Lemon Orange Honey Muffins (Printable)
Citrusy honey-sweetened muffins topped with fragrant thyme crumble, ideal 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 cubed
17 - 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried)
18 - Pinch of salt
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 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 all-purpose 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 forms coarse, crumbly pieces.
07 - Sprinkle the thyme crumble evenly over the top of each portioned muffin batter.
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 on top turns an ordinary muffin into something guests will ask about every single time.
- Honey instead of refined sugar gives them a gentle sweetness that does not overwhelm the citrus.
02 -
- Overmixing the batter is the fastest way to get tough, dense muffins with tunnels instead of a tender crumb.
- Cold butter in the crumble is non-negotiable, warm butter will make it greasy and flat instead of crumbly and crisp.
03 -
- Zest the citrus directly into the wet bowl so the oils land right where they matter most instead of drying out on a cutting board.
- If your honey has crystallized, warm it gently in the microwave for ten seconds before measuring so it blends smoothly into the batter.