My Mom Makes Muffins All Autumn Long, and These Are the 6 Tools She Can’t Live Without, From $5

It’s comfort food weather, and in my opinion, there’s nothing cozier than recreating my mom’s breakfast baked goods. During this time of year, my mom makes a new muffin recipe practically every single week. She fills them with whatever fresh fall produce she has lying around — whether that’s carrots, apples, zucchini, or pumpkin — and they somehow turn out delicious every time. That’s in part thanks to her favorite kitchen tools and appliances, which help make the process a breeze.

Looking to add to your fall recipe rotation? Snag my mom’s essential Amazon products for baking muffins, including a classic KitchenAid stand mixer, silicone muffin mold, and Zwilling box grater, starting at just $5. 

Best Amazon Fall Muffin Essentials

• OXO Good Grips Large Cookie Scoop, $18
• KitchenAid Artisan Series Tilt Head Stand Mixer, 5-Quart, $450
• Silpat Original Perfect Muffin Mold, $45, originally $65
• Zwilling Z-Cut Tower Multifunctional Box Grater, $40
• Cotton Farm Grade XL Cheese Cloths, 1 Yard, $5, originally $6
• Nielsen-Massey Pure Vanilla Extract, 4-Ounce, $20

OXO Good Grips Large Cookie Scoop

My mom has a genius trick for pouring batter into muffin tins without it dripping onto the countertop. Instead of a regular spoon or ladle, she uses this 3-tablespoon OXO cookie scoop to measure out and cleanly dispense batter with a click of the handle. It’s also a great way to make sure muffins turn out uniform in size.  

KitchenAid Artisan Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, 5-Quart

If you bake as often as my mom does, give your biceps a break from stirring, whisking, and folding batter and snag a quality stand mixer. Food & Wine editors have tested over 20 stand mixers, and the KitchenAid tilt-head mixer is one of our longtime favorites thanks to its classic look, streamlined 10-speed dial, and compatibility with more than a dozen attachments — including a pasta maker, meat grinder, and ice cream maker. Snag yours in your choice of over 20 colors.

Silpat Original Perfect Muffin Mold

Say goodbye to single-use muffin tin liners and snag the genius Silpat muffin pan my mom swears by. It’s made from flexible nonstick silicone, so muffins and cupcakes pop right out without the need for liners, grease, and cooking sprays. The mold has 2.5- x 1.5-inch wells, making 12 standard-sized muffins with each batch, and it’s 31% off for a limited time.

Zwilling Z-Cut Tower Multifunctional Box Grater

Muffins are always in season, but I especially love when they incorporate fresh fall produce. My mom’s best breakfast muffins feature juicy carrots, apples, and zucchini. To prep them, she uses this Zwilling box grater. Its ultra-sharp stainless steel teeth are dual-sided, so you can shred fruits and vegetables in either direction. 

Cotton Farm Grade XL Cheese Cloths, 1 Yard

After my mom grates her produce, she puts the shreds in a cheesecloth to squeeze out any excess moisture. (She says this helps the muffins bake more quickly and evenly.) If you’re ready to get started, snag some highly affordable, reusable cheesecloths at Amazon. According to shoppers, this 9-foot cloth is highly durable, so you can expect it to last through the season. 

Nielsen-Massey Pure Vanilla Extract, 4-Ounce

My mom has always been generous with her vanilla extract usage (she tends to double whatever amount the recipe calls for), and not just any brand will do. She has been using Nielsen-Massey vanilla extract for as long as I can remember, and it makes all the difference. And as it turns out, she’s not alone: The extract has over 6,500 loyal fans at Amazon.