Spring Brunch Lemon Poppy Seed (Print Version)

Bright, zesty lemon muffins with crunchy poppy seeds and a sweet lemon glaze for a fresh spring treat.

# What You'll 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

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or lightly grease with butter.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, poppy seeds, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly distributed.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, melted butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract until thoroughly combined.
04 - Pour wet ingredients into the dry mixture. Using a spatula, stir gently until just combined, being careful not to overmix the batter.
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 with no wet batter.
07 - Remove muffins from oven and cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
08 - In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and lemon juice, adding juice gradually until reaching a thick but pourable consistency. Stir in optional lemon zest.
09 - Drizzle glaze over completely cooled muffins. Allow glaze to set for 10 minutes before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They stay impossibly moist for days and somehow taste even better the next morning with your coffee.
  • The glaze is foolproof and forgiving, making you look like you actually know what you're doing in the kitchen.
  • You'll finally understand why lemon and poppy seeds are basically a flavor match made in heaven.
02 -
  • Overmixing the batter is the fastest way to ruin these; stir just until the dry ingredients vanish and stop before your brain thinks you should.
  • Room temperature eggs and milk truly do blend better into a smooth batter, so take them out of the fridge 20 minutes before you start.
03 -
  • Let your oven preheat fully for at least 15 minutes; a properly heated oven is what gives you that golden dome on top.
  • If your glaze is too thin, whisk in a bit more powdered sugar; if it's too thick, add lemon juice drop by drop until it flows like silk.
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