These insanely moist Iced Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins are bursting with lemon flavor! They are topped with a lemon cream cheese icing that will make mornings perfect.
It's almost April, and that means that Kayla won't be here. ::insert super duper sad face here:: She flies out of Montgomery on April 2nd to Chicago for boot camp, and it finally hit me.
We were laying in bed watching The Middle the other night, and it was the episode where they all have their boyfriend and girlfriends over for dinner, and all Frankie is trying to do is make a toast to them, and how they aren't going to have just their "core" group forever...it was her toast in front of the fridge, huddled together, that did it for me.
Kayla is leaving, and our little group will be no more. Sure she will visit us, but she won't live here anymore. I lost it. I went and snuggled up in her bed and cried big fat wet crocodile tears.
You see, she and I don't get a long. It's probably got a lot do with my having her at a young age, and I let my parents do most of the raising for the first year of her life.
We have always fought like sisters, and on the rare occasions we do get along, it's a relationship that I wished we had had all along. So fast forward to that night, and it was just awful.
I confessed my love for her, apologized for not being the best mom ever, and we cuddled. It was in that moment that I realized what I was losing.
Ok, enough tears, and let's talk about these Iced Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins...muffins that Kayla ask me to send her once she is out of boot camp, and in school in Texas.
These guys may have an icing on top, but it's not thick, and this muffin isn't super sweet. It's loaded with a lot of tangy lemon flavors, thanks to the heaping of lemon zest packed inside.
So before you claim this is a cupcake because of the icing, you'd have to get a load of the texture, which is totally moist, and totally crunchy thanks to the heaps of poppy seeds.
I was never fond of poppy seed muffins growing up, I just couldn't quite understand why anyone would want to mess up a perfectly good muffin with crunchy seeds.
As I got older, I grew to love the terrific crunch that they lend to muffins and sweet breads.
If you don't want to dip the tops into the glaze like I did, you could totally just drizzle it over the top.
Nothing is stopping you from making this your own! I just felt like every bite should have a taste of that tangy lemon cream cheese icing. Yum!
These are perfect in the mornings with a hot cup of coffee (or tea), and I also enjoy munching on one in the afternoon with my iced coffee.
Although this week I'll be skipping the iced coffee. The wind is sailing and it's a bit on the chilly side!
Help! My muffins are always sticking?
Use liners or just spray the muffin wells completely with non-stick cooking spray.
Even if you use a silicone muffin pan, spray it just a little
How do I get muffins that are the same size/height?
Using something to measure them out! I use an ice cream scoop OR I will a ¼th measuring cup.
Sometimes I have batter that requires two pans, but not enough to fill up the second.
Make sure to fill the empty muffin wells half way up with water. This helps to evenly distribute the heat.
If you aren't a lover of poppy seeds, that's cool, I wasn't either at one time, but you do love lemon treats, check out:
- Iced Lemon Pound Cake (Starbucks Copycat)
- Lemon Blueberry Scones
- Lemon Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
Iced Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
These insanely moist Iced Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins are bursting with lemon flavor! They are topped with a lemon cream cheese icing that will make mornings perfect.
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ cups flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 4 tablespoons butter, room temp
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 eggs, room temp
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¾ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
Icing
- 2 ounces softened cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 4 tablespoons lemon juice only 2 tablespoons if you aren't going to dip the tops into the icing
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a muffin pan, and set aside
- In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl attached to a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar for two minutes, until creamy. Add the eggs, vanilla, zest, lemon juice, and sour cream. Mix on medium for two minutes or until everything is incorporated.
- Remove the bowl from the mixer, and add the dry ingredients in, and stir to combine. Stir in the poppy seeds, and pour batter into the muffin tin about ⅔ full. Bake for 7 minutes, and then turn the oven down to 350, bake for an additional 10 to 12 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow the muffins to cool for 5 minutes, and remove them from the pan to a cooling rack. Allow to cool completely before icing.
- To make the icing, beat together the cream cheese and butter until nice and creamy. Beat in the powdered sugar, one cup at a time. Beat in the lemon juice. Dip the tops into the icing. Store in an air tight container. Best when eaten within 3 days.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 337Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 241mgCarbohydrates: 54gFiber: 1gSugar: 42gProtein: 3g
robin rue
These muffins sound like a great way to start my day! I am a huge fan of muffins because they are easy to grab and go!
Joanna
We like muffins for the same reason!
candy
Tis the season for all things lemon. These muffins look and sound delicious. Love anything that has lemon in it, so fresh and helpfully just a little tart sometimes.
Joanna
These are totally sweet, yet tangy! The perfect combo of the two.
Amber Myers
I tend to love anything with lemon in it, so I'm sure I'll love these. I haven't had a good muffin in a while. I love that these are iced.
Joanna
Isn't that icing the best?! These are totally tasty, and I bet you'll love them!
Karen Morse
I love lemon or any other citrus in desserts especially during Spring and Summer! I'm not sure why, I just really enjoy the flavor. I think these muffins are worth making! I love the addition of poppy seeds as well.
Joanna
These are perfect for spring and summer. I like citrus desserts this time of the year too.
Alaina Bullock
I love the flavor of lemon and poppy seed together. These muffins look so good, I cannot wait to give them a try! And, as it just so happens, I have all the ingredients in my kitchen - yay!
Joanna
Awesome! I hope you make these soon. 🙂 Come back and let us know if you do!
Jeanette
Oh my gosh those look heavenly! The icing alone I'm drooling over and then you throw it on top of lemon poppyseed muffins and that is basically Nirvana for me LOL.
Joanna
Thanks! The icing pretty much makes these muffins perfect! 🙂
valmg @ Mom Knows It All
I love the smell of freshly baked trets like muffins. Those iced muffins look like they'd be perfect with a cup of tea or glass of milk.
Our Family World
I like the tangy taste of lemon in baked goodies. These iced lemon poppy seed muffins look so good. The addition of poppy seeds differentiates this from other muffin recipes. I recently read that adding "black seeds" in our food are good for our health.
Tasheena @ SimplyTasheena.com
This Iced Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins look so moist and yummy! Can't wait to try this recipe.
Jenn @ EngineerMommy
These poppy seed muffins look incredible. I love that you paired lemon with poppyseed. Always a winning combination in my book.
Mimi Green
I am a muffin and a tea addict. I legit have both for breakfast daily. I’m pinning this so I can try it. I love lemon flavor.
Heather
Yum! Poppy seed muffins totally say spring to me. It looks delicious.
Bethel
Huhu these muffins look very yummy it made me crave!! Gotta make this myself and thanks for the recipe!
Sondra Barker
Looks so yummy and fresh! The icing looks perfect. I'll have to make this soon. Thank you for the recipe!
Sudipta Dev Chakraborti
This is such a unique recipe. The muffins look awesome. Will certainly try this out.
Sara Welch
Oh my gosh, how delicious do these look?!? I would love one of those right now.
chubskulit rose
Wow, what a great looking treat. I have never tried using poppy seeds but we love incorporating chia and flax seeds in everything.
Joanna
Oh, you've gotta try the poppy seeds!
Carol Cassara
I've tried making a recipe like this before but it's in loaf form. I think muffins are great since it's easy to just grab them and go. I'd love to make this recipe one of these days! Perfect for breakfast or afternoon tea!
Joanna
Yea, I like the recipe both ways, but prefer the muffins, because they are that easy grab and go!
Kiwi
This looks amazing. I love lemon poppy seed muffins its always a good breakfast treat.
Alison Rost
It's not easy to get along with our kids sometimes. It's nice that you had a heart-to-heart talk before she left. This recipe sounds so good. I love that it comes in serving sizes that makes it easier to eat.
Joanna
Thanks Alison, it's definitely not easy. <3
Paula Stewart
Before I moved so far away, I used to bring lemon poppy muffins when I went to have coffee with my Mom. I'll have to share this recipe with her so she can make them for my next visit.
Toughcookiemommy
These muffins look delicious. I love eating muffins for breakfast with a nice, hot cup of coffee.
Heather
Our lemon tree produces so much great fruit, but I often run out of ideas of what to do with them. This sounds like a wonderful way to bake up something lemony and satisfy my sweet tooth all at the same time.
Kita Bryant
This looks like a really great treat! I have always loved lemon desserts.
Blair villanueva
I love muffins and it always makes my day, especially after a long busy day and I want to have that little delight. You recipe looks delicious even on the picture! Yummy!
Debra Hawkins
Lemon poppyseed is one of my absolute favorite flavors! I am going to have to try these out ASAP!
lex
Who would have imagined that i could make a muffin look this nice and also taste so good. I like the feel of this and the content too.