Lemon Cream Flax Muffins.
We’re making muffins today.
Specifically, muffins of the lemon variety.
I know what you’re thinking.
WHY lemon? WHY not chocolate chip or bursting blueberry or cinnamon struesel or more importantly, chocolate chip?
I too, was a lemon hater once, but it turns out that when it’s mixed with lots of sugar? I totally love it.
Who knew?
Lemon and I have got some sort of freaky thing going on at the moment. I’m all about it with that sugar because it just gets so sweet and… and… lemony. First it was cookies, but I’ve since left them in the dust. My reputation is probably not so hot at the moment.
These muffins are the perfect vehicle for transporting delicious holiday breakfasts into your belly. They are slightly sweet, super lemony, dense and fluffy – but still a bit chewy – and even have a twinge of nuttiness happening from the flaxseed. The glaze is so super creamy that is practically melts in your mouth, and I think you might be the most popular kid on the block if you make these for you holiday guests.
And… and as I’ve said before, they are definitely just cupcakes without the hat. For sure.
Many Christmas mornings my mom would make those orange rolls from the can with the glaze and stuff… you know? But I think these may even beat them out. I’ve decided that I’m going eat my weight in lemon cream muffins in two weeks, and if you’d like to join me, I suggest some cake batter cinnamon rolls, cookie dough cinnamon rolls, or cinnamon sugared bacon. That’s what the holidays are all about!
Lemon Cream Flax Muffins
makes 12 muffins
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/3 cup ground flaxseed
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon extract, emulsion or essential oil
6 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
1 cup cream
1/4 cup milk
zest of 3 lemons
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin tin with liners.
In a bowl, combine flour, salt, soda and flaxseed, then mix well to combine. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk sugar and egg until smooth. Add in lemon zest, vanilla and lemon extracts, whisking again until smooth. Add in cream, milk and melted butter, mixing until combined. Add dry ingredients to batter, mixing with a spoon until just combined – do not overmix. The batter will be thick and almost doughy (in the second picture). Using an ice cream scoop or about a 1/3 cup measuring cup, scoop batter into muffin liners.
Bake for 14-17 minutes, or until muffins are set and no longer jiggly in the middle. While muffins are baking, mix glaze, and as soon as they come out of the oven, drizzle glaze over top. These are best served warm, straight from the oven.
Lemon Cream Glaze
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract, emulsion or essential oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-3 tablespoons cream
Combine all ingredients together and mix thoroughly until a runny glaze forms. If too thick, add more cream. If too thin, add more powdered sugar until desired consistency is reached.
All of your holiday people (like, uh… family) are going to love you!
88 Comments on “Lemon Cream Flax Muffins.”
I have a thing with sweet, sugary, lemon too. I can’t help but love it!
You completely won me over with all that glaze dripping down the muffin!
I am certainly not a lemon hater. I LOVE it! These are just for me, right? You’re the best! haha
Yes, yes they are. :)
Oh yum! These look wonderful, it’s kind of nice having something different then sugary cookies! I like lemon muffins and your right lemon and sugar together oh man, match made in heaven!
I saw flax in the title and almost had heart palpitations. I’m liking these healthier recipes right before Christmas!
I’ll take a pint of that glaze for my breakfast tomorrow, thanks.
Lemon haters??!!? I lOVE lemon! When I was younger I would always pick a lemon bar for dessert, they were my absolute favorite!!
That’s impressive. I thought that all kids hated lemon!
My mom used to put flaxseed on salads and pretty much anything else she could “sneak” it into and I HATED it. But I think I might actually like these! They look so sugary and delicious!
my first thought was, how sweet eats is cooking with flax… that’s right up there with the veggies! i love lemon too (when mixed with plenty of sugar). these look gooooood.
Yuuum! You are always making me so hungry in the mornings!
Yuuuum!!!!! I make cream scones with lemon, but actually have never made lemon muffins!
In my mind, you totally made these for me! Perfection! I’ll be right over!
I’m waiting!
I’m not sure why, but the name of these sorta freaked me reading the title of this recipe haha BUT totally redeemed after I read through.. I don’t even like lemon but these sound refreshing! PS. I made a risotto last night that might make you stomach veggies.. it was delish! (At http://onapinktypewriter.com/2011/12/14/risotto-primavera/ if you want to see.)
Holy yum, I freaking love risotto!
I’m loving the abundance of lemons on blogs at the moment, it’s a nice change up from the other heavy holiday foods. Because muffins are obviously not heavy right?
Right!
These muffins look far, far better than the bowl of cheerios I’m currently consuming.
you make the best-looking muffins. i think i died a little when i saw these!
I’m still fixated on the turkey burgers.
I love the word FLAX.
FLAX FLAX FLAX. I feel healthy (and weird) saying it.
Not something I would traditionally lean toward but it’s hitting the right buttons today, might just give it a go since I have everything on hand!
Love the drippy glaze in the photos! Lemon cream cookies are one of my absolute favourites (mainly because of the icing in the middle) and I bet these would be just as good!
I think these look heavenly, Jessica! Question for you- were you able to purchase ground flax seed or did you grind your own? I have two bags of flax seed in my freezer (one light and one darker). Which would you recommend for this recipe? I’m thinking the lighter seeds, but wanted to see what you used because these look perfect!
Yep, I bought mine already ground (Bob’s Red Mill brand) – but truthfully, flaxseed is best for you when it’s freshly ground. I just don’t have a coffee/spice grinder to grind it! When it’s freshly ground, you get all the health benefits. When it’s packaged ground, it’s already started to lose many of them – that’s why it’s suggested to keep it cold, to prevent some loss. So if you want to grind you own – awesome! If you want to use the ones you have, I’d go with the light. :)
Lemony AND healthy.
Deliciousness without the guilt. LOVE it! Anything lemon and I’m there!
I love how you think Lynn!
It’s fine because the flax totally makes them healthy! LOVE lemon baked goods, does that make me weird?
My mom makes orange rolls out of the can EVERY YEAR for Christmas! I may have to help her out this year and make something like, oh i don’t know, this :) They look delicious!
I don’t know… those orange rolls are so good!
I LOVE lemon. Lemon is a fruit. Ergo, these are healthy. :)
Also, lemony things just seem incredibly light and refreshing after consuming vast quanitities of sugary baked goods during the holidays.
You make the prettiest muffins & cupcakes. They are always so beautiful looking!
Love the lemon zest on these. And okay, the icing looks spectacular too!
I have to make these ASAP! I’m obsessed with anything lemon, and desserts are a must. Thanks for sharing, and my Mama still makes the rolls from the can with the orange icing….and they’re still soooooo amazingly good.
Agreed!
Hahaha “These muffins are the perfect vehicle for transporting delicious holiday breakfasts into your belly” <— that is ALL i needed to know! I'm on board :)
These look great. I recently starting making a lemon olive oil cupcake/muffin that I love. Who knew lemon was so good in baked goods?
Love cooking with lemons! They remind me of summertime. The pictures are beautiful too :)
You cook just like me! Whole wheat flour mixed with regular, plus cream! Score!
I adore lemon, and have 547 lemons on my tree right now. Oh, and a stale bag of ground flax seed in the fridge. How long does that stuff last? Anyway, making these tomorrow for the weekend! :)
<3 lemon A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G! Oh and I once heard flax cancels out any cream, butter or sugar! BONUS!
Oh my goodness! I, for one, am totally loving your lemon goodies lately (STILL cannot get those chewy cookies out of my brain — must make ASAP!)
We alwayyyys used to eat cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning. The pillsbury kind of course. Man are those things good, but I’m pretty sure these are better. And I’ll still take the lemon cookie.
MMM, I love lemon muffins! I haven’t had one recently though, I think I was scarred a bit in college when I’d get lemon poppy muffins all the time and then one day, they stopped having lemon. Just poppy. Ugh, bland.
Thanks for the recipe! Can’t wait to try!
I could have lived off of lemon anything when I was pregnant, now I like it but not as much. These do look really good.
I adore all things lemon. I can’t wait to make these! Flax is healthy, right? ;)
My mom makes lemon cookies every year with a lemon glaze that is pretty much the exact same as this one. I’m usually in charge of dipping the cookies in the glaze and then putting the sprinkles on top. I’m pretty sure more glaze goes into my mouth than on the actual cookies. That stuff is no joke!
I loooove lemon. And hello, muffins with glaze? It’s a breakfast cupcake. Yay!!
I have a soft spot for sugary lemon treats! Growing up lemon bars were one of my favorite desserts! Our chef at my sorority made hands down the best lemon bars! I could eat plates full!
I have lemon and I have flax seed. This is happening!
I love that these are healthy because of the flax:) Love me some lemon!
I have never really baked with lemon before. These muffins look amazing though! I am going to have to save this recipe for sure – we love muffins here!
These are gorgeous, Jessica. I love the addition of the flax. That drizzly glaze has me swooning!
I love all things lemon…these look drool worthy!
yay! i love lemon!
Lemon poppy is my absolute favorite flavor of muffin ever, so these are right up my alley.
can you PLEASE write a cook book/book with your rants already???????????
OMG!!! the glaze on these looks amazing! YUM!
There is a shot form of this muffin…i PROMISE! Next time you are at a bar (or feel like making them at home) order a Chocolate Cake Shot. It has vanilla vodka & frangelico in it (equal parts). After you shoot the shot, you suck on an intensley sugared lemon wedge and in your mouth, you will taste chocolate cake :)
Alright. I need that.