Spring Brunch Lemon Muffins (Printable Version)

Zesty lemon muffins with poppy seeds and a sweet glaze, ideal for brunch or afternoon treats.

# What You Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
04 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

07 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
08 - 3/4 cup whole milk or buttermilk
09 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
10 - 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
11 - Zest of 2 lemons
12 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Glaze

13 - 1 cup powdered sugar
14 - 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
15 - 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest, optional

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or lightly grease each cup.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, poppy seeds, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly distributed.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, milk or buttermilk, melted butter, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract until thoroughly combined.
04 - Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Using a spatula, stir gently until just combined; avoid overmixing to maintain tender muffin crumb.
05 - Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups, filling each approximately three-quarters full.
06 - Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean.
07 - Remove muffins from oven and allow to cool in tin for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.
08 - In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and fresh lemon juice, adding juice gradually until reaching a thick but pourable consistency. Stir in lemon zest if desired.
09 - Drizzle glaze over cooled muffins. Allow 10 minutes for glaze to set before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Perfect balance of sweet and tart with fresh lemon juice and zest
  • Ready in under 40 minutes from start to finish
  • Beautiful presentation with a glossy lemon glaze
  • Ideal for brunch gatherings, bake sales, or meal prep
  • Simple ingredients you likely already have on hand
02 -
  • Use a spring-loaded cookie scoop to portion batter evenly into muffin cups
  • Test for doneness at 16 minutes—ovens vary and overbaking will dry out the muffins
  • Let muffins cool completely before glazing or the icing will melt and soak in
  • Freeze unglazed muffins for up to 3 months; thaw and glaze before serving
  • Double the glaze recipe if you prefer extra-sweet, heavily glazed muffins
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