Bright, tangy, and speckled with poppy seeds, these muffins are bakery fancy.

This shortcut recipe uses a lemon cake mix, vanilla pudding, and a scoop of poppy seeds to bake up light, lemony, and fluffy muffins topped with citrusy glaze!

plated Lemon Poppyseed Muffins with glaze

Lemon Poppyseed Muffins are the Perfect Treat Because…

  • Moist and tender lemon poppyseed muffins are a sweet way to start (or end!) the day.
  • Simple ingredients and three easy steps are all it takes for lemon poppy seed muffins.
  • This is a great easy recipe for the littlest bakers to help out with.
  • Make ‘em mini, regular, or jumbo-sized for breakfast, brunch, or a lovely hostess gift.
Ingredients to make Lemon Poppyseed Muffins labeled: vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla pudding mix, poppyseeds, lemon cake mix, lemon, and hot water

Ingredients and Variations

Cake Mix: Any store-brand cake mix works in this recipe. Add a dash of lemon extract in Step 2 for a citrusy boost.

Pudding: Pudding makes these muffins extra moist and tender. Use vanilla or lemon if desired. Switch out the pudding for Greek yogurt for fewer calories (and even more tangy flavor).

Glaze: Lemon zest punches up the flavor on the icing and adds Insta-worthy visual appeal.

Variations

  • Swap out the poppy seeds for chia seeds for a pop of protein!
  • Top muffins with the lemon glaze and a few crunchy sliced almonds.
  • Add fresh blueberries or chopped strawberries.

How to Make Lemon Poppyseed Muffins

  1. Preheat oven and prepare muffin tins.
  2. Blend muffin ingredients in a bowl until well combined.
  3. Divide batter into prepared muffin tins and bake (full recipe below).
  4. Whisk lemon juice and powdered sugar in a small bowl.
  5. Drizzle over cooled muffins.

For Mini Muffins:

  1. Divide batter evenly in prepared mini muffin tins.
  2. Bake 11-13 minutes.
Two Lemon poppyseed muffins stacked on a plate

Keeping Muffins Fresh

Store lemon poppyseed muffins in a covered container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Freeze in zippered bags for up to 2 weeks.

Easy Muffin Recipes

Did you try this Lemon Poppyseed Muffin recipe? Leave a comment and rating below!

plated Lemon Poppyseed Muffins with glaze
5 from 3 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
Or to leave a comment, click here!

Lemon Poppyseed Muffins

Make these fuss free, lemon poppyseed muffins for the best breakfast or dessert treat!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 12 Muffins
Author Kathleen

Ingredients  

  • 1 box lemon cake mix 13.25 ounce box
  • 1 box vanilla pudding mix 3.4 ounce (or lemon flavor)
  • 1 cup hot water
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
  • 1 large lemon zested and juiced, divided
  • 1 cup powdered sugar for glaze (optional)

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350℉. Grease 18 muffin wells or line with paper liners.
  • In a large mixing bowl combine lemon cake mix, vanilla pudding mix, hot water, oil, eggs, poppy seeds, and zest from 1 lemon. Blend on high speed for 2 minutes or until well combined.
  • Divide batter into prepared muffin tins, filling wells ⅔ full. Bake 17-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • For the glaze (if using) whisk 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice with powdered sugar in a small bowl. Slowly add just enough lemon juice to thin the glaze to a thick, but pourable consistency. Drizzle over muffin tops.

Notes

Store lemon poppyseed muffins in a covered container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Freeze in zippered bags for up to 2 weeks.
5 from 3 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
Or to leave a comment, click here!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 294kcal

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Breakfast
Cuisine American

REPIN this Lemon Poppyseed Muffin recipe!

Lemon Poppyseed Muffins with glaze and a title
Lemon Poppyseed Muffins on a plate with a title
Lemon Poppyseed Muffins and photo of one on a plate with a title

Categories:

, , ,

Recipes you'll love

About the author

Kathleen is a recipe developer, passionate home cook and the author of the blog Gonna Want Seconds. She has been married to her best friend for 32 years and has two great kids, two Bernese Mountain Dogs, a Quarter Horse and a little green parrot. She is obsessed with cookbooks, cowboy boots, red wine and vintage costume jewelry. Kathleen’s recipes are all tried and true, tested and tweaked and, most importantly, family and friend approved!
See more posts by Kathleen

5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. In the recipe Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins it says to lower the oven temp after baking for 15 minutes. Lower temperature to what? Thanks. Waiting for the answer so I can get baking these muffins.

    Katheryn Kusick