Lemon and Poppy Seed Muffins with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

This is another great recipe I found on Pinterest. You can read all about it here on joyofthebaker.com. I have converted the recipe into European measures, so if you're American and reading this then make sure you click the link above to find the recipe in your language!
The texture of the muffins is amazing - firm and moist all at the same time. I decided, rather than make a glaze for these muffins as is suggested in the original recipe, that I would make lemon cream cheese frosting. It worked very well! So here is the recipe...


Muffins:
150g sugar

zest and juice of 1 lemon
250g flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
170g sour cream
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
113g butter, melted until browned and cooled
2 Tablespoons poppy seeds
2 Tablespoons granulated sugar (for topping the batter before baking)

Preheat the oven to 200C.  Line a 12 holed muffin tray with paper muffin cases.

In a large bowl, rub the sugar and lemon zest together until the sugar is slightly yellow and sented with lemon.  Add in the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and mix. In another bowl whisk together the eggs, sour cream, vanilla, melted butter and lemon juice.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix. Add the poppy seeds and mix well.  Spoon the batter into the muffin cases and sprinkle a little bit of sugar on the top of each one.

Place the muffin tin on the middle shelf of the oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until the tops are golden. Put a cocktail stick into the middle of a few of the muffins. If it comes out clean they are done. Let them cool in the pan for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting:

100g cream cheese

60g butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
zest of half a lemon
375g icing sugar

In a bowl mix the butter and cream cheese until they are fully combined. Add the vanilla and lemon and mix well. Add in the icing sugar little by little, mixing constantly, until you have a stiff and creamy texture. Frost the muffins, and then take a bite!

Enjoy :)