Lemon Streusel Muffins Recipe & Video
By Lisa Maliga, copyright 2025
Whether you like muffins for breakfast, as a snack or dessert, zesty lemon streusel muffins are quick and easy to make. These muffins also contain white chia seeds, which are tan to light brown in color. They don’t show up in the baked muffins. They’re lighter than the familiar black chia seeds as they’re immature. There is no difference in taste or texture. I’d run out of the standard black chia seeds, so I used what was in my cupboard.
The streusel is made first. It’s a crumb topping that adds texture and flavor to your zesty muffins. By adding melted butter, you spend less time mixing it.
Lemon Streusel Muffins
STREUSEL TOPPING
Ingredients:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour https://amzn.to/3ClXccQ
1/4 cup light brown sugar https://amzn.to/4awB2kG
1/4 cup granulated sugar https://amzn.to/4joQH9X
Dash of salt https://amzn.to/3Cpg3Uf
3 Tablespoons [1.5 ounces] unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
Instructions:
In a medium-sized bowl, use a pastry cutter or fork to mix the flour, sugar and salt.
Pour melted butter and mix ingredients together until clumpy and the butter is completely absorbed. The topping will resemble lumpy wet sand.
LEMON MUFFINS
Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour https://amzn.to/3ClXccQ
3/4 cup cake flour https://amzn.to/40y3aiN
3/4 cup granulated sugar https://amzn.to/4joQH9X
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder https://amzn.to/4gjHOvo
1/2 teaspoon salt https://amzn.to/3Cpg3Uf
1 large egg
3/4 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup olive oil https://amzn.to/4hmiqGc
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 Tablespoon lemon zest
2-3 Tablespoons chia seeds, white: https://amzn.to/4h9CVGy black: https://amzn.to/4h8gly9
Oven temperature: 375 Fahrenheit/190 Celsius. Bake time: 20 minutes
Yield: 12 muffins
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375 Fahrenheit/190 Celsius. Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
In a medium bowl, mix the egg and add ricotta, water, olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice. Blend together.
Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour wet ingredients into the middle then mix with a silicone or rubber spatula. When half-mixed, add chia seeds, gently folding into batter.
Scoop batter into the muffin pan’s liners. Each should be 3/4 full.
Top each muffin with streusel topping.
Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Cool on cooling rack.
Lemon streusel muffins taste best when heated. Store in an airtight container for up 5 days.