Lemon Orange Honey Muffins (Printable)
Citrusy honey-sweetened muffins topped with fragrant thyme crumble for breakfast or snacking.
# What You'll Need:
→ Muffin Batter
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/2 cup honey
06 - 1/3 cup vegetable oil
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 1/2 cup plain yogurt
09 - 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
10 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
11 - Zest of 1 orange
12 - Zest of 1 lemon
13 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Thyme Crumble Topping
14 - 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
15 - 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
16 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes
17 - 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
18 - Pinch of salt
# Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a standard 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners or lightly grease each cup.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly distributed.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk the honey, vegetable oil, eggs, plain yogurt, freshly squeezed orange juice, lemon juice, orange zest, lemon zest, and vanilla extract until smooth and well incorporated.
04 - Gradually fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients using a spatula, mixing only until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the muffins tender.
05 - Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full.
06 - In a small bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, thyme leaves, and a pinch of salt. Add the cold cubed butter and use your fingertips or a fork to cut it in until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
07 - Sprinkle the thyme crumble evenly over the surface of each filled muffin cup.
08 - Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean and the tops are golden.
09 - Let the muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The thyme crumble is unexpected and makes people close their eyes when they take their first bite.
- Honey keeps these muffins tender for days without drying out like sugar sweetened versions tend to do.
02 -
- Overmixing the batter by even thirty extra seconds turns these tender muffins dense and chewy, so stop folding the moment the flour disappears.
- If your crumble melts into the batter during baking, your butter was too warm, so next time chill it in the freezer for ten minutes before rubbing it in.
03 -
- Strip thyme leaves by pinching the stem at the top and pulling downward so only the tender leaves come free.
- A splash of orange blossom water added to the wet ingredients transforms these from lovely to unforgettable without any extra effort.