I had a couple of Meyer lemons that weren’t looking too vibrant so I decided to use them up in today’s baking. I also had some ricotta cheese as well. These two combined really do make a delicious batch of muffins. I was a bit worried that my batter was a bit on the thick side but in the end, it makes a very dense but airy muffin. The combination of the Meyer lemon, ricotta cheese and almond/almond extract really do marry well. If you like lemon muffins —you will love these!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 2/3 cup of sugar
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) of unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon of meyer lemon zest (2 lemons)
- 1 cup of ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon of fresh meyer lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract
- thinly sliced almonds
- turbinado sugar for sprinkling
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking cups in the muffin pan.
In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix well and set aside.
Using a stand mixer add sugar, butter and lemon zest. Mix until light and fluffy. Add in one by one —ricotta, egg, lemon juice and almond extract until well combined. Then add in slowly the dry ingredients and stir until just blended. The end result of the batter should be thick and fluffy.
Spoon batter into the lined muffin cups. Sprinkle with almonds and then turbinado sugar. Bake for 20-24 minutes or until toothpick/tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool slightly and serve warm or at room temperature.
Adapted from Giada De Laurentiis
uni homemaker 
I love THE lemon….great combination with ricotta!!!
Thank you Massi! 🙂 These were wonderful!
Love lemon, and cheese. Huh, think I might have to try these at some stage. Could I halve the recipe? I’m only cooking for me.
You know, I don’t think I’ve ever had a muffin, even though they’re British. Certainly not when I was growing up.
If you love lemon and cheese then you’ll like these muffins. I got 11 muffins out of this batch. You could definitely cut these in half. I wish this rendered more muffins as I was giving these away. Invite some friends over for coffee and muffins –they’re fabulous! 🙂 I’m not a nuts fan but the sliced almonds really give it texture and flavor. Gotta include them in this when you bake.
Thanks for that. Need to find a muffin tin or something to cook them in. Hey, just might use large cups. That’s how they used to bake and serve cakes years ago.
The baking cups I used are pretty sturdy so I didn’t need to use a muffin pan. These baking cups, pictured here, were baked on a cookie sheet. If you are going to use large cups, I would be very curious & would love to see it! 🙂
Well, as I have most of those ingredients I might try them over the weekend. I think they would make nice presents, if you bought a wide teacup and saucer, washed them well, cooked the muffin and then wrapped them. Who for, then…I know, meme!
Oooooh, that would make a wonderful present! Great idea and cute too! hee hee! Me me me! 😀
Yum! These look beautiful and so yummy! I love the combination of the Meyer lemons, ricotta and almonds – some of my favorites! Will have to try this recipe!
Thank you so much! The lemon, ricotta and almonds are a tasty combo. Happy baking! 🙂
I loved these muffins! They taste great but I think it’s the texture that really does it for me. Oh, and the Victoria Secrets looking cups are definitely a nice touch. 😀
Yes, the texture of the sliced almonds really makes this muffin! And yes –I dig the Victoria Secrets baking cups. 😉
ohhh this looks so good!! And i love the presentation!! 😀
Thank you so much! 🙂
You are very welcome & i can’t wait to see what you come up with next 😀
I actually love that these muffins have an Italian feel to them with the lemon and ricotta- I think that is my favourite baking in the end!
Thank you Paola! 🙂 It is very Italian.
These sound divine! Such a good combination of flavors.
Thanks Allison! 🙂
darn you and those cute muffin cups…these sound amazing! now i have to get some ricotta next time i’m at the store, bet they are super moist…looks delish..lovely post…sarah
I’m am obsessed with baking cups! They really do give muffins/cupcakes personality. 😀 I’m starting to enjoy baking with ricotta cheese –it make everything moist and yummy! Thanks always for your lovely comment Sarah. 🙂
Lemon and cheese is so light and delightful and so moist.
Indeed they are! 🙂
Those muffin cups are really cute1
Thanks! 🙂
What a luscious lemon muffin recipe with the addition of ricotta.
Thanks and it was quite tasty too! 🙂
Simply gorgeous! I love this unique muffin recipe!
Thanks for the lovely comment Barb! 🙂
Cute muffin cups! Lemon muffins sound so good right now with a cup of tea!
Thanks Jan! I had it with coffee but a cup of tea sounds yummy too!
These were AWESOME. Nom nom nom.
Thanks Louis –glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
I love the ricotta and lemon combo. Great pictures and I love the muffin covers!!
Thanks Judy! They were delicious and the almonds really gave it texture. 🙂
The muffin tins are so cute. Did you make those or buy them somewhere?
Thank you! I bought these muffin cups at Sur La Table.
Love Sur La Table and the tins photographed beautifully!