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    Home » Recipes » Breads & Muffins » Best Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins with Glaze

    Published: May 7, 2022 by Linda Warren

    Best Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins with Glaze

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins are easy to make, moist, lemony muffins with bits of poppy seeds that are a little bit tart, a little bit sweet, and ready in 30 minutes. Drizzle with a lemon glaze that puts them over the top on the lemonicious scale! 

    Closeup holding lemon muffin with lemon poppy seed muffins in back.

    I can honestly say I am a muffin addict! They're the perfect grab-n-go breakfast paired with coffee (of course) and great for midday snacks or even dessert. And these lemon poppy seed muffins just scream spring and summer.

    Lemons are my favorite citrus fruit and their tart flavor is perfect for warm days. 2CM is filled with delicious lemony goodness from my super popular Easy Lemon Mug Cake to Lemon Blueberry Donuts and Lemon Chiffon Cake, as well as cocktails like my oh-so-refreshing Lemonade Margaritas and Strawberry Lemonade.

    Lemon Muffins with poppy seeds one without wrapper.

    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.

    Closeup of halved muffin on white table.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Are poppy seeds safe to eat?

    They are! Plus poppy seeds have strong antioxidant properties and are a good source of fiber while being rich in B-complex vitamins too. However, if you prefer, you can leave them out of this recipe and the muffins are still fantastic!

    Is the batter supposed to be thick?

    Yes, it is. These muffins are rich and moist with a batter that is similar in consistency to a pound cake.

    Do I have to use yogurt in these lemon muffins?

    Not at all. You can easily substitute buttermilk or sour cream for the yogurt.

    Are cupcake liners necessary?

    No, these lemon muffins with poppy seeds will come out just as well when cooked in a greased nonstick pan. But don't you just love those bright lemon liners?!

    Can I use almond or coconut flour in place of all-purpose flour?

    Yes to the almond flour and can be subbed on a 1:1 basis. No to the coconut flour as it absorbs too much liquid and will result in a very dry muffin.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for Lemon Muffins with Poppy Seeds.

    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

    Steps to make lemon muffins batter.
    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.

    Batter in muffin cups ready to bake.
    1. 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.

    Baked muffins in muffin tin.
    1. 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

    Steps 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

    Drizzling muffins with lemon glaze.

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

    Scattered muffins on table with flowers.

    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!

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    Closeup of halved muffin on white table.

    Best Lemon Poppy Seeds Muffins with Lemon Glaze

    A moist lemony muffin, a little bit tart, a little bit sweet, and ready in 30 minutes. And the easy lemon glaze puts them over the top on the deliciousness scale! 
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    Print Rate
    Course: Bread
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 12 minutes
    Cook Time: 18 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 12 muffins
    Calories: 184kcal
    Author: Linda Warren

    Ingredients

    Muffins

    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • ⅔ cup sugar
    • 2 teaspoons baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2-3 Tablespoons poppy seeds
    • zest of 2 lemons
    • ½ cup vegetable oil
    • ½ cup vanilla-flavored Greek yogurt or buttermilk
    • ¼ cup lemon juice
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 teaspoon lemon extract (you can also use vanilla extract & increase lemon juice by 1-2 Tablespoons)
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

    Lemon Glaze

    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 2-3 Tablespoons lemon juice

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray a 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick spray or use cupcake liners.
    • In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, poppy seeds and zest. Set aside.
    • In a medium bowl, combine vegetable oil, yogurt, lemon juice, eggs and extract. Stir to combine.
    • Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients stirring just until combined. Over stirring will cause muffins to be tough.
    • Divide batter between 12 muffins cups.
    • Place in oven and bake for 5 minutes at 425 degrees. Turn oven down to 400 degrees and continue cooking for 13-15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of muffin comes out clean.
    • Remove muffins from oven and let cool in pan for 5 minutes on wire rack. Remove from muffin pan to wire rack and let cool remainder of way.
    • While muffins are baking, whisk together powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons lemon juice. If the glaze is too thick add a little more lemon juice, if too thin add more powdered sugar.
    • When muffins are cool, drizzle lemon glaze over all. Let set before storing in airtight container.

    Notes

    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

    Nutrition

    Calories: 184kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 158mg | Potassium: 131mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 41IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 1mg

    This post has been updated with an improved recipe, more tips and step-by-step directions. It was first published on February 18, 2018.

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    Hey, I’m Linda, the recipe creator, photographer and cocktail lover at 2 Cookin Mamas. Here you’ll find easy recipes that are not only delicious but can get you out of the kitchen ASAP. Come and join me and let me take you on a tasty trip through your kitchen. Thanks for stopping by! Learn more about me

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