Fluffy Blueberry Muffins with Brown Butter and Lemon Zest
These fluffy blueberry muffins are made with brown butter and packed with fresh blueberries and lemon zest. Perfect for breakfast or a snack, they’re an easy and flavorful treat that everyone will love!
If you’re a fan of warm, fluffy blueberry muffins, you’re in for a treat! These blueberry muffins are bursting with juicy blueberries and a hint of lemon zest, topped off with a subtle richness from brown butter. Whether you’re enjoying them for breakfast or as a snack, this recipe is sure to become a household favorite. Plus, I’ll walk you through the process of making brown butter, which adds a nutty, caramelized flavor to these muffins. Let’s dive in!
Why You’ll Love These Blueberry Muffins
These muffins are soft, moist, and loaded with fresh blueberries. The addition of brown butter gives them a warm, toasty flavor that pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the berries. They’re easy to make and even easier to enjoy. Perfect for a quick breakfast or snack, these muffins have a balance of sweet and tart that will leave everyone wanting more!
Ingredients Breakdown:
Unsalted butter: Start by browning the butter for a nutty, rich flavor. Using unsalted butter lets you control the salt level in the muffins.
Light brown sugar & granulated sugar: This combo gives the muffins a nice sweetness and a hint of caramel.
Lemon zest & lemon juice: Adds brightness and complements the tartness of the blueberries.
Eggs: Provide structure and moisture to the muffins.
Vanilla extract: Enhances the flavors and adds warmth.
All-purpose flour: The base of the muffins, giving them structure.
Baking powder & baking soda: Helps the muffins rise and stay light and fluffy.
Salt: Balances out the sweetness.
Sour cream: Keeps the muffins tender and moist.
Fresh blueberries: The star of the show! Use fresh, plump blueberries for bursts of fruity flavor in every bite.
How to Make Brown Butter:
Browning butter is simple and adds a complex, rich flavor to baked goods. Here’s how to do it:
Melt the butter: Place ½ cup of butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
Swirl the pan: As the butter melts, it will begin to foam. Keep swirling the pan to prevent burning.
Watch for browning: After about 5 minutes, the butter will start turning golden brown and you’ll notice a nutty aroma. Once the butter has browned, remove it from heat and let it cool slightly before using in your recipe.
Recipe for Blueberry Muffins
Ingredients:
½ cup unsalted butter, melted and browned
¾ cup light brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon lemon zest
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
¾ cup sour cream, room temperature
1 tsp lemon juice
1 ½ cups fresh blueberries
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a muffin tin with liners.
Brown the butter: Melt and brown the butter as described above. Let it cool slightly.
Mix dry ingredients: In a small bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Coat the blueberries: Toss the blueberries in ¼ cup of the flour mixture to prevent them from sinking.
Combine wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together browned butter, both sugars, and lemon zest. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, whisking until smooth.
Add sour cream and lemon juice: Stir in the sour cream and lemon juice until fully incorporated.
Incorporate dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until combined.
Fold in blueberries: Gently fold in the floured blueberries.
Spoon batter: Fill the muffin cups almost full with the batter.
Bake: Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool: Let the muffins cool on a wire rack before serving.
Tips for Making the Best Blueberry Muffins:
Brown the butter: Browning butter adds depth and a nutty flavor that makes these muffins extra special. I'll explain how to do this step below.
Coat the blueberries in flour: This keeps the blueberries evenly distributed throughout the muffins and prevents them from sinking to the bottom.
Room temperature ingredients: Make sure your eggs and sour cream are at room temperature so they incorporate smoothly into the batter.
Why These Blueberry Muffins are Perfect for You:
These muffins are the perfect blend of sweetness and tang, thanks to the brown butter, fresh blueberries, and a touch of lemon zest. They’re a delicious morning treat that pairs perfectly with your coffee or tea. You’ll love how moist and flavorful they are, with just the right balance of richness and lightness.
Fluffy Blueberry Muffins with Brown Butter and Lemon Zest
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and browned
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup sour cream, room temperature
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 ½ cups fresh blueberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a muffin tin with liners.
- Brown the butter: Melt and brown the butter as described above. Let it cool slightly.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a small bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Coat the blueberries: Toss the blueberries in ¼ cup of the flour mixture to prevent them from sinking.
- Combine wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together browned butter, both sugars, and lemon zest. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, whisking until smooth.
- Add sour cream and lemon juice: Stir in the sour cream and lemon juice until fully incorporated.
- Incorporate dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until combined.
- Fold in blueberries: Gently fold in the floured blueberries.
- Spoon batter: Fill the muffin cups almost full with the batter.
- Bake: Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Let the muffins cool on a wire rack before serving.
Notes
Tips for Making the Best Blueberry Muffins:
- Brown the butter: Browning butter adds depth and a nutty flavor that makes these muffins extra special. I'll explain how to do this step below.
- Coat the blueberries in flour: This keeps the blueberries evenly distributed throughout the muffins and prevents them from sinking to the bottom.
- Room temperature ingredients: Make sure your eggs and sour cream are at room temperature so they incorporate smoothly into the batter.
How to Make Brown Butter:
Browning butter is simple and adds a complex, rich flavor to baked goods. Here’s how to do it:
- Melt the butter: Place ½ cup of butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Swirl the pan: As the butter melts, it will begin to foam. Keep swirling the pan to prevent burning.
- Watch for browning: After about 5 minutes, the butter will start turning golden brown and you’ll notice a nutty aroma. Once the butter has browned, remove it from heat and let it cool slightly before using in your recipe.
Ready to bake these delicious blueberry muffins? Try the recipe and let me know how they turn out in the comments below! Don’t forget to share your muffin pics on social media and tag me.
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