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    Home » Back-to-School » Easy Vegan Lemon Muffins

    Easy Vegan Lemon Muffins

    Published: Dec 2, 2020 · Modified: Apr 11, 2025 by Jacqueline Meldrum · 18 Comments

     Light and fluffy vegan lemon muffins topped with lemon icing.

    Vegan Lemon Muffins

    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.

     

    Two lemons, one cut in half

    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.

     

    Lemon muffins in a muffin tray sitting on a baking rack

    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.

     

    iced lemon muffin

    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.

    For another fruity treat try Vegan Microwave Apple Crumble for One

     

    Dairy-Free Lemon Muffins

    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?

     

    1. They are super easy to make. 
    2. They don't need any special equipment apart from a muffin tin.
    3. They are light and fluffy.
    4. They taste great!
    5. They are the perfect lunch box treat, but they are also a good afternoon pick-me-up or after-dinner dessert.
    6. They aren't the huge American style muffins, so they are lighter on the waistline.
    7. They are vegan.
     

    HOW LONG WILL LEMON MUFFINS KEEP?

     
    The cooled muffins can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

     

    CAN LEMON MUFFINS BE FROZEN?

     
    The muffins (before they are iced) can be frozen in an airtight, freezer-proof tub for 3-4 months.

    Take them out of the freezer and defrost in the fridge overnight.
     

     

    Iced lemon muffin on a teaplate

    MORE VEGAN MUFFINS TO TRY

     

    1. VEGAN BLUEBERRY GINGER MUFFINS - Cupcake size blueberry muffins flavoured with ginger. This vegan treat is perfect for lunch boxes.
    2. VEGAN JAM DOUGHNUT MUFFINS - Super easy to make and they taste just like jam doughnuts. Yum!
    3. VEGAN STRAWBERRY MILKSHAKE MUFFINS - Easy little vegan muffins with the flavour of strawberry milkshake. Perfect for lunch boxes.
    4. VEGAN CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS - Super easy vegan chocolate chip muffins. They are soft and fluffy and quick to make.
    5. VEGAN CHOCOLATE CHOC CHIP MUFFINS - Little back-to-school easy vegan chocolate muffins for kids lunchboxes or an after-school treat.

    also check out Kid- Friendly School Lunch Plan for Vegan Kids

     

    MORE VEGAN LEMON DESSERTS TO TRY

     

    1. LEMON SELF-SAUCING PUDDING from The Vegan Pantry
    2. VEGAN LEMON BARS from Nora Cooks
    3. VEGAN LEMON SUPREME PIE from Rabbit & Wolves
     
     
     
    pin it for later
     
    quick and easy, glazed vegan lemon muffins
     
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    HOW TO MAKE VEGAN LEMON MUFFINS

    Scroll down for step-by-step photos followed by a printable recipe. If you don't have a printer, hit the print button on the recipe card and save as a PDF.
     
     
    Vegan Lemon Muffins - Step 1 (muffin cases in muffin trays and milk in jug

    STEP 1

     
    Preheat the oven and fill a 12-hole or 2 x 6-hole muffin trays with cupcake or muffin cases.
     
    Measure the oat milk into a jug or bowl.
     
     
    Vegan Lemon Muffins - Step 2 (lemon added to milk & flour in bowl_

    STEP 2

     

    Add the lemon juice and lemon peel to the milk, stir then set aside.
     
    Measure the flour into a mixing bowl.

     

     
    Vegan Lemon Muffins - Step 3 (other dry ingredients added and mixed)

    STEP 3

     
    Add the other dry ingredients to the flour. Sugar, salt, baking powder and turmeric (optional).
     
    Mix well.
    Vegan Lemon Muffins - Step 4 (oil add to milk and wet ingredients added to dry ingredients)

    STEP 4

     
    Add vegetable oil to the milk and mix.
     
    Pour the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients.
     
    Vegan Lemon Muffins - Step 5 (cake batter mixed and poured into muffin cases)
    STEP 5

     

    Mix lightly until just combined. Don't overmix the cake batter or you will end up with tough or rubbery muffins.
     
    Pour the batter into the muffin cases. I use a spring release ice cream scoop. It gives you the perfect scoop.
     
     
    Vegan Lemon Muffins - Step 6 (baked muffins and ingredients for icing in bowl)
    STEP 6
     
    Bake until golden and a skewer or toothpick comes out clean.
     
    Leave to cool in the muffin tray for a few minutes, then move the muffins to a baking rack to continue cooling.
     
    Add icing sugar (confectioner's sugar) and lemon juice to a bowl to make the icing.

     

     
    Vegan Lemon Muffins - Step 7 (lemon icing in bowl and glazed muffin)

    STEP 7

     
    Whisk the icing sugar and lemon juice to make a smooth icing.
     
    Spoon the lemon icing over the cooled muffins and add sprinkles.
     
    Enjoy!
     
     

    📖 Recipe

    Easy Vegan Lemon Muffins

    Vegan Lemon Muffins

    Jacqueline Meldrum
    Light and fluffy vegan lemon muffins topped with lemon icing.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Easy Vegan Cakes, Bakes & Desserts
    Cuisine Scottish
    Servings 12
    Calories 180 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 200 g oat milk or your regular milk
    • 2 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 2 tablespoon lemon zest finely grated peel from 2 lemons
    • 50 ml vegetable oil or other pale, mild oil
    • 200 g plain flour
    • 2 tablespoon cornflour
    • 4 tablespoon caster sugar
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • pinch salt

    Lemon Icing & Sprinkles (optional)

    • 150 g icing sugar confectioner's sugar
    • 2 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon sprinkles
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    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 tablespoon 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 tablespoon 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.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 12gCalories: 180kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 2gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 44mgPotassium: 33mgFiber: 1gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 35IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword easy lemon muffins, easy muffins, easy vegan muffins, lemon muffins, vegan lemon muffins, vegan muffins
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Comments

    1. Anonymous says

      December 03, 2020 at 3:41 pm

      These look so good Jacqueline. I think my daughter will love them. I'm going to make some for her this weekend. Jill

      Reply
    2. Jess says

      December 03, 2020 at 5:22 pm

      Give me all the lemon! Love these!

      Reply
      • Jeannette Johnson says

        April 20, 2024 at 10:00 am

        Can the cornflour be subbed?

        Reply
        • Jacqueline Meldrum says

          April 21, 2024 at 9:08 am

          You can just use flour. The cornflour just makes them a bit lighter.

          Reply
    3. Sue/the view from great island says

      December 03, 2020 at 5:22 pm

      I adore lemon flavored cakes and muffins, and these sound amazing. I love that even my vegan daughter can enjoy them 🙂

      Reply
    4. Jacqueline Meldrum says

      December 03, 2020 at 5:25 pm

      Haha I am the same I love lemon cakes, bakes and desserts.

      Reply
    5. Jacqueline Meldrum says

      December 03, 2020 at 5:25 pm

      Oh yes just perfect for your daughter
      If she likes lemon I am sure she'll enjoy them.

      Reply
    6. Jacqueline Meldrum says

      December 03, 2020 at 5:25 pm

      Oh good, I hope you both enjoy them.

      Reply
    7. MArie Charlotte says

      December 03, 2020 at 7:32 pm

      These muffins look spectacular! Love me a good lemon muffin in the morning

      Reply
    8. April says

      December 03, 2020 at 7:32 pm

      These were so moist and fluffy and had the perfect amount of lemon flavor.

      Reply
    9. Anita says

      December 03, 2020 at 7:33 pm

      These 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.

      Reply
    10. Jacqueline Meldrum says

      December 06, 2020 at 12:01 pm

      Thank you and yes a treat for breakfast.

      Reply
    11. Jacqueline Meldrum says

      December 06, 2020 at 12:01 pm

      Yes I think so too. Glad you liked them.

      Reply
    12. Jacqueline Meldrum says

      December 06, 2020 at 12:01 pm

      Oh yes it is a nice finishing touch but totally optional

      Reply
    13. Tricot says

      January 14, 2023 at 2:45 pm

      My muffins didn’t rise-I must have done something wrong. Could it be my oven wasn’t hot enough?

      Reply
      • Jacqueline Meldrum says

        January 20, 2023 at 2:35 pm

        Sorry, just spotted your comment. It could be a few things. Oven not preheated, the tray knocked and air knocked out, over-mixing or baking powder that's not fresh.

        Reply
        • Tricot says

          January 22, 2023 at 9:07 am

          Thanks for the advice Jac - Am going to give them another go. And I have a thermometer for my (old!) oven now.

          Reply
          • Jacqueline Meldrum says

            January 26, 2023 at 4:20 pm

            Hope it works out well. Crossing my fingers for you.

            Reply

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    JACQUELINE MELDRUM

    Welcome to The Vegan Lunchbox.

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