Double Lemon Crumb Muffins

Indulge in the ultimate treat: fluffy, moist, and utterly delicious bakery-style lemon muffins. Crowned with a sweet-tart streusel crumb topping, baked to golden perfection, and finished with a zesty lemon glaze, these homemade delights are so irresistible you’ll want to bake them repeatedly!

There’s nothing quite like the invigorating aroma and taste of freshly baked goods, and these **lemon crumb muffins** are a prime example. Straight from your oven, they deliver an authentic, vibrant lemon flavor that simply can’t be matched by store-bought alternatives. Each bite is a little burst of sunshine, offering a delightful balance of zesty brightness and comforting sweetness that instantly elevates your day.

Our easy **Lemon Crumb Muffins with Lemon Glaze** recipe is a versatile treat, ideal for a hearty breakfast, an elegant brunch, or a quick grab-and-go snack. Imagine bringing a batch of these fluffy, golden delights to a spring picnic, adding a joyful citrus twist to your outdoor gathering. Feeling the winter blues? A batch of these homemade lemon muffins is sure to bring a cheerful ray of light and a smile to your face.

The secret to their incredibly soft and moist texture, along with that irresistible subtle citrus flavor, lies in readily available ingredients like creamy sour cream, fresh lemons, and rich butter. These bakery-style muffins are not just for immediate enjoyment; they can be prepared up to a week in advance and stored in the refrigerator, making them perfect for meal prepping or unexpected guests. Just warm them slightly before serving for that “freshly baked” experience.

If you’re a fan of vibrant, zesty desserts, you’ll definitely want to explore more lemon-infused recipes. After mastering these glorious muffins, why not try our Lemon Sweet Rolls for a decadent morning pastry or our Lemon Cheesecake Bars for a rich, tangy dessert?

Unlocking the Secret to the Best Bakery-Style Lemon Muffins

When life hands you lemons, forget the lemonade and bake these incredible light, tangy, and fluffy **lemon muffins with crumb topping**! The addition of a buttery streusel not only provides a delightful crunch and texture but also enhances the overall satisfaction of each bite, making these muffins truly stand out from the rest. The contrasting textures of the soft muffin interior, the crumbly topping, and the smooth glaze create a symphony for your taste buds.

The true secret to achieving these incredibly light and fluffy muffins lies in the mixing method. Instead of vigorously combining all ingredients at once, we gently incorporate the wet and dry ingredients separately. This technique prevents overworking the batter, which can lead to tough, dense muffins. By mixing just until combined, you ensure a tender crumb that melts in your mouth.

These easy **lemon muffins** are also wonderfully adaptable, allowing for effortless customization. Craving an extra layer of texture? Stir in a tablespoon of poppy seeds for a classic lemon-poppy seed muffin twist. For a burst of complementary fruitiness, consider folding in fresh raspberries or blueberries into the batter. These bright fruits marry perfectly with the vibrant lemon flavor, adding both visual appeal and a delightful juiciness.

If you’re on a quest for more of the best homemade muffin recipes, be sure to explore our collection. You might love our Double Chocolate Banana Muffins for a rich, decadent treat, our Spiced Glazed Muffins for a cozy, comforting flavor, or our Strawberry Cheesecake Muffins for a sweet and tangy indulgence. Each recipe promises that delightful bakery-quality experience right in your home kitchen.

Essential Ingredients for Zesty Lemon Streusel Muffins

This recipe for **lemon crumb muffins** relies on a selection of simple, everyday ingredients that you likely already have in your pantry or refrigerator. For a complete list of precise measurements, please refer to the detailed recipe card at the end of this post.

For the Fluffy Lemon Muffins

All-Purpose Flour: The foundational ingredient that provides the necessary structure and body for our tender muffins. Use a good quality unbleached all-purpose flour for the best results.
Unsalted Butter: While oil can offer moisture, butter contributes a rich, complex flavor and a desirable texture to these muffins, balancing out the acidity of the lemon and wet ingredients beautifully. Ensure it’s softened to room temperature for optimal creaming.
Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the muffins, tenderizes the crumb, and helps achieve that delightful fluffy texture. It also perfectly complements the bright tang of the fresh lemon.
Sour Cream: This is a star ingredient for achieving truly moist and tender muffins. Its acidity reacts with the baking soda, promoting a light rise, and its fat content adds richness and prevents dryness.
Large Eggs: Act as a binder, providing essential structure, richness, and moisture to the muffin batter. They also contribute to a lovely golden color.
Fresh Lemon Zest and Juice: The heart of these muffins! Using both the zest (for aromatic oils) and the juice (for tartness) ensures an intensely fresh and authentic lemon flavor. Feel free to experiment by adding other complementary fruits like fresh raspberries or blueberries for an extra fruity dimension.
Vanilla Extract: A touch of pure vanilla extract beautifully enhances and rounds out the bright citrus notes, adding a subtle warmth and sweetness to the overall flavor profile.
Baking Soda: A crucial leavening agent that reacts with the acidic sour cream and lemon juice to create air bubbles, giving the muffins their airy and fluffy rise.

For the Irresistible Crumb Topping (Streusel)

All-Purpose Flour: Forms the base of the streusel, giving it its classic crumbly texture and structure when baked.
Granulated Sugar and Light Brown Sugar: The combination of both sugars creates a deeply flavorful and ultra-moist streusel. Granulated sugar provides crispness, while brown sugar adds a caramelized note and chewy tenderness.
Melted Unsalted Butter: Essential for bringing the crumb topping together, creating those characteristic clusters, and ensuring a rich, buttery flavor as it bakes to a beautiful golden brown.
Salt: A pinch of salt is vital in the crumb topping. It acts as a flavor enhancer, perfectly balancing the sweetness and intensifying the complexity of the other ingredients.

For the Zesty Sweet-Tart Lemon Glaze

Powdered Sugar (Confectioners’ Sugar): Serves as the smooth, sweet base for our luxurious lemon glaze, dissolving easily to create a velvety finish.
Melted Honey: Adds a beautiful sheen, a touch of floral sweetness, and helps to thicken the glaze, giving it a delightful drizzling consistency that adheres perfectly to the muffins. It also harmonizes wonderfully with the lemon’s tang.
Fresh Lemon Juice: Provides the signature vibrant, zesty, and sweet-tart flavor to the glaze, making it the perfect finishing touch for these lemon crumb muffins. Always use fresh-squeezed for the best taste!

How to Bake the Best Lemon Muffins with Crumb Topping

This recipe for **lemon sour cream muffins** is incredibly straightforward, ensuring a delightful baking experience even for novice bakers. Follow these steps to create perfect bakery-style muffins in your own kitchen! For even more detailed instructions and a full recipe card, please scroll to the bottom of this page.

Step 1: Prepare Your Baking Station

Begin by preheating your oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). This initial high temperature helps the muffins rise quickly, creating that desirable domed top. Next, prepare a 12-cup muffin tin by lining each cup with paper cupcake liners or generously spraying them with a non-stick cooking spray. Proper preparation ensures your beautiful muffins won’t stick and are easy to remove.

Step 2: Mix the Muffin Batter

To prepare the muffin batter: In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter until it’s light and fluffy. Gradually add the granulated sugar, continuing to beat until the mixture is thoroughly combined and pale. Incorporate the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract, sour cream, and both fresh lemon zest and lemon juice. Mix until all these wet ingredients are fully combined and smooth. Remember, the quality of fresh lemon zest and juice truly makes a difference in these **lemon muffins**.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda to ensure they are well combined. Then, gently sift these dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Stir using a spatula or spoon until *just* combined. It’s crucial not to overmix the batter; a few lumps are perfectly fine and will result in tender, fluffy muffins. Overmixing develops gluten, leading to tough muffins.

Step 3: Prepare the Crumb Topping

To prepare the streusel crumb topping: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, melted butter, and a pinch of salt. Use a fork or your fingertips to mix these ingredients together until they form coarse crumbs and small clusters. This glorious streusel is what gives these **bakery-style lemon muffins** their signature look and added texture.

Step 4: Assemble and Top

Carefully and evenly distribute the muffin batter among the 12 prepared muffin cups. Each cup should be about two-thirds full. Generously sprinkle the prepared streusel crumb topping over the surface of each muffin cup. Don’t be shy – the more crumb, the better!

Step 5: Bake to Perfection

Place the muffin tin into your preheated oven. Immediately reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake for approximately 22 minutes, or until the muffins are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. The initial high heat creates a beautiful dome, while the lower temperature ensures an even bake throughout.

Step 6: Cool Before Glazing

Once baked, remove the muffins from the oven and let them cool in the muffin pan for about 10 minutes. This allows them to firm up slightly before you transfer them. After 10 minutes, carefully remove the muffins from the pan and transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling. It’s best to glaze them while they are still slightly warm, but not piping hot.

Step 7: Prepare the Lemon Glaze

In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, melted honey, and fresh lemon juice until the mixture is completely smooth and free of lumps. Adjust the consistency by adding a tiny bit more powdered sugar if it’s too thin, or a few drops more lemon juice if it’s too thick. This vibrant **lemon glaze** is the crowning glory of these **lemon crumb muffins**.

Step 8: Glaze and Serve

Once the muffins have cooled slightly but are still warm, artfully drizzle the prepared lemon glaze over the tops. Allow the glaze a few minutes to set before serving. These **lemon muffins** are best enjoyed fresh, but their flavors also deepen beautifully the next day. They’re a fantastic way to brighten any morning or sweeten any afternoon!

Love This Recipe? Pin It!

Don’t let this recipe for fluffy **lemon crumb muffins** with their irresistible glaze get lost! Save it to your favorite recipe board on Pinterest so you can easily find it whenever a craving for homemade lemon goodness strikes. Happy baking!

More Zesty Lemon Recipes to Enjoy

Once you’ve fallen in love with these delightful **lemon muffins**, you’ll surely want to explore more ways to incorporate the bright and refreshing flavor of lemon into your baking and cooking. Here are some other fantastic lemon-inspired recipes to try:

Lemon Sweet Rolls (pictured above) – Perfect for a special breakfast or brunch, these rolls are soft, sweet, and bursting with citrus.
Blueberry Lemon Pull-Apart Bread – A fun and flavorful bread that’s great for sharing.
Lemon Whippersnappers – A unique and zesty dessert that’s surprisingly easy to make.
Baked Glazed Lemon Donuts – A healthier alternative to fried donuts, with all the delicious lemon flavor.
Lemon Raspberry Bundt Cake – A beautiful and flavorful cake, ideal for entertaining.
Lemon Icebox Pie – A no-bake, refreshing dessert, perfect for warmer weather.
Lemon Blueberry Trifle – Layers of lemony goodness and fresh blueberries create an impressive dessert.
Lemon Blueberry Sweet Rolls – Another fantastic variation of sweet rolls, combining two favorite flavors.

Discover more lemon delights:

Lemon Blueberry Crumb Bars

Creamy Lemon Basil Shrimp Pasta

Lemon Cream Cheese Bundt Cake

More Lemon-Inspired Creations from Our Kitchen & Friends:

Lemon Poppy Seed Sweet Rolls by Fresh April Flours
Grilled Chicken Piccata by Palatable Pastime
Creamy Lemon Smoothie Recipe by Blogghetti
Gluten Free Lemon Bars by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
Lemon Tarragon Salmon by Art Of Natural Living
Meyer Lemon Vanilla Shortbread Cookies by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
Lemon Poppy Seed Thumb Print Cookies by Cheese Curd In Paradise
Lemon Pasta by Devour Dinner
Lemon Blueberry Cookies by Best Cookie Recipes
Lemon Tea Bread by The Freshman Cook
Homemade Lemon Cake by Simply Inspired Meals
Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake by The Fresh Cooky
Lemony Shrimp Pasta by A Day In The Life On The Farm
Rosemary Watermelon Lemonade by The Spiffy Cookie
Lemon Crumb Muffins with Lemon Glaze by An Affair From The Heart (That’s this recipe!)
Lemon Poppy Seed Cake by Kathryn’s Kitchen Blog
Ina Garten’s Lemon Chicken by Jen Around The World
Lemon Ice Cream by Lemon Blossoms
Lemon Sour Cream Pound Cake by Home Cooked Harvest
Grilled Lemon Herb Flatbread by That Recipe
Lemon Meringue Cheesecake by The Redhead Baker
Oven Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken and Gnocchi by Jonesin’ For A Taste
Dragonfruit Lemonade by Magical Ingredients

Ready to fill your home with the delightful scent of baking lemons? Let’s get these tasty **lemon muffins** in the oven!

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Rating: 4.82 from 11 votes

Print Recipe

Lemon Crumb Muffins with Lemon Glaze

Fluffy and moist bakery-style lemon muffins with a wonderful streusel crumb topping, baked golden brown and glazed with a sweet-tart lemon glaze. You will want to make these muffins again and again!

Prep Time
10 mins

Cook Time
22 mins

Additional Time
10 mins

Total Time
42 mins

Course: Rolls-Biscuits-Muffins

Cuisine: American

Keyword: bakery style muffins, best muffins, fresh lemon, lemon crumb, lemon glaze, lemon muffins, sour cream muffins, streusel

Servings: 1 dozen

Calories: 371 kcal

Author: Michaela Kenkel

Equipment

Whisks for Cooking, 3 Pack Stainless Steel Whisk
Rubber Spatulas
KitchenAid Hand Mixer
Wilton Perfect Results Premium Non-Stick Bakeware Muffin Pan & Cupcake Pan, 12-Cup, Steel
Eoonfirst Standard Size Baking Cups Food-Grade Greaseproof Paper Cupcake Liners 200 Pcs (Natural)

Ingredients

For the Muffins:
2 cups all-purpose flour
5 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup sour cream
2 large eggs
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon zest
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
For the Crumb Topping:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup melted unsalted butter
1/8 teaspoon salt
For the Lemon Glaze:
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1 Tablespoon melted honey
3 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F (220 C). Line 12 muffin tins with cupcake liners or spray generously with non-stick cooking spray.
To prepare the muffin batter: In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter until fluffy. Add in sugar and combine thoroughly. Beat in the eggs, vanilla extract, sour cream, fresh lemon zest, and lemon juice until all ingredients are well incorporated. Sift the flour and baking soda into the wet ingredients, then gently stir until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
To prepare the streusel topping: In a separate bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, melted butter, and salt. Mix with a fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs and small clusters.
Evenly distribute the muffin batter into the 12 prepared muffin cups. Generously sprinkle the crumb topping over the surface of each muffin.
Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven. Immediately reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 C). Bake for approximately 22 minutes, or until the muffins are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool further.
To prepare the lemon glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, melted honey, and fresh lemon juice until smooth.
Once the muffins are slightly warm (not hot), drizzle the lemon glaze generously over the tops of each muffin. Let the glaze set for a few minutes before serving.

Notes

These **lemon crumb muffins** have a subtle yet delicious lemon flavor. If you prefer a more intense lemony taste, you can add an additional 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of lemon zest to the muffin batter.

Nutrition