My orange lemon poppy seed muffins are a twist on the original lemon version. Soft on the inside, slight crisp on the outside. And full of flavorful citrus!
When life (Sunkist) hands you (ships you) a box of lemons, what do you do? Bake with them!
One of my favorite muffins in the world (besides blueberry!) are lemon poppy seed muffins. I love these springtime, citrus-infused muffins so much that I included them in my cookbook. Have you tried them yet?
Today’s muffins are practically the same recipe, with some orange infusion and a little milk to help thin out the thick batter.
These orange lemon poppy seed muffins are buttery, moist, and bursting with lemon and orange flavors. I’ve had my fair share of bland lemon muffins, but these are a far cry from flavorless. You’ll need 2 lemons, 1 orange, and a splash of vanilla extract for an added flavor punch. Make sure you have a zester handy for the lemon and orange.
A healthy dose of poppy seeds give the muffins a slight crunch. That’s the best part about poppy seed muffins! They’re a perfect contrast to the muffin’s soft interior. I love sprinkling the tops of muffins with coarse sugar. Similar to the poppy seeds, the coarse sugar gives these muffin tops a delightful crunch.
The muffins are baked in a very hot oven for 5 minutes. Then, keeping the muffins in the oven, lower the temperature down for the remaining time. This is my beloved “muffin dome” trick that I use for apple pie muffins, too. A quick burst of very hot air allows the muffin top to rise up quickly. Then the lower temperature bakes the center.
Warm from the oven, these orange lemon poppy seed muffins are not complete without a pat of butter melting into each and every crevice. The perfect springtime breakfast if you ask me, right up there with the likes of this glazed orange Bundt cake!
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Orange Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 muffins
- Category: Muffins
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
My orange lemon poppy seed muffins are a twist on the original lemon version. Soft on the inside, slight crisp on the outside. And full of flavorful citrus!
Ingredients
- 2 and 1/3 cups (291g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 3 Tablespoons poppy seeds
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (115g) salted butter, melted*
- 6–7 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice*
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice (about 1 medium orange)
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup (120g) non-fat or low-fat Greek or regular yogurt, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup (60ml) milk, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- coarse sugar, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (218°C). Spray 12-count muffin pan with nonstick spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk the flour, granulated sugar, poppy seeds, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together until thoroughly mixed. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the melted butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, orange juice, and orange zest together until combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking after each addition. Whisk in the yogurt, milk, and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently mix together until no pockets of flour remain. Do not over-mix. The batter is thick.
- Spoon the thick batter into the muffin tins, filling them all the way to the top. Sprinkle each with coarse sugar. Bake for 5 minutes at 425°F (218°C). Keeping the muffins in the oven, reduce oven temperature to 375°F (190°C) and continue to bake for 10-13 minutes longer until tops are lightly golden. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean. Allow to cool for 10 minutes. Top with additional lemon and/or orange zest if desired (optional).
- Muffins stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Try them with a simple lemon glaze too!
Notes
- Freezing Instructions: For longer storage, freeze muffins for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw overnight in the refrigerator and heat up in the microwave if desired.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): 12-Count Muffin Pan | Glass Mixing Bowls | Whisk | Coarse Sugar
- Butter: I have used salted and unsalted butter interchangeably in this recipe without changing the amount of added salt.
- Lemon: 1 medium-size lemon = approximately 1 tablespoon of lemon zest = 2 to 3 tablespoons of lemon juice
Keywords: orange lemon poppy seed muffins
Poppy Seed Fact: It takes 900,000 of these tiny black polka dots to equal one pound!
Can I use buttermilk instead of Greek or plain yogurt?
Hi Joyce, you can replace both the sour cream and milk with buttermilk.
Is it possible to make these just lemon muffins without the poppyseed or orange?
Hi Gigi, You can leave out the orange and replace with lemon zest/juice. You can also leave the poppy seeds out.
Looking for Lemon Poppy Seed muffins without the Orange. How would I modify this recipe?
Hi Lorie! We love this recipe for Blackberry Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins, you can leave the blackberries out. Happy baking!
I want to send as a treat to daughter. How would you attempt this or not?:)
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Hi Lorie, if you choose to send frozen muffins, they should be packaged in dry ice so that it doesn’t thaw out during shipping. Otherwise, it would be best to just bake and send! Make sure that they are tightly wrapped and stored in a container.
Hi, Sally! Love your recipes! Can I make these without the citrus? My son requested I make poppy seed muffins this weekend, but he (and my daughter) prefer just plain poppy seed muffins without any orange or lemon (I know: blasphemy!). Can I just omit the citrus or are there other tweaks I’d have to make? Thanks!
Hi Tina! We would add poppy seeds to this plain master-muffin recipe instead. Hope they’re a hit!
I have made so many of your recipes and I love every single one! Question – if I wanted almond poppyseeds, how much almond extract would I use?
Hi Rebekah, we’d start by replacing some of the vanilla with almond extract, say, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract. Let us know how it goes!
3.5 almost 4…. I loved the muffins. But I think I will cut the poppy seeds in half and add more orange and less lemon. They tasted way good but I didn’t get any hint of orange. Great texture and great moisture in them. Also prob need to add more yogurt behind at a higher elevation. I think after a day they would be dryer. I csnt wait to try some of your other recipes! Thank you for being willing to share them!
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