Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a muffin tin with paper liners or grease it lightly to prevent sticking.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk together until well blended.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, melted butter or oil, eggs, and vanilla extract if using. Confirm the wet ingredients are well combined.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Gently fold them together using a spatula, mixing just until combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in dense muffins.

If you're adding any extras like blueberries or chocolate chips, gently fold them into the batter at this stage.

Divide the batter evenly among the 12 muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full. Sprinkle coarse sugar on top if desired for a sweet crunch.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out with a few moist crumbs.

Allow the muffins to cool in the tin for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

For best results, confirm all your wet ingredients are at room temperature before mixing, as this will help create a smooth batter.

If you have leftover muffins, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a few days. You can also freeze them for longer storage; just make sure to wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and then place them in a freezer bag. Enjoy your delicious homemade muffins!