Best Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins with Glaze

These lemon muffins with poppy seeds are made with fresh lemon juice and zest giving them a much more pronounced lemony flavor. Don't skip using fresh for the best result. Then there's the awesome lemon glaze which makes the lemon flavor pop even more while adding a bit more sweetness to the mix.

Add in the poppy seeds for texture while making these lemon and poppy seed muffins both eye-catching and mouthwatering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ingredients

All-Purpose Flour - is what I like to use for this recipe. You can substitute almond flour for a gluten-free muffin version or go with half white whole wheat and half all-purpose for a heartier lemon muffin.

Sugar - sweetens the batter

Leavening - I like to use both baking powder and baking soda for a better rise

Salt - enhances the flavor of all ingredients

Poppy Seeds - add texture and visual appeal to the muffins

Lemon Juice and Zest - use fresh for the most lemony flavor

Greek yogurt - adds moistness and creates a tender texture to these lemon and poppy seed muffins. Make sure to use a thick Greek yogurt and not regular yogurt as it is too runny and will add too much liquid, creating a lesser rise.

Vegetable oil - helps the muffins to be tender and fluffy by interacting with the leavening agents and slowing down the gluten formation

Eggs - use large eggs for best results

Extracts - I use both vanilla and lemon extracts for a balance of flavors and to enhance the lemon flavor

How to Make Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

1. Combine dry ingredients - flour, sugar, baking poswe, baking soda, poppy seeds and zest in large bowl.
2. Mix well and set aside.
3. In another bowl, combine wet ingredients - vegetable oil, yogurt, lemon juice, eggs and extract.
4. Mix well.
5. Pour liquid ingredients into dry ingredients.
6. Mix until just combined. Streaks of flour may still be visible.

Pro Tip: Do not overmix batter! This will result in rubbery muffins.

7. Divide batter between 12 muffin cups. You can use either muffin liners or just grease the muffin pan. To fill each cup neatly and efficiently, fill a reusable plastic baggie, snip corner and squeeze into each cup.

Note: For a sweeter lemon muffin you can sprinkle coarse sugar over the top of each muffin prior to baking.

Pro Tip: The best rise occurs if the muffins are placed directly in the oven after mixing and filling muffin cups.

8. Bake at 425 degrees then turn down to 400 degrees for 13-15 minutes. This will help give that bakery-style muffin appearance. Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes in pan then invert onto wire rack and let cool remainder of way.

How to Make Lemon Glaze

1. Gather ingredients for glaze - powdered sugar and lemon juice.
2. Whisk together until smooth. It should be a consistency that drizzles easily. If glaze is too thick add more lemon juice, if too think add more powdered sugar.

Finishing Lemon Muffins with Poppy Seeds

To drizzle muffins, place glaze into resuable plastic baggie, make a small snip in corner of bag then drizzle over top of each muffin.

This lemon poppy seed muffins recipe will have you baking your own delicious muffins at home rather than visiting your local bakery. And the aromas coming out of your kitchen will have you drooling way before it's time to eat them. So what are you waiting for? In just 30 minutes you can be munching away on all that lemontastic flavor - sweet, tart and irresistible! Enjoy!

Storage/Freezing

These lemon poppy seed muffins with yogurt will keep on the counter or in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

They can also be frozen in an airtight freezer bag or container for 3 months.

Variations

• Almond Lovers - change out the lemon extract for almond extract for tasty Almond Poppy Seed Muffins
• Blueberries- Check out my Lemon Blueberry Muffins for a real treat
• For a more herbally flavor, try Meyer lemons in place of regular lemons
• Lemon Lovers - for a stronger lemon flavor, massage lemon zest into sugar prior to adding to batter
• Vegan Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins - Use a vegan yogurt, neutral oil, increase baking soda to 1 teaspoon and substitute 2 Tablespoons of flax seed in lieu of eggs
• Gluten-free Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins - use a 1:1 flour or almond flour in place of all purpose flour

More Lemon Recipes

Easy Lemon Brownies - you'll never miss the chocolate!

Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake - the best combination of lemon and cheesecake

Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies - just as delicious as these muffins but in cookie form

Healthy Lemon Chia Seed Protein Bars - the same delicious flavor in a healthy snack

More Muffin Recipes

Peach Almond Oatmeal Muffins - are easy to make and pack a healthy punch. Made with oatmeal, peaches & almonds, it’s like a bowl of oatmeal in your hand.

Pineapple Carrot Muffins - are a sneaky way to get your kids eating veggies without any coaxing on your part. Fresh carrots, a little sugar, a touch of cinnamon, and sweetened with pineapple juice make these muffins both moist and delicious. 

Espresso Chocolate Chip Muffins - are deliciously moist bakery-style muffins with a distinct coffee taste. The espresso flavor combines perfectly with the sweet chocolate chips to make these muffins the perfect coffee lover's breakfast.

Find lots of easy muffin recipes here on 2CM!