Blueberry Lemon Sourdough Muffins (Printable)

Tangy muffins with fresh blueberries, lemon zest, and a buttery streusel topping for a flavorful snack.

# Ingredient List:

→ Muffins

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - Zest of 1 large lemon
07 - 1 cup sourdough discard, unfed
08 - 1/2 cup whole milk, room temperature
09 - 1/3 cup vegetable oil or melted butter
10 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
11 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
12 - 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

→ Streusel Topping

13 - 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
14 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
15 - 1/4 cup cold unsalted butter, diced
16 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
17 - Pinch of salt

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease thoroughly.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and lemon zest. Reserve.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk together sourdough discard, milk, oil or melted butter, eggs, and vanilla until completely smooth.
04 - Add dry ingredient mixture to wet ingredients and stir gently until just combined. Do not overmix.
05 - Carefully fold blueberries into batter using a spatula, preserving their integrity.
06 - Distribute batter evenly among prepared muffin cups, filling each approximately 3/4 full.
07 - In a small bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Cut in cold butter using a fork or fingertips until mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
08 - Distribute streusel topping evenly over each muffin.
09 - Bake for 22-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean and tops are golden brown.
10 - Cool muffins in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack for complete cooling.

# Tips from the Pros:

01 -
  • That subtle tang from sourdough discard gives these muffins a sophisticated flavor you can't quite put your finger on—your guests will keep asking what's different.
  • The streusel topping adds a satisfying crunch that makes these feel fancy enough for company but casual enough to grab with your coffee.
02 -
  • Overmixing the batter is the single most common reason muffins turn out dense and tough; mix only until the dry ingredients disappear, even if a few lumps remain.
  • Frozen blueberries truly do make a difference in keeping the berries from sinking and bleeding color, so don't thaw them even if you think you should.
03 -
  • Bring all your ingredients to room temperature before mixing; this creates a more emulsified batter and results in a more tender crumb.
  • If you want extra lemon intensity, add a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice to the wet ingredients—it adds brightness without affecting the texture.
Go Back