‘Muffin Man’ returns to prominence as bakery icon

Care to sing along? “Oh, do you know the Muffin Man, the Muffin Man, the Muffin Man who lives on Drury Lane? Yes, I know the Muffin Man…who lives on Drury Lane.” 

We all know “The Muffin Man.” It’s a British nursery rhyme and sing-along ditty, which dates back to 1820.

 

Kudos to McKee Foods Corporation of Collegedale, Tenn., owners of the popular line of tasty Little Debbie Snacks, for making the connection. 

Observing the 200-year anniversary of “The Muffin Man” from children’s literature is commendable as well marketable. 

“The Muffin Man” originated in London, England, and it validates the existence of muffin vendors who once upon a time fanned out and walked about in the working-class neighborhoods. Wearing long white aprons, the muffin men would carry trays of muffins on their heads and ring bells to call customers to their hot treats. 

Freelance writer Lindsey Wojcik said Little Debbie has reinvented “The Muffin Man” character to be the mascot for its “Mini Muffins and Mini Brownies” products. 

McKee Foods’ marketing specialist Erica Harrison told Wojcik: “We commissioned a free, downloadable e-book that tells the story about how “The Muffin Man” got his name and makes for a sweet, sharable reading moment with your child.”

The story’s author is Melody Delgado, a novelist who specializes in Christian fiction. Her light-hearted and humorous touch is perfect for the new rhyming book. The young English prince expresses his breakfast food boredom when faced with yet another bowl of disgusting and dreary oatmeal.

Illustrator Jim Talbot, who has worked for more than 35 years as an artist in the toys and games industry, portrays the young prince as a carrot-top royal with a pompadour hairstyle. (Any resemblance of the boy to U.S. President Donald Trump is surely purely coincidental.) 

Hence, the king and the queen decide to host a muffin bake-off at the castle and have the lad select England’s premier muffin maker. Let the games begin.

The muffin made by the baker from Kings Road was too fancy. The one made by the baker from Oxford Street was too crumbly, while the muffin made by the baker from Piccadilly Street was too crusty. The baker from Hyde Park used too many flavors, including black olives and broccoli. Yuck. 

The baker from Drury Lane presented the prince with a platter of muffins that were just the right size…and chock-full of chocolate chips (or so it appears). “You win the prize,” the prince proclaimed, and the “miracle muffin maker” is crowned with “The Muffin Man” toque blanche (chef’s hat).

Talbot’s characterization of “The Muffin Man” depicts a jolly fellow with a round face, a bulbous nose and sparkly blue eyes. His smile is partially hidden by a curly, bushy reddish-brown handlebar mustache. The adorable image also appears on new packaging. 

Building “muffin awareness” is part of Little Debbie’s job description for “The Muffin Man.”

He is delivering. A new product now available in stores is labeled “Birthday Cake Mini Muffins.” It promises to be a ‘mini muffin-ized’ version of Little Debbie’s vanilla-flavored cakes with candy confetti and rainbow sprinkles,” said Erica Harrison, Little Debbie product manager. “It’s a treat the entire family can enjoy.”

“Muffintologists” are a new breed of North American consumers. Perhaps the movement started in Canada with healthy bran muffins. The stated goal is to have muffins displace doughnuts as the morning’s most popular baked good item.

The upswell of local coffee shops and artisan bakeries are contributing to “muffin mania.”