Description
These Lemon Curd Muffins are a delightful blend of tangy lemon curd and moist, tender muffin batter, topped with a crunchy streusel crumb and finished with a sweet glaze. Perfect for breakfast or a zesty snack, these muffins combine homemade lemon curd with a soft crumb and a buttery topping for an irresistible treat.
Ingredients
Scale
For Lemon Curd:
- 3 egg yolks
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 6 tablespoons sugar
- 1/4 cup butter (cold and cut in pieces)
For Streusel Crumb Topping:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
For Lemon Muffins:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2/3 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Grated zest from 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
For Glaze:
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1–2 tablespoons milk or cream
Instructions
- Make Lemon Curd: Begin by preparing the lemon curd to allow ample time for it to cool and set properly. Use a double boiler to cook the curd, which prevents scorching and ensures gentle heat distribution.
- Whisk Ingredients: In the top pot of the double boiler, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice continuously to combine the ingredients smoothly.
- Cook Until Thickened: Stir the mixture continuously for about 10 minutes until it thickens to a custard-like consistency, then remove it from the heat.
- Add Butter: Stir in the cold butter pieces and whisk until completely melted and incorporated, giving the curd a rich texture.
- Cool Lemon Curd: Transfer the lemon curd into a jar or bowl and cover with plastic wrap pressed directly onto the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Set aside to cool completely.
- Prepare Muffin Tin: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners for easy removal and cleanup.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, mixing well to distribute the leavening agents evenly.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Beat the softened butter until smooth and creamy, then add the sugar and cream together until light and fluffy to provide structure and sweetness to the muffins.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Incorporate the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract, lemon zest, and Greek yogurt. Mix just until combined to maintain a tender crumb.
- Add Lemon Juice: Stir in the fresh lemon juice gently to infuse the batter with bright citrus flavor.
- Combine Dry and Wet Mixtures: Gradually fold the flour mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing just until incorporated to avoid overworking the batter.
- Fill Muffin Cups: Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each about halfway to leave room for the lemon curd filling.
- Add Lemon Curd Filling: Place a tablespoon of the cooled lemon curd into the center of each muffin cup over the batter, then cover with additional batter to fill the cups nearly to the top.
- Apply Streusel Topping: Sprinkle the streusel crumb topping evenly over each muffin and gently press it down to help it adhere during baking.
- Bake Muffins: Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 25 minutes, or until the muffins are golden brown and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
- Prepare Glaze: While the muffins bake, mix powdered sugar with 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk or cream until smooth and slightly runny for drizzling.
- Glaze Muffins: Once baked and cooled slightly, drizzle the glaze over the muffins to add sweetness and a glossy finish before serving.
Notes
- Make the lemon curd ahead of time to allow it to cool completely, which helps it set properly inside the muffins.
- If you don’t have a double boiler, create one by placing a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water, ensuring the bowl does not touch the water.
- You can substitute Greek yogurt with sour cream or buttermilk for a similar tangy effect.
- The glaze can be adjusted in thickness by adding more or less milk or cream depending on your preference.
- Store leftover muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
