National Oatmeal Muffin Day
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Overview
National Oatmeal Muffin Day, observed every December 19, celebrates a baked good that sits right between a bowl of oatmeal and a cupcake — and a name whose own history is older and stranger than the muffin itself.
Origin and story
Oatmeal is considered "heart-healthy" because its soluble fiber can help lower LDL cholesterol levels, making oatmeal muffins a guilt-free indulgence.
The word "muffin" is believed to derive from the Low German "muffen," meaning little cakes, first appearing in English print in 1703.
Quick facts
- DateDecember 19
- TypeFood / Baking
- Great forBakers, Breakfast lovers, Families
Also on this date
Ways to celebrate
The word "muffin" is centuries older than most people would guess, and nobody's entirely sure where it actually came from.
A word first spotted in 1703
"Muffin" first appears in English print in 1703, spelled "moofin," and recipes for muffins were being published in British cookbooks as early as Hannah Glasse's 1747 "The Art of Cookery." The leading theory traces the word to the Low German "muffen," the plural of "muffe," meaning a small cake or pastry. A competing theory ties it instead to the Old French "moflet," meaning soft or tender bread — nobody has definitively settled which is correct.
Why oatmeal, specifically
Oats are a whole grain, and diets high in whole grains have been linked to a reduced risk of colorectal cancer. Oatmeal's soluble fiber can also help lower LDL cholesterol, which is part of why an oatmeal muffin gets marketed as the "healthier" bridge between a bowl of oatmeal and a frosted cupcake — even though, structurally, a muffin is a quick bread leavened with baking powder or soda, not a cake at all.
Ways to mark the day
- Bake a batch of oatmeal muffins with a mix-in: blueberries, bananas, raisins, or cinnamon.
- Compare the texture of a true quick-bread muffin to an actual cupcake side by side.
- Share the "moofin" 1703 spelling with someone who assumes muffins are a modern invention.
Helpful resources: Etymonline, "muffin" and the American Heart Association on whole grains.
Did you know?
Unlike the frosted cupcakes they resemble, muffins are traditionally leavened with baking powder or baking soda rather than yeast, which is part of why they bake so quickly.
Fun facts
- Oatmeal is considered "heart-healthy" because its soluble fiber can help lower LDL cholesterol levels, making oatmeal muffins a guilt-free indulgence.
- The word "muffin" is believed to derive from the Low German "muffen," meaning little cakes, with the term appearing in English print by 1703.
- Oats are a whole grain, and diets high in whole grains have been associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer.
- Oatmeal muffins are highly versatile, commonly customized with add-ins like blueberries, bananas, raisins, cinnamon, or nuts.
- Unlike frosted cupcakes they resemble, muffins are traditionally a quick bread leavened with baking powder or baking soda rather than yeast.
Sources and attribution
Primary sources: Etymonline, "muffin" and the American Heart Association.
External links may lead to third-party websites.
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FAQ
- When is National Oatmeal Muffin Day?
- It is observed on December 19 each year.
- What is National Oatmeal Muffin Day?
- National Oatmeal Muffin Day, observed annually on December 19, celebrates the humble oatmeal muffin, a heart-healthy baked treat that bridges the gap between a wholesome bowl of oatmeal and a sweet cupcake. The day encourages people to enjoy oatmeal muffins for breakfast or as a snack while appreciating the fiber-rich benefits of oats.
- How do people celebrate National Oatmeal Muffin Day?
- People bake oatmeal muffins and learn the word's own history: "muffin" likely comes from the Low German word muffen, meaning small cakes, first appearing in English print in 1703.
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