Lemon Orange Honey Muffins (Print Version)
Citrusy honey muffins with a fragrant thyme crumble topping, perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack.
# What You Need:
→ Muffin Batter
01 - 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
02 - 2 tsp baking powder
03 - 1/2 tsp baking soda
04 - 1/2 tsp salt
05 - 1/2 cup (120 ml) honey
06 - 1/3 cup (80 ml) vegetable oil
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 1/2 cup (120 ml) plain yogurt
09 - 1/4 cup (60 ml) freshly squeezed orange juice
10 - 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
11 - Zest of 1 orange
12 - Zest of 1 lemon
13 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
→ Thyme Crumble Topping
14 - 1/3 cup (40 g) all-purpose flour
15 - 3 tbsp granulated sugar
16 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, cold and cubed
17 - 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves (or 1 tsp dried)
18 - Pinch of salt
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). 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, yogurt, 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 until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in tough muffins.
05 - Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full.
06 - In a small bowl, combine the 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 resembles coarse crumbs.
07 - Sprinkle the thyme crumble evenly over the top of each filled muffin cup.
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 - Allow the muffins to 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 is the kind of unexpected touch that makes people ask for the recipe after one bite.
- Honey instead of refined sugar gives these a gentle sweetness that does not overwhelm the citrus.
- They come together in one bowl with zero fancy equipment, which means you can have warm muffins before your coffee finishes brewing.
02 -
- Overmixing the batter is the fastest way to turn these into dense little hockey pucks, so stop folding the instant the flour disappears.
- If your thyme crumble looks too wet and greasy, your butter was too warm, so pop the bowl in the fridge for 5 minutes and try again.
03 -
- Rub the thyme leaves between your palms over the crumble bowl to release their essential oils before mixing everything together.
- The secret to a crackly crumble topping is leaving some butter pieces larger than others, creating a mix of sandy bits and pebbly chunks.