Light and fluffy vegan lemon muffins topped with lemon icing.
EASY VEGAN LEMON MUFFINS
These vegan lemon muffins are light and fluffy with the flavour of freshly squeezed lemon juice.
To make them even more lemony, they are topped with lemon icing and finished with sprinkles.
The lemon flavour is fresh but mild with a sweet finish.
You're going to love these cute little muffins.
FRESH LEMON
When you're baking, it's essential to use fresh ingredients to get the best results and that includes lemons.
Don't ever be tempted to by lemon essence or flavourings, you'll just end up with bakes that don't taste right and an unpleasant after taste.
Fresh lemon is always best.
These muffins are flavoured with freshly squeezed lemon juice and finely grated lemon peel.
Lemon juice is also used to flavour the icing. Of course, you can always skip the icing if you like, but it does make them rather special.
WHAT NO EGGS OR DAIRY?
Contrary to popular belief, you don't need eggs or dairy to bake delightful cakes.
You can still create light and fluffy bakes.
You still need fat to create the richness and help bind, but this can be achieved by using dairy-free spread or vegetable oil.
The rise is created by a chemical reaction of a raising agent and something acidic. In this case lemon juice.
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE VEGAN LEMON MUFFINS
- PLANT-BASED MILK - I like to use oat milk in my baking.
- LEMON JUICE - Freshly squeezed lemon juice is added to the milk to make vegan buttermilk. It will also create a chemical reaction with the baking powder.
- VEGETABLE OIL - For a moist bake.
- SUGAR - Caster sugar will sweeten the muffins/
- SALT - Just a pinch, but always add it, it will help with the flavour.
- FLOUR - Plain flour is used for these wee cakes. You can use self-raising flour, but I'd still add a little extra baking powder. Self-raising flour has raising agent in it, but it needs a wee bit more help for a good rise.
- CORNFLOUR - Also known as cornstarch. This will lighten the bake.
- BAKING POWDER - To give a rise.
- TURMERIC (optional) - Just a little to give a lovely yellow colour. You can skip this step.
- LEMON PEEL - Finely grated lemon peel will actually give more lemon flavour than the juice. It's all the lovely oil in the skin that gives the intense lemon flavour. Remember to wash your lemon well before grating.
WHAT EQUIPMENT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE LEMON MUFFINS?
These simple muffins don't need any fancy kitchen equipment to make. You don't need an electric whisk or stand mixer. A spoon or spatula will mix them just fine. Here's what you need:
- A BOWL - For the dry ingredients
- A JUG OR BOWL - For the wet ingredients
- A SPATULA OR SPOON - To mix the cake batter
- 12 HOLE MUFFIN TRAY - Or 2 x 6 hole muffin cases. If you only have one 6 hole tray, you can bake the cakes in two batches.
- 12 PAPER MUFFIN OR CUPCAKE CASES - You can just grease the muffin tray, but I like to use paper cases.
WHY ARE THESE MUFFINS SO GOOD?
- They are super easy to make.
- They don't need any special equipment apart from a muffin tin.
- They are light and fluffy.
- They taste great!
- They are the perfect lunch box treat, but they are also a good afternoon pick-me-up or after-dinner dessert.
- They aren't the huge American style muffins, so they are lighter on the waistline.
- They are vegan.
HOW LONG WILL LEMON MUFFINS KEEP?
CAN LEMON MUFFINS BE FROZEN?
Take them out of the freezer and defrost in the fridge overnight.
MORE VEGAN MUFFINS TO TRY
- VEGAN BLUEBERRY GINGER MUFFINS - Cupcake size blueberry muffins flavoured with ginger. This vegan treat is perfect for lunch boxes.
- VEGAN STRAWBERRY MILKSHAKE MUFFINS - Easy little vegan muffins with the flavour of strawberry milkshake. Perfect for lunch boxes.
- VEGAN CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS - Super easy vegan chocolate chip muffins. They are soft and fluffy and quick to make.
MORE VEGAN LEMON DESSERTS TO TRY
- LEMON SELF-SAUCING PUDDING from The Vegan Pantry
- VEGAN LEMON BARS from Nora Cooks
- VEGAN LEMON SUPREME PIE from Rabbit & Wolves
HOW TO MAKE VEGAN LEMON MUFFINS

Vegan Lemon Muffins
Ingredients
- 200g/1 cup oat milk (or your regular milk)
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- finely grated peel from 2 lemons
- 50 ml/ 1/4 cup vegetable oil (or other pale, mild oil)
- 200g/ 1 1/3 cup plain flour
- 2 tbsp cornflour
- 50g/ 4 tbsp caster sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- pinch salt
- 150g/1 1/2 cups icing sugar (confectioner's sugar)
- 2-3 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180c/160c fan/350f/gas mark 4 and fill a 12-hole muffin tray or 2 x 6-hole muffin trays with paper cupcake or muffin cases.
- Measure the oat milk into a jug or bowl, add 2 tbsp lemon juice and the lemon peel and stir. Set aside.
- Add the flour into the bowl and add the other dry ingredients (cornstarch, baking powder, sugar, salt and turmeric, if you are adding it). Mix well.
- Add the oil to the milk and stir. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients then mix lightly until just combined.
- Pour the batter into the muffin cases and bake the muffins for 20-25 minutes until a skewer or toothpick come out clean and they are springy to the touch.
- Leave to cool in the muffin tray for a few minutes and then move to baking rack to cool completely.
- While the muffins are cooling, make the icing. Add 2 tbsp of lemon juice into the icing sugar and mix well until you have a thick, smooth icing. If it needs a little more lemon juice if you need it. It will need less than you think.
- Spoon the icing onto the cooled muffins and add some sprinkles.
- Enjoy!
Notes:
- DO NOT OVER MIX THE CAKE BATTER. You will end up with rubbery muffins. Don't worry if there are some lumps or stray flour, it will all be fine.
- The cool muffins can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- The muffins (before they are iced) can be frozen for 3-4 months in an airtight, freezer-proof tub for 3-4 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight.
Calories
161.39Fat (grams)
5.08Sat. Fat (grams)
0.40Carbs (grams)
33.30Fiber (grams)
0.93Net carbs
32.37Sugar (grams)
20.19Protein (grams)
1.78Sodium (milligrams)
43.66Cholesterol (grams)
0.00
These look so good Jacqueline. I think my daughter will love them. I'm going to make some for her this weekend. Jill
ReplyDeleteOh good, I hope you both enjoy them.
DeleteI adore lemon flavored cakes and muffins, and these sound amazing. I love that even my vegan daughter can enjoy them :)
ReplyDeleteOh yes just perfect for your daughter
DeleteIf she likes lemon I am sure she'll enjoy them.
Give me all the lemon! Love these!
ReplyDeleteHaha I am the same I love lemon cakes, bakes and desserts.
DeleteThese are so good even without the icing. I think I'm going to skip it when I don't have the time, though it does add flavor and makes the muffins look so pretty.
ReplyDeleteOh yes it is a nice finishing touch but totally optional
DeleteThese were so moist and fluffy and had the perfect amount of lemon flavor.
ReplyDeleteYes I think so too. Glad you liked them.
DeleteThese muffins look spectacular! Love me a good lemon muffin in the morning
ReplyDeleteThank you and yes a treat for breakfast.
Delete