Vegan Blueberry Lemon Muffins

What to expect?

Inspired by the popular Jordan Marsh blueberry muffin recipe, these vegan blueberry lemon muffins combine fresh lemon zest, flour, salt, baking powder, and a vegan buttermilk made with dairy-free milk and apple cider vinegar. Next, a flax seed vegan egg substitute is combined with olive oil before folding in fresh, juicy strawberries. Lastly, the muffins are topped with a mouthwatering lemon glaze.

Unlike some other recipes, this one focuses on flavor and texture versus creating tall, mushroom-top muffins. By following the instructions and measurements as written, you will end up with moist and fluffy cake-like muffins that the whole family will love!

Here is why you will love this recipe:

• It is inspired by one of the best recipes – This recipe is a vegan version of the famous melt-in-your-mouth blueberry muffins by Jordan Marsh.
• It is easy to make – You do not need much time or special equipment. All you need is one bowl, 10 minutes of prep time, and 30 minutes of baking time.
• It is versatile – You can easily customize these vegan lemon blueberry muffins with different flavors, fillings, and toppings. Check the variations section for more ideas.
• It is the most delicious – Prior to making this recipe, I conducted a lot of research to learn what people like and do not like when it comes to muffins. These are the freshest, most flavorful, and most tender vegan muffins you will ever try!

Ingredients

• Dairy-free butter – The butter needs to be at room temperature before use. Do not use cold butter.
• Cane sugar – Other dry sugars such as coconut, brown, or white sugar are also acceptable. 
• Flax egg – The combination of finely milled ground flax seeds and water is an easy vegan egg substitute to bind the ingredients together. Do not use ground flax flakes.
• Olive oil – You can also use other neutral oils such as sunflower oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil.
• All-purpose flour – You can also use whole wheat flour. For gluten-free muffins, you can use any gluten-free flour blend.
• Baking powder
• Lemon zest (grated) – You can also use lemon juice, although the muffins will be less flavorful.
• Blueberries – Use freshly washed blueberries.
• Apple cider vinegar – Combining the apple cider vinegar and the baking powder creates a foam that leavens the batter.
• Dairy-free milk – I use oat milk for this recipe, but any non-dairy milk, such as cashew milk, rice milk, soy milk, or almond milk, will do! Like the butter, the milk needs to be at room temperature.
• Lemon juice + powdered sugar (optional, for the final glaze)

🛒 You can find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Instructions

Making vegan blueberry lemon muffins

1. Preheat the oven to 350 °F/180 °C and position an oven rack in the center. In the meantime, line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. Spray the muffin pan and liners, if desired.
2. Mix the dry ingredients (lemon zest, flour, salt, and baking powder) in a small bowl (use a large bowl if making a larger quantity).
3. Add the apple cider vinegar to the room-temperature milk to create your vegan “buttermilk.”
4. Add the soft room-temperature vegan butter and cane sugar.

5. With an electric mixer, whisk the soft room-temperature vegan butter and cane sugar for only two minutes. The sugar will not melt during this step.

6. Add in the ground flax egg and olive oil, then mix well.

7. Add half of the dry ingredient mixture and mix well using a spatula or spoon.

8. Add half of the vegan buttermilk and mix again.

9. Then, stir in the second half of the dry and wet ingredients and mix well again. Stop mixing when the batter reaches a soft, fluffy, and pillowy texture. Do not overmix.

10. With the help of a spatula, gently fold in the washed blueberries.

11. Use an ice cream scooper or two spoons to distribute the batter evenly in the muffin pan. It will be full.

12. Place the muffin pan in the oven and bake for approximately 30 minutes until lightly golden. They are done when you can stick a toothpick in the center, and it comes out clean.
13. Let the muffins remain in the pan and cool for 5-10 minutes. They will be very soft and moist, especially while hot. Once cooled, lightly run a knife around the muffin (if necessary) before removing them from the muffin tin.
14. If desired, mix one tablespoon of lemon juice with ½ cup of powdered sugar to create a lemon glaze, then lightly glaze the top of each muffin. The glaze is a must-have for the most delicious blueberry lemon muffins!

Cooking tips

• For the most flavorful muffins, use lemon zest instead of lemon juice.
• Stick with the ingredients and quantities in the recipe for the softest, moistest muffin texture.
• If you do not have access to finely milled ground flax seeds, you can take whole flax seeds and grind them in a coffee grinder. The finer the seeds, the easier they are to absorb and bind.
• You can mix the flour and milk with the batter using either an electric mixer or a spatula. However, mix quickly to avoid overmixing, resulting in dry, dense muffins.
• Do not bake longer than 30 minutes, as it will dry out the muffins. In an oven similar to mine, 35 minutes is too long.

Variations

• With different fruit – Swap out the blueberries for other berries such as raspberries, strawberries, or cranberries. See my vegan orange cranberry muffins recipe for more inspiration. Mashed bananas also make wonderful muffins!
• Without lemon zest – Prefer to skip the citrus? Eliminate the lemon zest as I do in my vegan blueberry muffins recipe.
• With chocolate chips – Replace the blueberries with chocolate chips as I do in my vegan chocolate chip muffin recipe.
• With nuts – Add some texture to the muffins by adding crushed nuts.
• With spices – Enhance the flavor with a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg.
• With vanilla extract – Add a few drops of pure vanilla extract for a different flavor profile.
• With different toppings – Skip the lemon glaze and top with powdered sugar or crushed nuts instead.

Equipment

• Scale – A scale is critical for accurately measuring ingredients and creating the most delicious results. 
• Electric hand mixer – An electric mixer is helpful when creaming the butter.
• Rubber spatula – A rubber spatula comes in handy when mixing the ingredients. It will also ensure you scrape all the batter from the bowl without leaving a drop behind!
• Muffin tray  – I recommend using a muffin pan with 12 cavities of 3-in dia. x 1 in. (7.6 cm dia x 2.5 cm)
• Paper muffin liners – I use paper liners in all my recipes; however, using them is optional.
• Ice cream scooper – You can also use two spoons if you do not have an ice cream scoop.

Storing tips

Like all freshly-baked muffins, vegan blueberry lemon muffins are best the same day you make them. However, in case you have leftovers or need to make them in advance, here is the best way to store them:

Room temperature – Store the muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. 

In the refrigerator – Once cooled, store the muffins in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.

In the freezer – Once cooled, place the muffins in zippered plastic bags or an airtight container and store them in the freezer for up to three months. 

Defrosting and reheating – To defrost, thaw at room temperature before eating. To serve warm, wrap in foil and place in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes. Or, place the muffin on a microwave-safe paper towel or plate and microwave on high for approximately 30 seconds.

FAQs

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