Ingredients:
4 eggs
300ml castor sugar
500ml (2 cups) cake flour
15ml (1 Tbs) baking powder
250ml (1 cup) milk
100g butter
5ml (1 tsp) lemon essence
2 Tbs poppy seeds
Zest of 1 lemon
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Preheat and Prepare:
Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a muffin pan with paper liners or grease them lightly with butter to prevent sticking.
2. Beat Eggs and Sugar:
In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs and castor sugar together using an electric mixer or whisk until they are light and fluffy. This step is crucial for achieving a tender crumb in your muffins.
3. Sift and Fold Dry Ingredients:
In a separate bowl, sift together the cake flour and baking powder to ensure they are well combined and free of lumps. Gradually fold the flour mixture into the beaten eggs and sugar until just incorporated, being careful not to overmix.
4. Heat Milk, Butter, and Lemon Essence:
In a small saucepan, heat the milk, butter, and lemon essence over low heat until the butter is melted. It’s important not to let the mixture boil, as this can affect the texture of the muffins.
5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
Once the milk mixture is heated through, pour it into the bowl with the flour and egg mixture, stirring gently to combine. The batter should be smooth and thick, with no streaks of flour remaining.
6. Add Poppy Seeds and Lemon Zest:
Gently fold in the poppy seeds and lemon zest until they are evenly distributed throughout the batter. These ingredients will add bursts of flavor and texture to your muffins, so don’t be shy about incorporating them fully.
7. Fill Muffin Cups:
Continued on next page (page 2)
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