Homemade Lemon Poppyseed Muffins – thestayathomechef.com

Lemon Poppyseed Muffins are perfectly sweet and full of bright, lemony flavor. They are light and airy and the absolute best breakfast food. Your family is going to love them!

Close up view of lemon poppyseed muffin with a drizzle of icing on top.

Oh muffins, why do we love you so? Is it the lemon? Perhaps, the poppyseeds? Yes and yes. There is something about this magic combination of fresh lemon and poppyseeds that is just heavenly. While maybe not the most balanced of breakfasts, we love nothing more than one of these muffins to start the day. And hey, it’s far more healthy than a donut. So, we don’t even feel bad about it. Be sure to whip up a batch of these, and hide a few from the rest of the family to make sure you get your fair share, because these will go quick.

Muffin Liners

Paper liners are standard. If you are in a pinch and don’t have any, be sure to spray your muffin tins extremely well to prevent sticking. Better yet, purchase silicone muffin liners and you’ll never run out again!

Dairy Free Lemon Poppyseed Muffins

You can make these muffins entirely dairy-free as needed. Replace the milk, yogurt and butter with your favorite plant-based alternatives. The higher fat content the better.

Lemon Sugar Glaze

This lemon sugar glaze turns these muffins into a delectable dessert. You can always simply go light on the glaze to make them not too sweet, or you can omit the glaze entirely.

How Many Lemons Do I Need

On average, 1 lemon contains about 1/4 cup of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of lemon zest. Actual amounts can vary based on the size and juiciness of the lemon. This recipe needs 1/4 cup of lemon juice total and 2 tablespoons of lemon zest. We recommend purchasing 2 lemons for this recipe.

How Do I Get a Domed Top On My Muffins?

The key to a perfectly domed muffin top is to blast the batter with heat when you first place it into the oven, and then let it finish baking in a slightly cooler oven. This will cause the steam in the muffins to rapidly release, making the muffin puff up rapidly and create that perfect dome. 450 degrees Fahrenheit is a great temperature to start your muffins in. After about 7 to 10 minutes, reduce the heat in the oven to 350 degrees F. Watch your muffins closely as they finish baking as ovens vary slightly so your cooking time may vary as well. Pull your muffins out as soon as they are golden brown on top.

A lemon poppyseed muffin in the muffin pan.

Freezer Instructions

Muffins freeze beautifully. Make sure your muffins are completely cool before putting them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature.

Storage Instructions

Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

If you like this recipe, you may be interested in these other delicious muffin recipes:

Lemon Poppyseed Muffins are perfectly sweet and full of bright, lemony flavor. They are light and airy and the absolute best breakfast food. Your family is going to love them!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

3/4 cup brown sugar
6 tablespoons melted butter
3 large eggs
1 cup plain yogurt (or vanilla)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup milk
3 tablespoon poppyseeds
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Lemon Sugar Glaze (Optional)

1 cup powdered sugar
2-3 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon zest

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 450°F and line a muffin tin with 12 paper liners. Lightly grease the liners with nonstick cooking spray.
In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to cream together the butter, sugar and eggs for about 2 minutes.
Mix in the yogurt, baking powder, salt, lemon juice and vanilla extract and mix until just combined.
Gradually add in half of the flour, mixing with the hand mixer until just combined, then add in the milk, stirring to combine. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl and add in the remaining flour until just combined. Fold in the poppy seeds and 1 tablespoon of lemon zest.
Divide the batter up equally amongst the 12 muffins, filling almost to the top.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350°F and continue baking for an additional 8-10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Let muffins cool for 5 minutes in the pan before removing them and transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Drizzle with the lemon sugar glaze.

Lemon Sugar Glaze

In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon of lemon zest. Stir until the mixture is smooth.Add additional lemon juice if you prefer a thinner consistency.