Which Famous Blueberry Muffin Is Best? | Ritz-Carlton’s vs. Jordan Marsh’s | NYT Cooking

Get the recipes:
Jordan Marsh’s Blueberry Muffins: nyti.ms/2Sk0m6d
The Ritz-Carlton’s Blueberry Muffins: nyti.ms/3iti7uq
"All I'm really looking for in life is an excuse to have dessert for breakfast." Honestly? Same. Follow along as NYT Cooking video producer Scott Loitsch bakes two blueberry muffin recipes to see which wins out.
In one corner: The Ritz-Carlton's Blueberry Muffins. Famous muffins from a famous place. And in the other: Jordan Marsh's Blueberry Muffins. They're light, they're cakey in a good way, and just a little sweeter. Let’s get ready to rumble!
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[@guyzer2606]

The Jordan Marsh muffin uses traditional cake batter method (cream butter + sugar, adds eggs, alternate wet and dry) and has the sugar ratio of cake. It's more aligned with cake than muffin. Ritz Carlton's batter method was closer to a traditional muffin method (all wet+all dry) with a lower amount of sugar. So, regardless of who wins, one is truer to a muffin (ritz) while the other is closer to a cake (jordan)

[@jennaeisel9072]

Thank you! 100% Agree. As a baker, I get exuberant compliments on muffins I make. I do not on my cakes. That is because I split cake batters, but know how to not over mix muffins. Different skills.

[@robertknight4672]

If you haven't seen this you should check this out. The real Jordan Marsh blueberry muffins use thawed frozen blueberries. Better is really streaked when it's placed in the muffin pan.kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2jImHqrg9R6sKs

[@aaron74]

Nailed it.

[@fatalerok]

I don’t understand “muffin tops only” people. The whole damn muffin is delicious.

[@yyybeanxi]

SS I am a proud muffin top person. I like it because to me it is usually denser and sweeter. Not sure why to be honest

[@a.spring2877]

I like the crispy/dense edges on the top but if you toast or grill the bottom it’s just as good. Buttered and grilled (on a griddle or pan) muffins sliced top to bottom so there is top and bottom are my favorite.

[@igiveupfine]

@@yyybeanxi i like the muffin top better, but i still enjoy it all. i think the complaint is people who only want to eat the muffin tops, are not the type of people who are going to spend time making a muffin. they would be happy/fine to throw out the rest of it.

[@bigd2829]

I agree but like cornbread for example, that toasted dense and sugary cornbread top is just too amazing; definitely the best part of the muffin in my opinion.

[@lanarivera7521]

Im the freak who likes the bottom. 😅

[@toswingonastar]

This guy is really serious about blueberry muffins. I can get behind that.

[@devonfray1885]

this is the kind of debate I want to see

[@SuperBC1975]

They both look Berry good.

[@geegurl25]

Dad, is that you?!

[@menassies3224]

Hehehehe

[@WifeDesignLife]

"All I'm really looking for in life is an excuse to have dessert for breakfast." Aren't we all. You, sir, are my spirit animal ❤️

[@lindaj7496]

He's adorable. So informative, too!

[@shawnbesabella]

Um no Costco has the best muffins and they're only 47,000 calories each

[@mercurialpierrot7073]

You read my mind!

[@mstraction]

Costco muffins look great as long as you don't have to eat them...VERY commercial tasting...i wouldn't eat them even if they were only 10 calories...

[@bl6973]

_only_

[@bluetube364]

I’m not tryna lose weight

[@yvesberube6067]

Don't know about their muffins (Costco) but a few weeks ago I was reading the label on the back of their blueberry bagels ... the blueberries are "imitation!" ... imagine, fake blueberries made up of all kinds of horrid ingredients. Was quite shocked as I live in a province that grows masses of blueberries (Nova Scotia, Canada).

[@kristennicole218]

The hiking example was so specific but helpful and well described haha

[@chloejones6240]

Ritz-Carleton is prettier but as someone who has made both, my family definitely prefers Jordan Marsh

[@sajelkshah]

I love Jordan Marsh's too!! Agree that it's definitely on the sweeter side so I use 1cup sugar instead of 1 1/4cup and then, bam instantly hike-approved

[@elenayee3093]

Such great memories of my mom buying blueberry muffins from Jordan Marsh in downtown Boston.

[@CookeryVip]

Easy, healthy and delicious recipe. Thank you for sharing!!

[@Leguminator]

I can't imagine a muffin without a quarter inch thick schmear of soft butter on it.

[@MarlaDawn]

Loved everything about this! Ritz Carlton recipe all the way!

[@Randilynn66]

I used to make Jordan marsh blueberry muffin exclusively when I found the recipe in an old glamour magazine over 20 years ago it was called big blues. I recently started making smitten kitchen blueberry muffin recipe it’s easier and I might like it better

[@HateNeverCeasesHate]

I love mitten kitchen's recipes

[@emilydewenter6308]

so this might be a controversial take - but i'm a bit bummed that neither had a streusel/crumb topping. to me that is wayyy superior to the demerara sugar and iconic for MY blueberry muffins. brings sweetness and crunch in a more interesting way, plus visually it is just so pretty! maybe this is a midwest thing. would love to know other's thoughts on this.. but i might try the jordan marsh's recipe with a crumb topping!

[@sarahr7890]

I'm good with just the sugar since it's breakfast ;) Save the crumb topping for blueberry crumble.

[@Nancy-pf6ft]

I think of streusel as something that goes on a coffee cake, not a muffin.

[@lynnstlaurent6789]

Might be a Midwest thing.

[@faithharrison3755]

Yep, love a streusel top. I just think if I’m going to make a muffin, I’m going all in!

[@banuheilman44]

Yes i agree. I like the crumble berry berry much

[@laurenbray8314]

I could eat a entire pan of blueberry muffins in 24 hours if I let myself. So good! I gotta have demera sugar or crystallized sugar on top of mine too.

[@matthewatyou]

This was great! More Scott videos please!

[@evenye4885]

this man has so many blueberry muffins now and i am here for it

[@emilybilbow5304]

You are adorable! I love muffins... I’d make the Jordan marshs but maybe add more berries!!!

[@alexandrac591]

I went to Jordan Marsh for shopping with my mom when I was very little and I remember when the stores went out of business. I have a very distant memory of having a piece of one of their blueberry muffins with my great grandmother. Some recipes for the JM muffins call for flouring the blueberries before you stir them in at the end.

[@caseygunn1717]

The flouring the blueberries is a pretty standard baking technique for cakes that have mix-ins, it helps prevent the mix-in from sinking to the bottom of the cake during baking. I'm actually not sure why the JM muffins in this video /didn't/ do that, because they weren't floured and it was definitely a cake batter. Baking is a fickle science, I suppose.

[@laurenbray8314]

Its a good idea to flour them in any recipe or they will sink.

[@matthewmaclellan]

you're hilarious, scott. thanks for sharing.

[@lshirrell6658]

Wow. I really want this guys job.

[@melsyoutube]

scott, vaughn, claire, samin and sohla keep me coming back to this channel

[@laurenbray8314]

I put muffin recipes in the dessert folder so imo they are dessert!

[@sarahr7890]

Can anyone give me info on the dish at 4:11? Muffins look great!

[@Vishnu6]

*swoon...damn he’s so dreamy

[@xavierdsilva9077]

Good to know it's not just me thinking that

[@scorpleeon]

If a muffin isn’t dessert it ain’t worth eating. Trying Jordan Marsh recipe soon!

[@laurenbray8314]

The Ritz Carlton looks more up my alley. I like my muffins to be super moist and a tad dense. It looks like it needed more sugar imo.The Jordan Marsh looked more like a light fluffy cupcake texture which I'd eat gladly but I much prefer a denser moist muffin. I don't think either one is what I want in a perfect blueberry muffin.

[@cynthiaashworth2929]

I baked them both and wholeheartedly agree that Jordan Marsh muffin is the best. It could stand to have a few more blueberries but that's my only critique. Yum!!

[@robertknight4672]

you might want to try this recipe out. I think it's even closer to the real thing.

[@markfox6786]

His recipe is more method than the true recipe, which had waaaaaaay more blueberries.

[@menassies3224]

Can I substitute the butter for oil

[@Merploverr]

loved this video

[@seamstressdragon8707]

That oooo sound made think there was someone behind me in my empty apartment!! Great muffins though lol :D

[@amandac7270]

The ritz muffins looked good they had such a pretty color but the Jordan muffins totally looked like cupcakes

[@emmettkelly7465]

Just made the Ritz recipe. As I normally do, I cut the sugar from 3/4 of a cup to 1/2. It's really not sweet enough. I cut the sugar in the JM recipe to 3/4 of a cup, and it was fine. Taste wise. Not sure what it did to the texture.

[@Blue_Angel.555]

Thank you, but..Why did you not provide the recipe? NYT we have to purchase a subscriptions

[@ambergrello1741]

I knew as you were making them that the Jordan Marsh’s would be better!

[@Skypeace89]

Scott, what's the scoop you used in the video that portions the batter perfectly?

[@majoroldladyakamom6948]

Perfectly is an adjective.

[@cyberspearmint]

I don't know what Scott used, but after doing a little research, it seems like a 3 tablespoon / #20 disher is a very good size for cupcakes.

[@mitrakim]

Looks like he used the OXO cookie scoop.

[@bbmcgee33]

@@majoroldladyakamom6948 Errrrr.... no it isn't! It's an adverb. It adds something to the verb. Clue's in the name, hon! 😉

[@heatherdavis7605]

I’m from Boston & grew up eating the Jordan Marsh muffins 🫐& yes the sugar makes the muffin perfection 😋So bummed I can’t just buy them now & have to make them!!

[@robertknight4672]

Go to Jordan's Furniture in Avon they have Jordan Marsh muffins this time of year along with the Enchanted Village attraction. Put the ingredients list on the box lists baking soda soybean oil which I'm assuming means margarine and both whole eggs as well as egg whites. Can also use course sugar on the top which most people think Jordan's typically use granulated sugar on the top Montilio's Bakery might have taken some liberties thier year and switched to course sugar.

[@susankahn7219]

No lemon zest?

[@GenXBecks]

When I was growing up in Boston, Jordan Marsh (and Filene's) were the fanciest department stores you could find. When I think about it, all I can hear is 'Jaw-den Maahsh'.

[@TheNinnyfee]

A muffin is a dessert or breakfast treat. Or office comfort food.

[@aaron74]

Nice. It would be good to take all the ingredients of both recipies and average them. That would probably be the supreme muffin. But it should be made with the "muffin method" to be a muffin (Ritz).

[@garrett6064]

"I'm just looking for an excuse to have dessert for breakfast." I read once that apple pie with cream on top was a pretty normal colonial American breakfast. And if you think about it, toast with bitter and jelly, or a pop tart are both also a dough with fruit, but with just much less fruit. So really; apple pie for breakfast is the healthy choice.

[@nayrecia]

I consider a blueberry muffin an anytime comfort snack

[@jakearlow]

scott hive rise up

[@here4you2024]

Jordan Marsh WANTS TO BE Ritz Carlton. Hands down. Ritz Carlton is Best. Not gonna lie, it needs a little lemon zest and a thin fractured crackle lemony glaze. Over The Moon! Delicious. We're having this for breakfast special tomorrow.

[@naznyc]

Blythe Danner’s recipe 👍🏽🙌🏽

[@cookiea1728]

The ritz Carlton looks the best..definitely want to try that one

[@mushy213]

nothing will beat souplnatations

[@OB17358]

Try the Smitten Kitchens blueberry muffins, just sayin they are the best.

[@markfox6786]

Ok so here's the scoop. Though I'm VERY glad that he chose the Jordan Marsh muffins as the all around winner, this recipe that he's using is a bastardized version of the real thing. I too like sugar in the raw for texture on baked goods, but for the " Jahdans"muffins ( yes,I'm a lifelong Boston resident),they used regular granulated sugar, and not just a tiny sprinkle either. They also used TWO different types of flour and I think( though I prefer butter but take exception in this case) shortening. I watched a vid once from the man whoe made the muffins there for 45 YEARS ,and you can tell the batter AND close up finished muffin is completely different ( or at least what makes them great is further enhanced)than depicted here. Now don't get me wrong ,it's VERY apparent that this Gentleman is a serious cook and did a great job.But if he ever had the real McCoy, he too would be spoiled for Blueberry muffins every where else. And whenever you get one nowadays would always just a little bit let down.

[@violetlantern]

Wait isn't this the same person who made the 100 layered crepe cake in Tasty?

[@Passionforfoodrecipes]

They all look *BERRY* good to me!

[@bakreder1]

Deb Perlman from Smitten Kitchen

[@petemack3076]

Blueberries without lemon zest and nutmeg? That's sacrilege in out house!

[@doreneschaffner1038]

Jordan Marsh for sure.

[@wfs4227]

If anyone is ever in DALLAS, TX. GO TO CENTRAL MARKET and get the cranberry/ blueberry muffin. They will make you axe your whole healthy eating diet plan. For real! You're welcomed in advanced. 🤸

[@lucisue53]

Truth!

[@Danyymao]

HOLD UP, DIDN'T THIS GUY WORK FOR TASTY?

[@jaydankai8301]

scott is so cute

[@johnlukach4091]

Jordan marsh puts granulated sugar on top makes a HUGE difference

[@yas4346]

I never had a blueberry muffin I'm not sure if I should bake some bc I always bake things and end up not liking them bc I'm a picky eater and fruits baked is sth I really don't like

[@hkbabel]

As a contrarian who doesn't mean to be contrary, but is :-) - You can have all my muffin tops, I like warm insides dripping in butter. I really only like cheesy corn muffins with green onions, meat optional. I do not like sweet muffins of except for Morning Glories (original Nantucket recipe) & the cranberry ones my Gram who did not cook made every winter holiday season. I believe they were a Jiffy mix - they along with Kraft mac & cheese, instant jello chocolate pudding & store brought marzipan, = her entire repertoire. She drank iced Sanka. I have no idea how my Mother turned out to be a GREAT cook making everything from scratch, and you can only imagine how much as a child I adored my Gram's meals sans Sanka! :-)

[@majoroldladyakamom6948]

Hah (🤗), am over 60, and mom is 82. She is the mom of 5 kids and a few dozens of others along the way. I am a proud momma of a Soldier. He didn't like the texture of broccoli? I juiced it and snuck it into everything I could. Tried 7 recipes for mac n cheese for him, doctoring it up, homemade, The Joy of Cooking and Betty Crocker cookbooks?, to no avail. My take? To each his or her own palate, right? Best pet? A dog named Friskie/Frooo, a Poodle mut/mix. He came in VERY handy under the kitchen table on Liver and Onions dinner nights. Not enough catsup on the planet! 😂 To each his or her own palate. Stay safe and well, one major foodie to another, from somewhere near Seattle and around the World... ⚘🙏❤🙏⚘

[@hkbabel]

@@majoroldladyakamom6948 I happen to heartily dislike ketchup except on very rare occasions (erm, 2 McDonalds double cheeseburgers once a year guilty treat) or mixed with mayo for fries . My best dog , a large German Shepherd, daintily picked peas out of leftovers & spat them on floor to side of her bowl. I did not like shrimp but loved cocktail sauce so at Xmas, the only time we had shrimp , I ate the sauce on Cheerios. So 2 ways I like ketchup! Greetings from an over 50 New Englander now North Carolinian who loves meeting nice & witty people in comments sections, esp when food involved :-)

[@majoroldladyakamom6948]

@@hkbabelEeew. One of the only people on the planet that has never had a Big Mack, or a Monster drink/Beverage? Me. Tomatoes? I eat them like apples. My son? Funnier than kraut! He loves spag sauce, marinara, pizza sauce, put on the grill or sauted/roasted in almost anything, topped or in a meatloaf or a casserole, thinly sliced on a burger, ... all cooked, but in a salad/raw? Not a snowballs chance in that very warm place, lol! To each, his or her own palate. Go figure, right? ⚘🤗⚘ Have an uncle that lives 4 blocks from the Atlantic Ocean in SC, when Hurricane Hugo came by a few years ago. My step-dad of over 50+ years was there visiting his younger brother. We were watching and praying hard from Seattle, because they had a finished basement, and dad was there. Keep the reply convo going? Would love it. Love to chat and share, learn from others around the World. We ALL have things to share. We are ALL learners and teachers, no matter where we have been in our respective life's journeys, right?

[@majoroldladyakamom6948]

@@hkbabel Holly! What?, lol! Catsup on Cheerios? I'm here to help, sweetheart! 🤣😂🤣 We all know about PB&J, PB& Bananas, sliced apples (Granny, Golden, Gala, and Reds, right?). Ever had PB and Dill pickle slices sandwich? All 5 of us and a few others were raised on them. Yum! They are addicting. What's the strangest food you've ever had? Mine? Fried freshwater alligator, cubed, breaded and deep fried w cornmeal. Have an ex from Tayaxis, y'all. We were at Sneaky Pete's restaurant at the Marina, north of FTW on Lake Grapevine, Tayaxis. DISCLAIMER: We were Mountain biking/stump jumping around the Lake w.our Beagle/Cocker rescue and there may have been a few "adult beverages" involved. Ok, circa 1993, when I still drank, way back in the day. Took me a few sips of my hubby's Lager, then Double Bach (sp?) beer to work up to it. Suffice it to say that frog legs (my dad and his frog gigger) and alligator do not taste like chicken. Alligator, depending on fresh or salt water raised, tastes more like most fresh or saltwater fresh fish. Texture is similar to chicken, but not the flavour. I promise... lol!

[@chickachickaboomboomichooseyou]

Isn’t this the guy who was at tasty? Did he leave?

[@_jeromethegreat5119]

He sounds like marques brownlee lol

[@setonlowe5983]

Why did this was Ethan Hethcote for 5 seconds

[@AdrianC12345]

Bruh 😂😂💀💀⚰️⚰️

[@namsahejsongbird6837]

I challenge your recipes to Isa Chandras blueberry 🫐 muffin which uses mashed bananas 🍌

[@sebeckley]

What if you want Jordan Marsh muffins with less sugar?. Can you just decrease it without affecting the recipe too much?

[@minacd]

That's a good question. Sugar definitely affects the texture, so I think less sugar would make a difference in the final product...

[@alexandrac591]

I would be very leery of that. Sugar has functions beyond flavor, such as retaining moisture.

[@cosmicflash1]

I’m usually able to cut down to using 75% of the original amount in a baking recipe without noticeable ill effects. Cutting any more than that and things can start to get weird.

[@emykamiya]

My replika suggest me this channel.. i told him I dont even cook. He kept insisting me to watch this 😐

[@mliljegard19771209]

Muffins is a Fika cake

[@fatalerok]

So appreciative of Scandis/Nordic people for creating the concept of fika. And hygge. Cozy4Life.

[@sunblock8717]

Damn, he's cute

[@coolnewpants]

@A D lol, okay?

[@igiveupfine]

......and neither recipe has you add sour cream? the best blueberry pie i've ever had, used this swirled in sour cream top thing. it would be killer if that was in a muffin.

[@jeffchow6722]

i am distracting by the cute face!!!!

[@poleun9]

No muff too tough

[@kathblake5375]

That is not the Jodan Marsh recipe. My relative worked there and I have the real secret recipe. For sure you don't have it...

[@markfox6786]

Exactly!!!

[@mariannesouza8326]

Im a Boston native, so I feel slightly traitorous giving this review, but…..I finally made these JM muffins and I’m shocked, but they are a major disappointment - the batter is just about flavorless. I made them last night and had 2 of them, as soon as they had cooled off enough; Almost flavorless. The texture was great, but now, only 12 hours later and sealed in plastic, they have that day-old texture. The texture really isn’t even the problem, because I’m fine with cutting muffins in half and grilling them a little to bring them back to life, but the lack of flavor is going to keep me from ever making these again. Also, even if I added oil to them to keep them fresher longer or made just a 1/2 batch, the lack of flavor is a dealbreaker. I think I’m going to make some using a yellow cake mix. Costco’s blueberry 🫐 muffins are delicious - even if the texture is more like cake.

[@markfox6786]

This recipe is not the real recipe

[@Nancy-pf6ft]

JORDAN MARSH WINS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!

[@LVVMCMLV]

It's a cupcake not a muffin....

[@alexthedj]

Are we not going to talk about ingredient quality and sourcing?

[@sunblock8717]

no, probably not

[@jhonadavid]

gay producers adding death metal to close ups DM me STAT

[@DiscussToUnderstand]

One Jordan Marsh's Blueberry muffin has 243 calories. One Ritz Carlton Blueberry muffin has 248 calories. One chocolate cupcake with icing has 241 calories. One Jelly-filled donut has 270 calories. Why would I eat either muffin for any reason, ever?

[@adachang1003]

I liked what Scott said about a muffin being a snacking cake. Like, sometimes you just can’t handle something super rich but you still want to eat cake, lol

[@EastSider48215]

DiscussToUnderstand: Because they are delicious.

[@darja25]

Not impressed with either one. Where’s the 🍊&🍋 zest? Bluebbey muffins without the citrus zest are simply a joke.

[@bl6973]

I feel j o y

[@artificialpanda7173]

So Scott moved from Buzzfeed to NYT just to make the same tacky videos as he did on Buzzfeed?

[@aaronsanchez4584]

Please go back to tasty or buzzfeed