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You’ll love these lemon ricotta muffins! They’re simple to make, beautifully moist, light, and bursting with lemon flavor.

A bright, citrusy treat that everyone will adore!

Close-up of a lemon ricotta muffin split into halves.

We’re impatiently waiting for spring here in London, and I wanted to bring you an easy, seasonal dessert recipe perfect for any celebration, including Easter and Mother’s Day!

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My usually gets very popular this time of year, but why not lemon ricotta muffins, too?

Here they are! Ultra moist and fluffy ricotta lemon muffins glazed with a lovely lemon icing. They’re easy to make, full of flavor, not overly sweet, and guaranteed to make your home smell amazing.

And even more importantly, they taste INCREDIBLE!

For a tender, moist crumb, I use vegetable oil and ricotta cheese like in my and , which I LOVE. For the best and brightest flavor, I add plenty of lemon juice, zest, and lemon icing to pack a burst of lemon goodness.

These lemon ricotta muffins are as pretty as they are delicious, a real treat for lemon lovers.

I can’t wait for you to try them!

List of the ingredients

  • Ricotta cheese
  • Lemons
  • Eggs
  • Sugar
  • Vegetable oil
  • All-purpose flour
  • Baking powder & soda
  • Vanilla extract
  • Ground ginger (optional)
  • Salt

The ingredients to make lemon ricotta muffins are arranged over a white background.

How to make lemon ricotta muffins

(Note: this is a quick description; the full recipe is at the bottom of the page)

  • Beat the eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract until pale. Add the ricotta cheese, lemon zest and juice, and oil. For the best fluffiness, I recommend using a or . Alternatively, a will work, too.

Two images of a bowl full of eggs and sugar with ricotta and lemon zest.

  • Stir in the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
  • Divide the batter into 12 lined muffin cases.
  • Bake for the first 3-4 minutes at high temperature to get nice, domed tops, then reduce to a standard 355°F/180°C.
  • Top view of a bowl full of dry and wet ingredients before mixing and a muffin tin with muffin batter.

  • To make the lemon icing glaze, add lemon juice and powdered sugar to a small bowl and stir until smooth. This is optional, but it’s great for adding more lemon flavor and making your muffins pretty!
  • Top view of a glass jug full of white lemon icing glaze.

  • Let the muffins cool for 10 minutes.
  • Finally, top each muffin with lemon icing glaze and extra lemon zest. Done!
  • Top view of a muffin tin and freshly baked lemon ricotta muffins.

    Recipe Notes

    Lemon ricotta muffin ingredients

    Whole-milk ricotta cheese: Either standard ricotta sealed in containers or fresh ricotta from the deli counter is fine. If you have ricotta leftovers, these will give you more ideas for making,, and more!

    Lemon: The recipe uses juice and zest of two lemons to maximize flavor.

    Eggs: For the right texture and structure, you need only two eggs. They need to be at room temperature, not fridge-cold.

    Flour + baking powder + baking soda: All-purpose, self-raising, or cake flour gives great results.

    Vanilla + ginger: Vanilla extract is a must; it adds so much flavor. I also use ground ginger, which pairs so well with vanilla and lemon, but feel free to skip it if you wish.

    Sugar: regular granulated sugar (or caster sugar if you are in the UK), superfine, or brown sugar work just fine.

    Vegetable oil: It keeps the crumbs moist. It’s also flavorless and easy to stir into the batter. Vegetable, light olive, rice bran, or canola oil work well.

    Salt: It enhances the overall flavor; don’t skip it.

    Lemon glaze: It’s made with lemon juice and powdered sugar (confectioner’s sugar). It adds flavor and coats the muffins with a thin layer of crispy sugar. Reduce the powdered sugar if you prefer a thinner icing with less sugar and a tart flavor.

    Close-up of a lemon ricotta muffin topped with lemon icing glaze.

    PRO TIPS

    • Measuring is crucial! Whether you measure in cups using the “spoon & level” method (check notes in the recipe card) or use a kitchen scale to measure by weight, measure dry and wet ingredients correctly.
    • Do not overmix the batter – The muffin batter should not be completely smooth, but make sure the flour is fully incorporated.
    • Do not overbake: Check your lemon ricotta muffins and test for doneness with a toothpick. Once the toothpick comes out clean with just a few crumbs attached, it’s time to remove them from the oven.

    Top view of lemon ricotta muffins topped with lemon glaze over a white background.

    Storage instructions

  • To store: Lemon ricotta muffins are best the same day they are made, but they keep well for 3-4 days in an airtight container on the countertop.
  • To freeze: Let the muffins cool completely, then put them in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
  • A hand holding half of a lemon ricotta muffins to show the fluffy crumb.

    More MUFFINS RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE!

  • If you make these lemon ricotta muffins, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, or tag a photo on Instagram. I would love to hear from you! x
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    Lemon Ricotta Muffins

    You'll love these lemon ricotta muffins! They're simple to make, beautifully moist, light, and bursting with lemon flavor.

    Prep Time10
    Cook Time30
    Total Time40
    Coursecakes, Dessert
    CuisineItalian
    KeywordApple yogurt cake
    Servings12
    Calories226 kcal
    AuthorKatia

    Ingredients

    • 2 Large eggs, at room temp
    • ½ cup (100 grams) sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 cup (250 grams) full-fat ricotta cheese
    • ½ cup (120 ml) vegetable oil
    • 1 large lemon, zest and juice
    • 1 ¾ cup (210 grams) all-purpose flour
    • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
    • 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • ⅙ teaspoon salt

    Instructions

    Lemon icing glaze (optional)

    • ½ cup (90 grams) powdered sugar
    • 2 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 1 lemon zest
    • Preheat your oven to 425°F/220°C. Place the rack in the middle position and line 12 muffin tins with paper liners.
    • Using a stand mixer or an electric beater, beat the eggs, sugar, and vanilla for 3-4 minutes until pale and fluffy. Alternatively, you can use a hand whisker.
    • Reduce the speed, add the ricotta cheese, lemon zest, and juice, vegetable oil, and beat until smooth and creamy.
    • Next, add the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, ginger, and salt). Mix on low speed until just combined, making sure the batter is completely mixed.
    • Divide the batter among the prepared muffin cases. Transfer to the preheated oven and bake for 3 minutes at high temperature. Then, reduce the temperature to 355°F/180°C and bake for about 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Do not overbake them.
    • Meanwhile, make lemon icing glaze. In a small bowl, stir lemon juice and powdered sugar until smooth. You can adjust the consistency to your liking, reducing the amount of sugar or adding more lemon juice for a thin and less sweet glaze.
    • When the muffins are ready, remove them immediately from the oven and let them rest on a cooling rack for 10 minutes. Then, top them with the lemon icing glaze. Enjoy them at room temperature.
    Nutrition facts (per serving, estimated): The nutrition values are for one serving only (without lemon sugar glaze). They are based on an online nutrition calculator. It’s an estimate and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. Please see my . Calories: 226 kcal | Carbohydrates: 23 g | Protein: 5 g | Fat: 13 g | Saturated Fat: 3 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3 g | Trans Fat: 0.1 g | Cholesterol: 38 mg | Sodium: 159 mg | Potassium: 53 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 9 g | Vitamin A: 133 IU | Vitamin C: 1 mg | Calcium: 80 mg | Iron: 1 mg

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