Description
These Lemon Muffins are light, moist, and bursting with fresh lemon flavor. Filled with a creamy, tangy cream cheese center, they’re a delightful treat perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Muffins:
- 1 1/2 cups (190g) all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup (120ml) whole milk
- 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tbsp lemon zest (about 1 large lemon)
- 1/4 cup (60ml) fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Cream Cheese Filling:
- 4 oz (115g) cream cheese, softened
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
For the Lemon Glaze (Optional):
- 1/2 cup (60g) powdered sugar
- 1–2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
Instructions
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Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease with non-stick spray.
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Make the Cream Cheese Filling:
- In a small bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth. Set aside.
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Prepare the Muffin Batter:
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, melted butter, eggs, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Do not overmix.
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Assemble the Muffins:
- Spoon a heaping tablespoon of muffin batter into each muffin cup.
- Add about 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese filling on top of the batter in each cup.
- Cover the cream cheese filling with another spoonful of batter, filling each muffin cup about 3/4 full.
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Bake:
- Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the muffin (avoiding the cream cheese center) comes out clean.
- Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
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Prepare the Lemon Glaze (Optional):
- In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled muffins.
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Serve:
- Enjoy the muffins fresh or store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Make it extra lemony: Add a little extra lemon zest to the glaze for more lemon flavor.
- Freezing tips: Wrap cooled muffins tightly in plastic wrap and store in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months.
- Storage: Store in the refrigerator due to the cream cheese filling.