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?”
The Prompt Pantry 