Muffins are a brunch and breakfast favorite, and we’re here to brighten up your spread with our Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins. These delightful, bright, and soft muffins are rich in flavor with a wonderfully tender texture thanks to Lifeway Kefir used in the batter.
Lifeway Kefir is the perfect muffin ingredient that can be used just like you would use buttermilk. The live cultures it contains help soften the batter, ensuring a delicate and soft crumb with every bite. The natural protein and vitamins in our kefir boost the recipe with natural goodness your body needs to thrive.
Real lemons used in these Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins deliver the essence of spring time, brighten up the flavor, and they’re packed with vitamin C known to support immune system health.
Poppy seeds add a delightful crunch and the wonderfully unique flavor they’re known for. With just a short time in the oven, these muffins are ready to be enjoyed, and with Lifeway Kefir in the mix, they’re sure to bring a bit of sunshine your way!
Find Lifeway products in a store near you here, and check out more of our recipes here.
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for optimal digestion and gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health. Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1.
Lifeway Kefir is packed with a variety of vital nutrients important for overall health, including bone and muscle health; these include vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Along with our probiotic-rich kefir, Lifeway also offers artisan-made Farmer Cheese, a creamy, high-protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support healthy muscles and a healthy microbiome. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is easy to spread, free of gums and thickeners, and contains no added salt or sugar for optimal health benefits.
Prep Time: 45 minutes Servings: 12 muffinsIngredients
For the Muffins:
- 1 cup Organic Plain Lowfat Kefir
- *or any plain variety of Lifeway Kefir (whole milk or lowfat)
- 1 cup granulated cane sugar
- zest of 2 lemons
- 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1/2 cup slightly melted Unsalted Kefir Butter
- 2 tbsp. poppy seeds
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (use gluten-free if necessary)
- 1 tbsp. baking powder
- additional lemon zest
For the Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1-2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
- additional lemon zest (a couple tablespoons)
Directions
- Line a 12-cup muffin pan with muffin tin liners, and preheat the oven to 425° F.
- Prepare the muffin batter: Add Lifeway Kefir, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla, eggs, Lifeway Kefir Butter, and poppy seeds to a bowl. Whisk or mix with a mixer to combine thoroughly.
- Add flour, baking powder, and salt to a large bowl. Mix the kefir mixture from step 2 into this bowl, and mix everything together until just combined (don't over-mix).
- Spoon the muffin batter into the prepared muffin tins, and leave a little room in each cup for the muffins to expand (don't fill them all the way full). Bake for 5 minutes, then reduce the heat to 375°F and bake for 12 more minutes.
- While the muffins are baking, prepare the glaze. Combine the powdered sugar and lemon juice in a bowl until a glaze forms. Mix in the additional lemon zest, if using.
- Once the muffins are done baking, remove from the oven and let them cool completely. Lightly drizzle the glaze on with a spoon, and serve to enjoy!*
- *If you have leftover muffins, be sure to store them in the fridge for best preservation.
