Blueberry muffins on wire rack next to bowl of blueberries
Turn Up The Flavor Of Blueberry Muffins With One Ingredient

NEWS

By JULIA MULLANEY
Hand squeezing lemon
Thanks to lemon’s bright, acidic nature, adding a little lemon juice or zest — or a blend of both — to blueberry muffins can cut their richness while also boosting their sweetness.
Blueberry muffins on a plate
Lemon juice is more acidic and tangier than zest, so you won't need much. Lemon zest, on the other hand, has citrusy oils that add balance and brightness without being too tart.
Lemon zest on grater next to lemon
Note that lemon peels are too tart and bitter to be incorporated into your muffins. You should only use the zest, which is the bright, thin yellow layer on the outside of the peel.