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Sourdough Lemon Muffins

Published: Jun 25, 2024 by Audrey · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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These quick and easy sourdough lemon muffins are going to be your new summertime obsession! Made using simple ingredients, these muffins can be made any day of the week and can be enjoyed any time of the day! I love to have these as a fun, sweet breakfast or midday snack. Add some streusel on top and you have yourself a delicious summertime dessert too!

Picture of sourdough lemon muffins.

Lemon muffins are undoubtedly a springtime and summertime treat, but if you are a lemon lover like myself, you can enjoy these year-round.

This recipe was inspired by my lemon curd muffins recipe. I love those muffins so much, but wanted something easier to make that can also use up 100g of sourdough discard. Win's all around!

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Substitutions
  • Variations
  • Equipment
  • Storage
  • Top tip
  • FAQ
  • Related

Ingredients

This lemon muffin recipe uses very simple ingredients that you might already have on hand! I love how quick and easy it is to whip this up even with a crazy toddler running around at my feet. Note: not everyone has milk powder on hand and that's okay! It is a nice to have ingredient, not a need to have one! Feel free to leave it out if you don't have it.

Picture of sourdough lemon muffin ingredients.
  • All-purpose flour
  • Baking powder
  • Baking soda
  • Milk powder (optional)
  • Salt
  • Sugar
  • Vanilla extract
  • Lemons
  • Milk
  • Vegetable oil
  • Eggs
  • Sourdough discard

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Sourdough lemon muffins step 1: mix the wet ingredients.
  1. Step 1: Mix wet ingredients in a mixing bowl. (Sugar, Vanilla extract, Lemon Zest, Lemon Juice, Milk, Vegetable oil, Eggs, Sourdough discard)
Sourdough lemon muffins step 2: mix the dry ingredients and add them to the wet ingredients.
  1. Step 2: Add the dry ingredients and mix until combined. (All-purpose flour, Baking powder, Baking soda, Milk powder, Salt)
Sourdough lemon muffins step 3: add the batter to a muffin pan and bake.
  1. Step 3: Divide the batter through a 12-muffin pan. Bake at 425F for 5 minutes and 350F for 12-15 minutes or until the muffins are domed and slightly firm to the touch. When changing the temperature of the oven, do not open the door.

Hint: if you are wanting to long ferment these muffins to enhance the sourdough flavor and benefits, make sure you add the baking powder and baking soda last (right before baking).

Substitutions

  • Milk: Use high-fat non-dairy milk if you don't want to use dairy! I highly recommend  Oatly oat milk (full-fat or regular would be ideal).

Variations

Want to change the recipe up a bit and make it your own? Try these ideas!

  • Citrus - Try using orange zest or even a combination of lemon and orange zest here!
  • Add Berries - add 1 cup of fresh berries of choice. Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, or strawberries would be great in this recipe! (toss them in flour before stirring them into the batter to prevent sinking)
  • Sweet Topping - top with a sweet streusel like the one used in my lemon curd muffin recipe. Mix ½ a cup of sugar, ½ a cup of flour, and 4 tablespoons of melted butter and add to the top of the batter before baking.

Equipment

  • Large mixing bowl
  • Medium mixing bowl
  • A whisk
  • A spatula
  • A 3-tablespoon cookie scoop
  • A 12-muffin pan
  • Muffin liners (optional)

Storage

Store at room temperature in an airtight container or bag for 5-7 days. Can be frozen for up to 6 months.

Top tip

Take the muffins out of the oven when they look just done (no wet batter on top) the idea here is to catch them when they are just fully baked but before they are overbaked. If you take them out before the tops are set, however, they could potentially sink while cooling.

FAQ

Why do you bake the muffins with two temperatures?

This is an age-old trick to help create tall, round muffins like the kind you get at the bakery. You can bake them for 15-20 minutes at 350F if you would rather keep it simple.

Can I use active starter instead of discard?

Of course! Just be sure to weigh it out (100g) rather than using a measuring cup since active starter has lots of bubbles and takes up more space than discard. Weighing it helps keep the results consistent.

Can I make dairy-free sourdough lemon muffins?

Yes! Check out my "substitutions" section above for my recommended non-dairy ingredients.

Related

Looking for other sweet recipes like this? Try these:

  • Overhead picture of banana cinnamon rolls with vanilla cream cheese frosting and cinnamon streusel.
    Banana Cinnamon Rolls
  • Overhead picture of lemon blackberry cake with one slice removed, topped with lemon zest and fresh blackberries.
    Lemon Blackberry Cake
  • Picture of Sourdough Chocolate Sheet Cake with Brown Butter Frosting topped with sprinkles.
    Sourdough Chocolate Sheet Cake with Brown Butter Buttercream
  • Picture of brown butter chocolate chipless cookies.
    Brown Butter Chocolate Chipless Cookies

Sourdough Discard Lemon Muffins

Audrey
These quick and easy sourdough lemon muffins are going to be your new summertime obsession! Made using simple ingredients, these muffins can be made any day of the week and can be enjoyed any time of the day.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 35 minutes mins
Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 12 Muffins

Equipment

  • Large mixing bowl
  • Medium mixing bowl
  • A whisk
  • A spatula
  • A 3-tablespoon cookie scoop
  • A 12-muffin pan
  • Muffin liners (optional)

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour 240g
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons milk powder optional
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar 150g
  • 2 Tablespoons lemon zest roughly 2 lemons or one large lemon
  • ⅓ cup sourdough discard 100g
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • ½ cup Vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 4 Tablespoons milk 60ml
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice 30ml

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 425F. Zest two regular-sized lemons (or one large lemon) and set aside. Prepare a 12-muffin pan with muffin liners if desired. If you do not have muffin liners, be sure to grease the pan before adding the batter.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together your sugar, vanilla extract, lemon zest, lemon juice, milk, vegetable oil, eggs, and sourdough discard.
  • In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, milk powder (optional) and salt.
  • Add the dry ingredients to the large mixing bowl containing the wet ingredients. Whisk until combined.
  • Using a 3-tablespoon cookie scoop, divide the muffin batter through the prepared 12-muffin pan. Bake at 425F for 5 minutes and 350F for 12-15 minutes or until the muffins are domed and slightly firm to the touch. When changing the temperature of the oven, do not open the door.
  • Allow to cool in pan for 5 minutes before moving to a cooling rack. I prefer to let my muffins cool completely before enjoying them!

Notes

Tip: if you want to long-ferment these muffins to enhance the sourdough flavor and benefits, make sure you add the baking powder and baking soda last (right before baking).
Tip: Take the muffins out of the oven when they look just done (no wet batter on top) the idea here is to catch them when they are just fully baked but before they are overbaked. If you take them out before the tops are set, however, they could potentially sink while cooling.
Tip: For the best and most consistent results, use a kitchen scale to weigh your ingredients.
Keyword muffins

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    Sourdough Discard Pretzel Bites
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    Bakery Style Banana Blackberry Muffins
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Picture of Kneaded That Author Audrey Hawkins Grubb.

Hi, I'm Audrey! I’m a self-taught baker, mama of two boys, and artist at heart. I started baking during the 2020 pandemic and fell in love with creating sourdough discard recipes, breads, cookies, and cakes. This blog grew from quiet moments in the kitchen during my husband’s deployment—and now it’s where I share the joy (and mess) of baking with others. So glad you’re here!

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