Bright, tender lemon poppy seed muffins with a delicate crumb, zesty citrus flavor, and a light crunch from poppy seeds—perfect for breakfast or a sunny snack.
0.5cupunsalted butter, meltedmelted and cooled slightly
1tbspcoarse sugaroptional, for topping
Instructions
Preparation Steps
Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners or lightly grease.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, poppy seeds, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and lemon zest until evenly combined.
In a medium bowl, whisk milk, sour cream, lemon juice, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
Slowly whisk the melted butter into the wet mixture until fully incorporated.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and fold gently with a spatula just until no dry streaks remain. Do not overmix.
Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each about 0.75 full. Sprinkle tops with coarse sugar if using.
Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, or until the tops are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool muffins in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly before serving.
Notes
For extra lemon flavor, brush warm muffins with a little additional lemon juice and a pinch of sugar. Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.