Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins (Printable)

Moist, zesty muffins infused with fresh lemon and crunchy poppy seeds—perfect for breakfast or afternoon tea.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
04 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
06 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 3/4 cup whole milk
09 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
10 - 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
11 - Zest of 2 lemons
12 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease lightly with cooking spray.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, poppy seeds, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well blended.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, melted butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract until smooth and fully incorporated.
04 - Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir gently with a spatula or wooden spoon until just combined. Do not overmix—a few small lumps are acceptable for tender muffins.
05 - Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups, filling each about three-quarters full.
06 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
07 - Let the muffins cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The crumb stays incredibly moist for days, thanks to the perfect balance of butter and milk
  • That tangy lemon glaze suggestion in the notes transforms them into something bakery-worthy
02 -
  • Overmixing is the fastest way to make these tough and rubbery, so trust me when I say stop stirring as soon as the flour disappears
  • Room temperature ingredients incorporate more evenly, so take your eggs and milk out about 20 minutes before starting
03 -
  • Zest your lemons before juicing them—it's so much easier to handle the whole fruit when it's still firm
  • If you want even more lemon flavor, poke a few holes in the warm muffins and brush them with a simple lemon syrup before glazing