Description
Zesty lemon poppy seed muffins bring sunshine to breakfast tables with their tangy charm. Delicate crumb and citrus notes make these treats a morning delight you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (480 ml) all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, melted
- ¾ cup (180 ml) buttermilk (or milk with 1 tbsp lemon juice)
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tbsps poppy seeds
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup (60 ml) fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsps fresh lemon juice (for glaze)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Warm the oven to 375°F (190°C), creating the perfect baking environment for lemon poppy seed muffins.
- Prepare Pan: Generously spray a muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray or line with paper liners to ensure easy removal of delicate muffins.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Whisk together flour, sugar, poppy seeds, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl until uniformly blended, creating a light, powdery base.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: Form a central well in the dry mixture, then gently fold in eggs, milk, melted butter, and lemon juice, stirring minimally to maintain a tender crumb texture.
- Enhance Flavor: Fold in lemon zest, distributing the citrusy essence throughout the batter to create a vibrant, aromatic mixture that captures the essence of fresh lemons.
- Fill and Bake: Portion the batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each three-quarters full, then transfer to the preheated oven and bake for 18-20 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cool and Serve: Allow muffins to rest in the tin for 5 minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire rack to complete cooling, preserving their delicate structure and ensuring optimal texture.
Notes
- Zest Carefully: Grate only the yellow part of lemon skin, avoiding the bitter white pith for a pure, bright citrus flavor without unwanted bitterness.
- Mix Gently: Fold wet and dry ingredients minimally to prevent tough, dense muffins – stop stirring the moment ingredients are just combined.
- Check Moisture: Use room temperature eggs and milk to ensure smooth batter consistency and even baking throughout the muffins.
- Customize Easily: Swap milk with non-dairy alternatives like almond or oat milk for lactose-free version, maintaining the same delicious texture and taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 202
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 34 mg