Simple Sweet Lemon Zest Muffins (Printable View)

Moist, fluffy muffins with bright lemon zest and a sweet, tender crumb for any occasion.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour (240 g)
02 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar (150 g)
03 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
05 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

06 - 2 large eggs
07 - 1/2 cup whole milk (120 ml)
08 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled (120 ml)
09 - 2 tablespoons freshly grated lemon zest (from approximately 2 medium lemons)
10 - 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (60 ml)
11 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Optional Topping

12 - 2 tablespoons coarse or sparkling sugar

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or lightly grease with butter.
02 - Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl until evenly mixed.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, milk, melted butter, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until smooth.
04 - Gently fold wet ingredients into dry using a spatula until just combined, avoiding overmixing to maintain muffin tenderness.
05 - Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full. Optionally, sprinkle coarse sugar atop each muffin.
06 - Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean and tops are lightly golden.
07 - Let muffins rest in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

# Best Practices:

01 -
  • Moist and fluffy texture
  • Bright lemon flavor with sweet tender crumb
02 -
  • For extra lemon flavor add 1/2 tsp lemon extract
  • Substitute Greek yogurt for half of the milk for a tangier richer muffin
03 -
  • Do not overmix the batter to keep muffins tender
  • Use fresh lemon zest for best flavor impact
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