These muffins are tender and moist with rounded tops and a simple vanilla profile that works for breakfast or brunch. Lemon adds flavor and texture. Best with Tahitian vanilla (floral, cherry, anise); any pure vanilla works.
Vanilla Blueberry Lemon Muffins
Ingredients
Validated ingredient scaling range: 6–24 muffins. Cooking time and doneness cues remain authoritative; scale ingredients only within this range.
- 2.0 cups (240.0 g)all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (150.0 g)granulated sugar
- ½ cup (110.0 g)neutral vegetable oil
- 2.0 (100.0 g)large eggs
- ¾ cup (180.0 ml)whole milk
- 2.0 tsp (8.0 g)baking powder
- ½ tsp (3.0 g)fine sea salt
- ½ (2.0 g)VanillaGoods vanilla bean, split and scraped
- 1 ½ cups (220.0 g)fresh blueberries, or frozen blueberries kept frozen
Flavor Accent
- 2.0 tsp (4.0 g)finely grated lemon zest
Make it at home
- Must-have Wilton 12-Cup Muffin Pan Domed tops and easy release, cup after cup. View on Amazon › (opens in a new tab)
- Makes it easier Stainless Cookie Scoop Same-size portions that bake evenly, every time. View on Amazon › (opens in a new tab)
- Worth the upgrade Hamilton Beach 6-Speed Hand Mixer All the whipping and creaming this recipe needs, for under $30. View on Amazon › (opens in a new tab)
As an Amazon Associate, VanillaGoods earns from qualifying purchases. We only suggest tools that fit this recipe.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a standard 12-cup muffin pan.
- Whisk the finely grated lemon zest evenly into the dry ingredients so the lemon is dispersed before the wet and dry mixtures are combined. The accent should be evenly distributed with no visible pockets.
- Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Break up any clumps before you add the wet ingredients.
- Whisk the oil, eggs, milk, and vanilla in a second bowl until fully blended.
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and fold gently just until no dry flour remains. Add the blueberries and fold only 3 to 4 more times, just until distributed. If using frozen berries, add them straight from the freezer without thawing. A few small lumps and, with frozen berries, a few purple streaks are fine; do not keep mixing to make the batter perfectly smooth.
- Divide the batter among the muffin cups, filling each about three-quarters full. Bake for 20 to 24 minutes. The tops should be rounded and lightly golden, and a tester should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Frozen berries may add a few minutes to the bake, so rely on the tester rather than the clock alone.
- Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then move the muffins to a rack.
Tips
- Optional add-in: fold 95 g toasted almonds, pecans or pistachios (cooled and chopped) into the finished dough or batter just until evenly distributed.
- Optional finish, honey glaze (¾ cup confectioners' sugar, 1½ tbsp honey, 1 tbsp whole milk): whisk the confectioners' sugar, honey, and milk until smooth and pourable. Drizzle over the fully cooled muffins.
- Optional add-in, toasted coconut: fold 95 g unsweetened toasted coconut flakes, cooled into the finished dough or batter just until evenly distributed.
- Optional finish, vanilla glaze (1 cup confectioners' sugar, 1½ tbsp whole milk, ½ tsp VanillaGoods vanilla extract): whisk the confectioners' sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Drizzle over the fully cooled muffins.
- Add any glaze or dusting only after the muffins have cooled completely, about 30 minutes.
- No vanilla bean? Use 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste or 1 teaspoon vanilla powder instead. Add it where the recipe adds the seeds; if the bean is steeped in hot milk or cream, stir the swap in after cooking, off the heat.
- Best vanilla for this: Tahitian (floral, cherry, anise), or Madagascar (rich, creamy, classic). Any pure vanilla works.
Recipe FAQ
How long does it take to make vanilla blueberry lemon muffins?
Plan on 15 minutes of prep and 22 minutes of cooking, plus 5 minutes to rest, chill, or cool. It makes 12 muffins.
Can I use a different form of vanilla?
No vanilla bean? Use 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste or 1 teaspoon vanilla powder instead. Add it where the recipe adds the seeds; if the bean is steeped in hot milk or cream, stir the swap in after cooking, off the heat.
Estimated · per serving
Nutrition
Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.
Whole recipe (12 servings): ~2808 cal · 128g fat · 374g carbs · 44g protein · 182g sugar
Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.
Per serving · 234 calories
What it takes to burn one serving
- Brisk walking 44 min·2.6 mi·~5150 steps
- Walking uphill or incline treadmill 32 min·1.6 mi·~3200 steps
- Moderate cycling 24 min·4.8 mi
- Swimming laps 33 min
- Jogging 23 min·1.9 mi·~3700 steps
- Stair climbing 22 min·~2000 steps
- Dancing 38 min
- Bodyweight circuit training 24 min
- Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 54 min
Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.
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