Remix the Recipe: Baking Boldly with a Bot

How I turned a trusted muffin recipe into something brand new—with a little help from AI.

At this point in my AI cooking adventure, I’d graduated from timid prompting to full-on culinary co-creation. I wasn’t just asking what to make—I was saying, “Here’s what I already make. Let’s remix it.”

I had a solid muffin recipe. It was my go-to. But like anything you make over and over again, it started to feel… stale. (Figuratively. The actual muffins were still moist and lovely.)

So I decided to shake things up—with some help from my recipe brainstorming assistant who never sleeps: AI.

Same Framework, New Flavor

I had a tried-and-true morning glory muffin recipe I’d used for ages. But then I found myself in that classic summer trap: the pick-your-own orchard spiral.

You know the one.
You show up thinking you’ll grab a few peaches and leave with a literal half-bushel because “they were so ripe!” and “the five I ate while picking were so good I couldn’t stop” and suddenly every single thing you cook that week has to involve peaches or face the wrath of the Fruit Flies.

That’s how I ended up wondering:
“Can I use peaches instead of apples in my morning glory muffins?”

AI said:
“Absolutely! Just make sure they’re ripe but not overly juicy. You might want to reduce the other liquids slightly to compensate.”

That was all I needed to hear. The substitution was on, and I was starting to realize something big:
I didn’t need a brand new recipe. I needed permission to mess with one I already loved.

Hello, Zucchini (My First Time)

Then I decided to get even bolder: I wanted to add zucchini to the mix.

This might sound basic to some people, but I’d never baked with zucchini before. I had questions—mainly, “Do I peel it? Do I squeeze it? Or just toss it in like a green banana?”

So I asked:
“What’s the best way to prep zucchini for baking?”

AI calmly explained:

• Keep the skin on
• Grate it using a box grater
• And—very important— squeeze out the excess moisture with a clean towel or paper towels

That last step was crucial. I didn’t know zucchini was holding onto enough water to sink a muffin. If I’d skipped it, I would’ve ended up with soggy-bottomed disasters.

This was one of those moments that really showed me how useful AI could be—not just for flavor ideas, but for those small, technique-based tips that make or break a recipe.

I felt like a baking student who just avoided flunking Zucchini 101 thanks to a very patient tutor.

Becoming the Recipe Editor

What made this whole experience feel different is that I wasn’t blindly following instructions—I was editing. I knew the bones of the recipe, and I was asking AI for insight, proportions, and technique to adapt it to my vision.

Want it less sweet? Done.
Need it dairy-free? Easy.
Not sure how ginger and lemon zest will pair with peaches? Let’s ask the bot!

It wasn’t just about making food. It was about creating something I wanted to eat, with what I had, and learning something new in the process.

What I Learned

• AI is fantastic for flavor swaps and ingredient experiments, especially when you already have a recipe you like.
• You can ask very specific questions like, “Do I peel zucchini before baking?” or “Will this combo taste weird?”and get clear, confident answers.
• Creativity in the kitchen doesn’t have to mean guessing—AI is a great brainstorming partner when you’re venturing into unknown flavor territory.

Pantry Prompt

Thinking of a recipe you’d like to modify?  Here’s the Prompt I used to get started.

“I use a basic morning glory muffin recipe regularly, but I want to change it up.. Some ideas I have are to use peaches in place of the apples, pecans in place of the walnuts & maybe zucchini in place of the carrots. Not real sure how these flavors would all go together. What do you think?”