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Lightly sweet with a burst of lemon flavor, these moist and tender Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins are great for breakfast or brunch.
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Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
Happy New Year, friends! ???
Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man person. – Original quote by Benjamin Franklin, adapted by me
There’s a tradition here in the LBGC house that we have no bedtimes on New Year’s Eve. We stay up and watch our favorite movies, and then all of the festivities on tv as the time gets closer to midnight. Often, we indulge in some of our favorite finger foods (this year it was Build Your Own Loaded Nachos!) along with all of the (extra butter) buttered popcorn and movie theater boxes of candy you can imagine. Alcohol isn’t needed (although, I sometimes partake in a drink or two!) – we ring in the new year with food comas.
Morning on new year’s day can be rough. We all still feel hungover, despite no alcohol.
Breakfast usually consists of copious amounts of coffee or hot chocolate along with something small and lighter on the stomach. This year, we’re serving up these Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins with a fruit salad. We hope you’ll enjoy them as much as we do!
How to Make Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins from a cake mix
One of the things I love most about this recipe is how easy it is to make and how quickly it comes together! I mean, there’s barely any measuring and it all mixes in one bowl!
Start by combining a box of lemon cake mix with lemon instant pudding mix, eggs, oil, and poppy seeds. Add in water, mixing well. Fill the muffin cups 2/3-full. Finally, bake for 15-17 minutes or until the tops are light golden brown.
If you like glaze on your muffins, be sure to check out my tip below on how to quickly whip up a sweet, lemony glaze perfect for these Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins!
Can you freeze Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins?
Yes!! You absolutely can! ?
Be sure to cool the muffins completely, after that wrap and freeze them. To freeze, wrap securely in foil or freezer wrap, or place in freezer bags. Label all packages with the name of the recipe and the date. Use within the recommended storage time for the best flavor and texture. Baked products should be stored at 0°F or lower. Muffins can be stored frozen for up to 3 months.
Muffins can be thawed completely at room temperature, or heat frozen muffins in the microwave or conventional oven as directed below:
For a microwave oven, place unwrapped muffin on a napkin, microwave-safe paper towel or plate. Microwave on HIGH about 30 seconds for each muffin.
For a conventional oven, heat foil-wrapped muffins at 350°F 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the size of the muffins.
Are poppy seeds bad for you?
Before they’re put into baked goods, poppy seeds can be found in poppy seed pods. It just so happens that opium is found in those same seed pods. It is a milky substance that is extracted from the seed pods which contains morphine and codeine, among other pain-relieving substances. While poppy seeds themselves don’t inherently contain any opium, when the seeds are harvested, they can become contaminated with the opium in the pod.
The poppy seeds must then be cleaned and processed. Some countries have strict processing requirements, which leads to less opiate residue on the seeds, but others don’t. In the end, there is no way to guarantee that the poppy seeds you’re consuming are free of opiates, and in many cases, they have at least some contamination.
Is it ok to eat Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins while pregnant?
When it comes to questions about what foods are safe to eat while pregnant, your obstetrician can guide you in making the healthiest food choices for you and your unborn baby.
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It is most likely that the poppy seeds consumed in food are safe for pregnancy, but complete information is lacking regarding the safety of use while expecting.
Will poppy seeds show on a drug test?
They sure can!
Growing up, my dad served in the US Navy and I remember him saying many times that as much as he would like to eat Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins (or bagels with poppy seeds), he just wasn’t willing to take that chance of testing positive on a drug test. I’m sure many people may have this same concern.
I thought poppy seeds causing a positive outcome on drug tests was a myth. It is actually true!
Poppy seeds come from the opium poppy, a plant that produces a milky fluid from which morphine and other opiates are derived. As a result, poppy seeds can contain traces of morphine.
Although in most cases, the consumption of poppy seeds will not cause a positive doping test, there is a possibility that you *CAN* test positive for opioids. There is no way to predict the number of poppy seeds you can eat and remain below the testing threshold so the most conservative approach would be to avoid poppy seeds if this is a concern.
How do I make Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins with Glaze?
Make the Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins as instructed in the recipe below. To make a glaze, combine 1 cup of powdered sugar with 2-3 tbsp. of fresh lemon juice. Mix well until combined. If the glaze seems a little thick, add a bit more lemon juice until it reaches the desired consistency. Drizzle the glaze over the baked muffins.
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Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 box lemon cake mix, 15.25 oz.
- 1 box lemon instant pudding, 3.4 oz.
- 4 large eggs
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
- 1 cup boiling water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line 2 muffin pans with cupcake liners.
- In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients, except the water, and mix well. Slowly add the boiling water to your mixture and mix as you add it. Pour the batter into the muffin pan, filling your liners about 2/3 of the way full.
- Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until tops of the muffins are light golden brown.
Notes
- You can easily add a glaze to these Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins by combining 1 cup of powdered sugar with 2-3 tbsp. of fresh lemon juice, mixing well until combined. If the glaze seems a little thick, add a bit more lemon juice until it reaches the desired consistency. Drizzle the glaze over the baked muffins.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I’m definitely going to make these. They sound delicious. I haven’t been able to find instant lemon pudding. Could I substitute lemon cook pudding?
I would not use the cook kind of pudding. The instant lemon pudding does seem harder to find in some areas. Most bigger grocery stores should carry it or you can order it online.
I love how easy these are to make. The lemon flavor is incredible, one of my favorite flavors, perfect to wake up to in the morning. Also, the fruit salad accompaniment is a great idea!
I’m obsessed with all things lemon and this recipe doesn’t disappoint! I’ll be making this again and again!
Oh wow, do these ever look good! Making them tomorrow. Thanks!
Mmmmmmm! Now I wish I had been at your nacho bar, I love nachos (and buttery popcorn!) But I also love lemon baked goods and the excuse to eat something sweet for breakfast. These look fabulous and my coworkers are going to love them (and me!) if I bring them in!