, Mel! It’s the biggest compliment that you want to make them again. Thank you! 🙂

      Reply

    1. Hi Linda! Where did you read that they are low fat? They are low in sugar and slightly lower in calories than an average blueberry muffin. You can reduce the oil by substituting it with more yogurt if you like – several readers have tried this successfully. Thanks for leaving your comment!

      Reply

  18. 5 stars
    Just made these! They came out perfect!
    I added more milk to the recipe as noted, not sure if it was needed but I love how they came out! I am going to try with different variations! Just wondering if these freeze well? I made 12 large and 6 mini only to find out my husband doesn’t like blueberry muffins haha!

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much for trying the recipe, Rebecca, and I’m thrilled that they turned out so well for you. You most definitely can freeze them – I do that all the time. I either freeze in an airtight container or just in a well-sealed freezer bag. You can either just let them come to room temperature slowly, or reheat them in a microwave from frozen for about 25 to 30 seconds. Enjoy the leftovers! P.S. I’ve converted several blueberry muffin haters with these, including my own husband 😉

      Reply

    1. Hello Anne! I think a couple of readers have tried it over the years. Try raising the oven temperature slightly, and checking for doneness a bit earlier. You could also try reducing the amount of baking powder a bit – say to 2 teaspoons – to prevent the muffins collapsing. On the whole however these are very adaptable muffins and seem to withstand a lot of small tweaks, so hopefully you won’t have a problem still getting delicious muffins. I’d love to hear how you get on if you do try them!

      Reply

  20. have you ever added feta cheese to your muffins? I was looking for a blueberry feta cheese type muffin recipe but could not find one

    Reply

    1. Oh hello Betsy! Oh wow, that is such an interesting idea. Of all the changes that people have made to this recipe over the years, I don’t remember any savory variations. However, I do think it could work! I would of course skip the sugar (which would be fine). I would be very interested to hear about it if you end up trying this!

      Reply