Best-Ever Blueberry Muffins
Guess what? This week marks my one-year anniversary of blogging. It’s pretty hard to believe it’s been just a year, because so much has happened in 365 days.
I’m crazy busy all the time between this blog, freelance works and lots of other random projects, and I wouldn’t have it any other way, because you know – loving what you do and all that.
I won’t get all gushy about how much I would love to high-five each and every person reading this if I could, because I wrote you a little love letter HERE just a few weeks ago.
If you’re new around here, I named this blog Foxes Love Lemons as an ode to my maiden name (Fox) + my favorite ingredient. Many people stumbling over here probably expect to see lemon desserts every day, but I guess that’s not what this blog has turned out to be.
I’ve always been more of a savory cook, and my love for lemons is really more about how great they are as a flavor enhancer to other foods (thus, why I ALWAYS have a big bowl of them in my fridge).
The greatest use of lemons as a recipe enhancer? It has to be in blueberry muffins. The first time I added lemon zest to muffin batter (after hearing a tip somewhere), it was genuinely life changing.
The lemon zest made the blueberries taste more like blueberry! It was almost like a magic trick.
I call these the Best-Ever Blueberry Muffins because I have been honing and tweaking this recipe for years, and I think it’s pretty close to perfect.
The two key factors are the generous amount of lemon zest in the batter, as well as the coarse sanding sugar sprinkled on top. This gives the muffins a crunchy, sweet muffin top that’s impossible to resist. Oh, and it looks sparkly too.
Best-Ever Blueberry Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 6 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons room temperature unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup full fat sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
- 1 tablespoon coarse sanding sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- In standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream granulated sugar, butter and lemon zest 2 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add egg, sour cream and vanilla and beat until well combined.
- Add flour mixture and mix on low until just combined. Gently fold in blueberries.
- Line 6 muffin cups with paper liners. Divide batter evenly between muffin cups and sprinkle tops with sanding sugar. Bake 20 to 24 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of muffins comes out clean. Cool muffins in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Remove muffins from pan and transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
lemon bars
Strawberry lemonade!
My lemon blueberry pound cake
alyce poalillo
I love to make lemonade.
I like to make lemon chicken for my family.
kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom
My favorite thing to make with lemons is a lemon sauce for my seafood.
I love to make moist, tart lemon pound cake….yummy! 🙂 Thank you
lemonade
Lemon Poppyseed cakes
Lemon ricotta pancakes
Lemon meringue pie is my favorite, though I enjoy lemons in just about any format.
I like to make Lemon Crinkle cookies, so good!
I like making a Lemon Pound Cake.
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{in the contest I am Margot Core on the Rafflecopter}
lemonade
I enjoy your blog so much, I’ve been spreading the word!
I like to make lots of things with lemons: pie, cake, sangria, lemonade. And they are the perfect accent note to any kind of berry!
Someone once changed my life by having me add lemon zest to blueberry muffins!
Happy blogiversary!
lemoncello
Oh I haven’t made blueberry muffins for ages, I will have to make some for the kids lunches. This is a bit of a secret but in the spirit of winning a fantastic prize I will share. “Sticky Date Pudding” you NEED lemon zest in sticky date pudding for it to truly shine 🙂
I make Face Wash with lemon juice.
Ohhhh I’ve been looking for a blueberry muffin recipe — thanks for sharing yours! I love adding lemons to my ice water (cheesy?!) and using fresh lemon juice in marinades. YUM!!!!
Happy one year blogiversary, Lori! Wow, you’ve only been doing this for 1 year? You’re a total pro! I love this blog – your writing is hilarious, photos are gorgeous, the recipes are delicious, and I’ve learned so much from you (especially through your “What I learned in culinary school” series). Here’s to many many more years of Foxes Love Lemons. I’m always searching for the best blueberry muffin recipe so I can’t wait to try this. They look fabulous in their adorable muffin liners.
My favorite thing to make with lemons is to use the Frozen Citrus trick!
Thanks so much, Nancy! I did work at a food magazine publishing company for a few years before I started this blog, so I sort of had a tiny head start 😉 Those muffin cup liners came from this great cake decorating shop near me. I went in for one tiny thing and ended up with a whole basket full of random stuff.
A spritz over roasted veggies sends them over the top!
its a tie between lemon bars and lemon pie.
Lemonade.
I love sour cream lemon pie.
Happy blogiversary Lori!! That’s so exciting! Keep it up! (Oh and PS there is nothing better-nothing-than a lemon blueberry muffin.)
I make tahina sauce with lemons at least once a week. Tahina, lemon juice, water, pinch of salt, bit of garlic, stir until smooth. We think the sauce makes (nearly) everything taste better!
Homemade Fish Tacos with Lemon and Spicy Coleslaw!
Lemon Meringue Pie!! [email protected]
Lemon Bars
I like making lemon curd.
lemon squares!
cocktails!
I love to make a simple bundt cake with a lemon cake mix, and squeeze the juice of a whole lemon into the mixture. These muffins look SO GOOD!!
I love making lemon bars-they are so good!
I like lemon meringue pie.
Lemon cake! 🙂
1) I have eaten this blueberry recipe probably 20-30 times as it was perfected. You are right in this being the best. 2) My favorite part about the post was the one with the adorable candle in it. 3) Congratulations, honey, on your Blog Anniversary! I am so proud of you.
lemonade is my favorite thing to make with lemons! but i also love lemon scones
I love lemonade
lemon curd
I love a Lemon Drop Martini 🙂 PS – Happy Anniversary – mine is tomorrow and I hope will you stop by – I’m giving away something you might like but it isn’t lemons 🙂
lemon pound cake
I love my lemon tree! I love to make lemon curd, lemon bars, lemon merengue pie….
I like to make lemon squares.
I love making lemon bars and incorporating it into pasta dishes 🙂
My husband and family and I make limoncello.
I love to make lemon rosemary shortbread cookies.
Homemade fresh squeezed lemonade.
Thanks for the chance.
[email protected]
My favorite thing to make with lemons is hollandaise sauce. Yum!
lemon squares
Lemon bars
I have a recipe for Lemon Raspberry Muffins that is awesome!
I love making lemon spaghetti
Happy anniversary my friend! I hope your success will continue for many many more years!
Cheers to your wonderful blog!
Ice
Thanks so much, Ice!
lemon poppyseed muffins
Lemon cake. Soooo good!
I like making lemon sorbet
Lemon bars!
My favorite thing to make with lemons is lemon meringue pie!
Lemonade 🙂
a french 75. i suppose you mean baking… 😉 xdanimarie(at)yahoo(dot)com
My favorite thing to make with lemons is lemon chess squares. Thanks!
I know it’s simple but fresh lemon aid is my favorite!
Lemon Curd
I love to make Lemonade Bars. They taste like SUMMER!
My favorite thing to make is lemon pound cake.
I like to make lemon bars.
Lemonade! yummmmm
I love lemon bars, homemade lemon curd and so many more. Lemon is one of my all time favorite flavors 🙂
Like you, I use lemons daily. My favorite thing to make with lemons is cashew salad dressing.
I love to make a lemon bread loaf.
I like making lemon chicken and fresh lemonade during the summer!
Lemon bars, lemon meringue pie and lemon poppy seed muffins Rosanne
Lemon bars of course! And this is kinda funny, but I love using a little lemon on my skin! I just slice it, rub it on my face, leave it on for a few minutes, then rinse it off. It brightens and smooths and exfoliates…and it smells great!
Cori Westphal
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Happy Anniversary, Lori! My answer would be my Blueberry Scones with Lemon Drizzle Glaze. 🙂
I like lemon pudding.
myfoxypup(at)gmail(dot)com
I love to make lemon merainge pie
I like fresh lemonade.
I like a lemon-pepper fish.
My favorite thing to make is old fashion lemonade.
I love lemon bars I cant get enough of them.
Lemon chicken and lemon meringue pie
I’ve also made lemon blueberry muffins. . which rock the house. . so the muffins (or even a blueberry/lemon loaf) might be my fave but also hello?! lemonade!
lemonade, or lemon pound cake 🙂
Lemon meringue!
I add a little lemon to almost everything from Waffles with Georgia Pecans to brighten the flavor to old standbys such as dressings or sauces for my fish.
yummy lemon shakeups
Definitely lemon meringue pie!
Like to make lemon cupcakes!
Lemon poppyseed muffins.
I make lemon chia seed muffins that are sugar free and use almond and coconut flour, we love them!
I like making raspberry lemonade!
i like lemon pound cake
My favorite thing is lemon cream frosting that I use on carrot cake.
My favorite thing to make with lemons is Simi, which is a lemon mead.
i would make a lemon cake
Strawberry lemonade 🙂
I make Lemon Drop, an alcoholic beverage 🙂
Lemon Meringue Pie.
Lemon Bundt Cake
I love quick breads and muffins, one of my favorites is a lemon raspberry yogurt bread
I LOVE LEMONZ TOOOOOO 🙂
I will have to say Marcella Hazan’s roasted chicken with two lemons.
BTW, the blueberry muffins look awesome!
my favorite thing to make with lemons is lemon cake. i am tony l smoaks on rafflecopter.
fresh lemonade
lemonade
Fresh fish with lemon & lemon zest.
Thanks for the contest.
slehan at juno dot com
Lemon Squares.
Lemonade!!!^_^
Lemon pie is my favorite thing to make
I love making lemon blueberry bread and lemon bars!
My favorite things to make with Lemons is Lemon Ice Tea
[email protected]
I love to make lemon bars.
Lemon meringue pie
I love making a lemon meringue pie
Thanks for the giveaway… we make lemon pound cake !
Good old home made lemon juice!!
yummy