Grandma’s Great Depression Blueberry Muffin Recipe: Fast easy inexpensive baking at it's best.
Cultivating Harmony • 6 June 2022

Grandma’s Great Depression Blueberry Muffin Recipe


As the world is facing changes- food shortages, hyperinflation, Taurus-Scorpio eclipses, etc. Myself and many are being asked to reflect on our current levels of consumption. We’ve become a country of consumers, yet every year we have produced less and less. It seems like the more we consume, the less fulfilled we’ve become.

My grandparents great depression stories

As I’ve gotten older, my grandparents stories of growing up during the Great Depression ring louder and louder in my head. How did they survive on less? How did they feed and clothe everyone? I ask myself these questions, but ultimately remember…

*The wise adapt themselves to circumstances, as water shapes itself to the vessel that contains it.  -Chinese Proverb*

They simply had to! When you have little choices, you band together and get creative. And that’s exactly what they did. Making do with less, substituting ingredients, having multiple uses for items and the overall Great Depression mentality has slowly faded out of our nation without many current remnants to speak of. However, my Grandma’s muffin recipe is one that has been carefully stashed away as a staple.


Not necessarily TCM Chinese medicine approved snack. However, Chinese culture has a strong reverence for ancestral, generational, continuity and wisdom. We can all partake in this transference of knowledge and I am honored today to be sharing this family recipe with all of you.

- Recipe -

Link to Cultivating Harmony YouTube Channel

               SERVINGS                    PREPPING TIME                    COOKING TIME           

                        8                                    10 MIN                                   25 MIN

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INGREDIENTS

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup oil

1 1/2 cups of flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

*1/2-1cup optional additions

                                                            DIRECTIONS


1. Mix together wet ingredients.

2. Lightly add in dry ingredients and optional additions. Only mix until flour is just moistened. The batter should be lumpy.

3. Scoop into muffin tin. Bake 20-25 minutes at 400 degrees.


Notes: You can substitute the milk with ANY alternative dairy-free milk, even water if necessary. Same for the oil. Any oil or fat can be used, such as lard or butter.


* Optional additional ideas-nuts, berries (including dried or frozen), chocolate chips, any herbs or spices (cinnamon, thyme, or dill), or flavorings vanilla, rose water, anise oil. Get creative! for savory muffins I suggest only 1/4 cup of sugar.

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Now remember, the Great Depression was all about flexibility! There are so many items you can replace these with if you are missing 1 or 2. Egg for flaxseed or chia seed, sugar for molasses or maple syrup, milk for any dairy free vegan milk or -even water if times are that lean. I use olive oil, however any oil or fat such as butter or lard would work as well. 

I mean seriously -look at these! Although this recipe makes roughly 8 muffins, they are bursting with flavor ready to satisfy. My grandmother always used fresh blueberries in this, but you could easily swap them out for frozen berries, nuts, or seeds. For switch them up and make them savory with delicious herbs and spices such as cinnamon, thyme, or cardamom. You could also experiment with different flavorings and extracts. The options are endless! These really are THE best Great Depression muffins you could ask for! Make sure you check out the FULL video to see how it’s done

Now remember, the Great Depression was all about flexibility! There are so many items you can replace these with if you are missing 1 or 2. Egg for flaxseed or chia seed, sugar for molasses or maple syrup, milk for any dairy free vegan milk or -even water if times are that lean. I use olive oil, however any oil or fat such as butter or lard would work as well. 

I mean seriously -look at these! Although this recipe makes roughly 8 muffins, they are bursting with flavor ready to satisfy. My grandmother always used fresh blueberries in this, but you could easily swap them out for frozen berries, nuts, or seeds. For switch them up and make them savory with delicious herbs and spices such as cinnamon, thyme, or cardamom. You could also experiment with different flavorings and extracts. The options are endless! These really are THE best Great Depression muffins you could ask for! Make sure you check out the FULL video to see how it’s done

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