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Skip the expensive coffee shop muffins and make a batch of these easy lemon muffins instead! They are made with sour cream and fresh lemon juice so they are bursting with flavor and so moist and tender. This easy muffin recipe is perfect for breakfast and brunch or whenever you want a sweet snack.

lemon muffins topped with a white crumb topping and lemons in the background.


BEST Lemon Muffins with Crumble

I’m a sucker for bakery-style coffee shop lemon muffins with a sweet crumb topping and lemon glaze but, woah, they get expensive, don’t they? I mean, a cup of coffee and a muffin shouldn’t cost as much as tickets to a movie but maybe that’s just me.

But I’m guessing you feel that way, too? So, let’s make our own amazing muffins! Lemon crumb muffins, to be specific. These easy muffins are bright, fresh, and so tender and moist. Basically, the perfect recipe!

ingredients in lemon muffins

Ingredients Needed

  • Sour Cream – I’m using this in place of milk. The acid in the sour cream helps activate the baking soda for a moist and fluffy muffin.
  • Lemons – Use fresh lemons and you’ll need both lemon zest and lemon juice.
  • Oil – I prefer vegetable oil for the fat in my muffin recipes. I like the moisture it lends to the crumb.
  • Butter – I use butter in my crumble topping because it’s the best!

Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!

What I Love about these Lemon Crumb Muffins

  • They are super simple to make. You know me, I am all about the easy recipes!
  • They are made with sour cream which pairs perfectly with the lemon. Sour cream also gives the muffins a really tender and moist crumb.
  • This recipe make a big batch – 24 muffins! So, they’re perfect for potlucks or when you’re serving a crowd for brunch or breakfast.
  • This lemon muffin recipe is freezer-friendly!
  • If you don’t want to make a large batch you can easily cut the recipe in half.
  • They are the perfect treat to go with your coffee without spending an arm and a leg.

How to Make Lemon Sour Cream Muffins

Muffin crumble process

1. The Crumble

I like to make the topping first, that way it’s ready to go when the batter is done. Just combine flour, granulated sugar, salt and melted unsalted butter in a bowl and set it aside.

Lemon crumb muffins process

2. How to Make Lemon Muffins

  1. Using an electric mixer, mix the eggs in a large bowl until they are thick and frothy. This is a very important step – the fluffy eggs help keep the muffins light.
  2. Add the sugar and oil and mix again until the mixture is creamy.
  3. Mix in the zest, lemon juice, vanilla, baking soda and salt. Add the sour cream and mix again.
  4. Switch to a wooden spoon and stir in the flour. Mix just until the flour is incorporated – the batter may be slightly lumpy.
  5. Line a muffin pan with liners and fill each ¾ full with batter. Sprinkle the crumb topping over each. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  6. While the muffins are baking make the glaze by combining powdered sugar with lemon juice in a small bowl. Drizzle the glaze over the muffins.
lemon muffins topped with a white crumb topping and lemons in the background.

How to Store Homemade Lemon Muffins

  • Keep them in an airtight container and they will keep well for up to three days at room temperature.
  • You can also freeze them for up to one month. If you want to do this, don’t glaze them until you are ready to serve them.
lemon muffins topped with a white crumb topping and lemons in the background.

Tip From Dorothy

Expert Tips

  • Be sure to beat the eggs long enough – they should be thick and yellow and frothy.
  • Be sure your sour cream is room temperature to avoid lumps.
  • The glaze is optional but adds tons of flavor!
  • Do not skip the lemon zest – it adds all the flavor to the muffins.
  • Muffins are done baking when a toothpick comes out clean from the center.

FAQs

What keeps muffins moist?

Using a combination of sour cream, baking soda, and oil keeps these muffins nice and moist with a tender crumb. Be sure to not over bake muffins either or they’ll be dry.

Can I add poppy seeds to lemon muffins?

Add about 1 tablespoon poppy seeds before putting the batter in the muffin pans.

Can you freeze muffins?

Freeze these muffins without the glaze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

lemon muffins topped with a white crumb topping and lemons in the background.

Lemon Muffins Recipe

3.78 from 71 votes
These Lemon Crumb Muffins are a bakery style treat you can make at home! A sweet muffin full of lemon flavor and topped with a crunchy crumble and lemon glaze. Perfect with a cup of coffee!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Yield 28 muffins
Serving Size 1 muffin

Ingredients
 

Topping:

  • 1 ¼ cups (155g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter melted

Muffins:

  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (237ml) vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest 1 large lemon
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice from 1 large lemon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups (454g) sour cream
  • 4 cups (492g) all purpose flour

Glaze (optional):

  • ¾ cup (85g) powdered sugar
  • 2-4 tablespoons lemon juice

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Line muffin pans with paper baking cups. (This recipe makes 24-28 muffins. Half the recipe for a smaller batch!)
  • Make the topping by stirring together all topping ingredients with a fork in a medium sized bowl. Set aside.
  • Using a hand mixer, mix eggs with electric mixer about 1-2 minutes until thick and frothy. Mix in sugar and oil, beat until creamy. Mix in lemon zest, juice, vanilla, baking soda, salt. Mix in sour cream then stir in flour using a wooden spoon. (Batter may be slightly lumpy.)
  • Fill muffin cups ¾ full. Sprinkle the tops with the crumble mixture. (I filled mine just a teeny bit too much. They got scary close to overflowing, so stick with 3/4 full!)
  • Bake for 18-22 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of a muffin. Cool 5 minutes in pan then remove to a rack to cool completely.
  • (The glaze is optional but adds another punch of lemon flavor.)
  • Make the glaze: whisk powdered sugar and lemon juice. Drizzle over muffins.
  • Muffins should be kept in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze them for up to one month. (If freezing, omit glaze and make it before serving.)

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

  • Be sure to beat the eggs long enough – they should be thick and yellow and frothy.
  • Be sure your sour cream is room temperature to avoid lumps.
  • The glaze is optional but adds tons of flavor!
  • Do not skip the lemon zest – it adds all the flavor to the muffins.
  • Muffins are done baking when a toothpick comes out clean from the center.

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1muffin | Calories: 258kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 205mg | Potassium: 57mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 238IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American

Click here to see the complete list of Lemon Recipes!

Favorite Lemon Recipes

Last Updated on May 24, 2023



Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

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137 Comments

  1. Haven’t made the recipe yet but I will soon because I love most recipes with lemon in them. Just wanted to say thanks for putting measurements in grams. So much easier when I’m cutting the recipe in half.