Perfect Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

For 20 Muffins, Perfect Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins keeps the list centered on poppy seeds, baking powder and baking soda. Set aside about 40 minutes.

• Yield 20 Muffins
• Ready in 40 minutes
• Prep 20 minutes
• Cook 20 minutes

Ingredients

Muffins

• 3 cups ( 426 g ) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup ( 212 g ) granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups plain yogurt , Greek or regular or buttermilk (or a combination)
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice , from 1-2 lemons
• 1 ½ tablespoons freshly grated lemon zest , from about 3 lemons
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup ( 113 g ) salted butter , melted and cooled until no longer hot

Glaze

• ¼ cup ( 53 g ) granulated sugar
• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
• Coarse sugar , for sprinkling (optional, but fun and delicious)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (if using a dark-coated pan, preheat to 350 degrees F). Lightly grease two 12-cup muffin tins or line with muffin liners. If you only have one pan, you can easily bake in separate batches. See note about using a USA brand muffin tin.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, poppy seeds, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3. In another bowl or large liquid measuring cup, whisk together the yogurt/buttermilk, lemon juice, lemon zest, and eggs.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and fold together once or twice to start combining (stop stirring before it's fully combined; it's ok if there are dry streaks remaining). Add the melted butter and gently fold/stir until just combined. Don't overmix or the muffins might be dry and tough!
5. Fill the muffin cups about 2/3 of the way full (I use this handy dandy #20 cookie scoop to fill the muffin tins).
6. Bake for 17-20 minutes until the top springs back lightly to the touch.
7. For the glaze, while the muffins bake, simmer the sugar and lemon juice together in a small pan on the stove, for about 5 minutes until the mixture is thickened into a light syrup. Remove from the heat.
8. Pretty quickly after the muffins come out of the oven (within 2-3 minutes), keeping the muffins in the tin, brush the top of the muffins equally with the lemon syrup. Sprinkle with coarse sugar, if using.
9. Let the muffins cool another minute or two in the muffin tin before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Cool the bake on a rack until the crumb sets, then slice.