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Blueberry Muffins with Lemon Zest Topping Recipe

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  • Author: admin
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 12 muffins
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

These classic Blueberry Muffins are moist, fluffy, and bursting with wild Maine blueberries. Featuring a perfect muffin dome topped with a sweet lemon-sugar crunch, this recipe combines buttermilk, sour cream, and a delicate balance of ingredients for an irresistibly tender texture. Ideal for breakfast, brunch, or a snack, these muffins are baked to golden perfection and deliver a refreshing burst of berry flavor in every bite.


Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour (measured properly, see notes)
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cups buttermilk (room temperature)
  • 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (melted)
  • 2 large eggs (room temperature)
  • 1/3 cup sour cream (room temperature)
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract

Add-ins and Topping

  • 1 1/2 cups frozen wild Maine blueberries (do not thaw)
  • 1/8 cup granulated sugar (for topping)
  • Zest of 1/2 lemon (for topping)


Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a 12-cup muffin pan with 6 liners to prepare for baking two batches to ensure perfect muffin domes.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and fine sea salt. Set aside to keep dry ingredients combined.
  3. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, granulated sugar, melted unsalted butter, eggs, sour cream, vegetable oil, and vanilla bean paste or extract until the mixture is smooth and well incorporated.
  4. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the wet mixture into the dry ingredients, gently folding them together until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep muffins tender.
  5. Fold in Blueberries: Carefully fold the frozen wild Maine blueberries into the batter, making sure they are evenly distributed without breaking them apart.
  6. Fill Muffin Liners: Fill each muffin liner to the very top with batter; this helps create that signature domed muffin top.
  7. Add Topping: Mix the 1/8 cup granulated sugar with the zest of half a lemon, then sprinkle this mixture evenly on top of each muffin batter-filled liner.
  8. Bake Muffins: Bake the muffins at 425°F (220°C) for 5 minutes to help the tops rise and set, then reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) and continue baking for another 15 to 18 minutes until the muffins are golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  9. Cool and Serve: Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for 5 minutes to firm up, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.

Notes

  • Measuring flour correctly is key — spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level it off instead of scooping directly to avoid dense muffins.
  • Using frozen blueberries helps prevent the batter from turning purple and clumping the berries.
  • Room temperature wet ingredients ensure even mixing and better texture.
  • Baking in two batches ensures optimal dome shape and even baking.
  • The initial high oven temperature sets the muffin tops to rise quickly and develop a golden crust.