Meyer Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

These Meyer Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins are like little bursts of sunshine on a cloudy day. They’re packed full of bright lemon flavour with a secret ingredient that keeps them moist all day long.

Meyer Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

Brighten up your morning with these brilliant citrus poppy seed muffins. They’re the perfect breakfast bite during the winter citrus season. Made with sweet Meyer Lemons and blue poppy seeds, they bake up fluffy and moist. Spread them with a generous portion of Meyer Lemon and Ginger Marmalade and let the sunshine in!

Winter is Citrus Season

While we’re deep in the clutches of Winter’s frosty grip here in Canada, citrus season is in full swing in warmer climates. I always keep the fridge well stocked with Blood Oranges, Cara Cara Oranges, Tangelos, and Bright Navel Oranges. Besides providing much needed vitamin C and warding off scurvy, citrus in winter always makes me smile. 

What is Different About a Meyer Lemon?

These little guys aren’t your typical year round garden variety lemons. They have a slightly rounder shape with a fragrant deep yellow skin that often turns toward orange when mature. Since they are sweeter and less acidic than Eureka or Lisbon Lemons, they make a sweet and decorative topping for these poppy seed muffins.

When is Meyer Lemon Season?

Meyer Lemon season typically runs November through to March though each season may differ slightly. This native Chinese citrus is a hybrid between a citron (lemon with really thick skin) and the mandarin orange.

As citrus is not a common Chinese ingredient, these guochan ningmeng were purely ornamental in nature. The lemons were collected and introduced to the US in 1908; renamed the ‘Meyer’ lemon after the ‘agricultural explorer’ Frank Meyer. The current popularity of Meyer Lemons can be attributed to two culinary icons; Alice Waters and Martha Stewart. 

My Meyer Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin Inspiration

Even though I love baking muffins, I recently noticed that there were very few muffin recipes on the blog. I love any muffin with citrus in it, and Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins are no exception. Orange Poppy Seed Muffins are very popular in other parts of the world, so why not use Meyer Lemons as a citrus substitute? The flavour is quite similar!

How to Make Meyer Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

Let’s be honest, muffins really are cupcakes in denial. Every great ‘cake’ starts with creaming the butter and sugar together until the mixture turns a lighter colour. Then, the rest of the liquid ingredients are gradually mixed in, including the lemon zest and juice. The dairy component is there to add extra moisture to the muffins. Go ahead and use either sour cream or Greek yogurt…or a combination of both! 

Next, sift all the dry ingredients together in a separate large bowl. Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and mix well. The muffin batter will be quite stiff but I assure you, it will bake up nicely. Divide the batter evenly between twelve lined muffin cups and top with a thin slice of Meyer Lemon.

For the muffin toppers, use a sharp knife or mandoline to thinly slice the lemons crosswise then cut the slices in half again. Stop to remove the seeds as you see them or the flesh will tear. 

The Seinfeld Defense: Do Poppy Seeds Contain Opium?

Fans of Seinfeld may remember the episode where Elaine tests positive for opium and is held back from going to Africa for a work trip. While Poppy Seeds themselves do not contain opium, there are rare cases where ingesting the seeds before drug testing can turn out a false positive. The only explanation is that somehow during harvesting, they may become coated by or absorb the opium.

Since it’s really difficult to predict predict if the seeds have been in contact with opium, it’s best to avoid ingesting poppy seeds a few days before any drug testing. Furthermore, ingesting poppy seeds via muffins or bagels will not induce any heightened state of being. 

How Long will Meyer Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins Last?

Muffins are always best when eaten straight out of the oven, however, it’s difficult to eat twelve muffins no matter how delicious they are. Store them at room temperature in an airtight container for up to four days. To freeze, place the muffins in a ziploc bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Then, warm them up in the microwave and enjoy. 

Pin this Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin Recipe for Later

Even More Meyer Lemon Recipes from Dish ‘n’ the Kitchen

• Meyer Lemon Mascarpone Baked Cheesecake with Saskatoon Sauce
• Meyer Lemon Tart
• Creamy Meyer Lemon and Spinach Gemelli