lemon poppy seed coconut flour muffins {keto, dairy-free}

These lemon poppy seed coconut flour muffins are incredibly light, springy, and tender! Made entirely with coconut flour, this is a keto muffin recipe that is also gluten-free and dairy-free. Spread on some keto lemon curd or a low-carb strawberry rhubarb jam for an even more delicious low-carb breakfast or snack.

Lemon and poppy seed will forever be a favorite combination. Each adds its own subtle flavor to these coconut flour muffins that results in a delicious (and healthy!) treat. Fresh lemon juice and lemon zest add the perfect citrus notes that pair beautifully with the nutty poppy seeds and a hint of cardamom (by the way, I love cardamom, especially with citrus).

benefits of coconut flour

I don't often use only coconut flour in my keto baking, but it's something I'm trying to do more as it's really nutritious and filling, high in fiber, protein and MCTs. Also, it's a great alternative to almond flour baked goods, especially if you're nut-free or watching your almond flour intake. (For another low-carb coconut flour recipe, check out this keto coconut flour bread!)

how to use coconut flour

Unlike almond flour, coconut flour is not a 1:1 flour substitute. It's really absorbent and dry, which means a little goes a long way (for instance, this entire recipe calls for just over ½ cup of coconut flour!). Because of its unique properties, coconut flour can be a bit tricky to work with, but this keto lemon poppy seed recipe is actually quite simple.

My best advice for working with coconut flour is to make sure you're measuring correctly, since the smallest amount over or under can drastically change your results. Don't pack it into the measuring cup- spooning it in and then leveling it off with the edge of a table knife is how I usually do it (for all flours, actually). The most accurate method? A kitchen scale is a really affordable investment and is especially helpful when working with keto-friendly ingredients like coconut flour.

the ingredients

The biggest issue with coconut flour is that when it's not used at the proper ratio, baked goods can turn out really dense and almost chalky. This coconut flour muffin recipe is essentially the opposite - four eggs give the muffins a fluffy texture (without tasting egg-y), while the freshly-squeezed lemon juice + leavening agents, and the baking method result in a nice, tall, and airy lemon poppy seed muffin.

• eggs (at room temperature, pasture-raised when possible)
• vanilla
• almond extract (optional)
• lemon zest
• coconut oil (melted and cooled)
• baking powder (preferably gluten-free and aluminum-free)
• baking soda
• granulated monk fruit sweetener
• coconut flour
• salt
• cardamom (optional)
• freshly-squeezed lemon juice
• poppy seeds

let's make keto coconut flour muffins!

The easy part! Did I mention these keto lemon poppy seed muffins only require one bowl? 🙂

First, prep a muffin tin with paper baking cups and preheat your oven to 425°F. It's a much higher baking temperature than what we'd typically use, but we'll turn it down later. The big blast of heat in the first few minutes of baking help these coconut flour muffins rise and get a little taller than they would if they went in at 350°F.

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, vanilla, almond extract, lemon zest, and coconut oil. Make sure the eggs are at room temperature- you can do this quickly by letting them sit in a bowl of warm water. Coconut oil will solidify when mixed with cold eggs, which is why room temp eggs are best. Tip: wait to add the lemon juice (I explain this below)!
2. Mix in the dry ingredients: monk fruit sweetener, coconut flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cardamom, and poppy seeds. Stir in the lemon juice last since the acid will react with the baking powder and baking soda- you want that to occur right before baking.
3. Spoon into muffin tin and bake. Fill each baking cup with about ¼ cup of the muffin batter (I usually get 7 muffins). Place the muffin tin in the oven and bake at 425°F for 5 minutes, then turn the temperature down to 350°F and bake for 11-13 minutes. Remove, cool, and enjoy!

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for the best keto lemon poppy seed muffins

• Use parchment paper baking cups! I've found they easily peel away from the muffin, while some types of baking cups stick and the muffin breaks away with it.
• Don't forget to set the timer for those first 5 minutes of baking at a higher temperature! Turn it down to 350°F immediately after 5 minutes.
• The muffins are done when the edges are slightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Room temperature ingredients work best and will prevent the melted coconut oil from solidifying and making the batter lumpy.
• Store muffins covered, at room temperature for up to five days, and in the freezer for up to two months.

I hope you enjoy these keto lemon poppy seed coconut flour muffins! This easy, one-bowl recipe makes the perfect, low-carb and high protein meal to start off your day. Plus, it's also dairy-free and gluten-free and is in the oven baking in less than 10 minutes. Easy enough to make on a weekday morning! Can't beat that.

need more keto muffin recipes in your life?

In case you do...

• Keto cinnamon muffins with chocolate chips are packed with warm spices and studded with chocolate chips for a healthy treat that tastes anything but.
• A classic, bakery-style blueberry muffin... but make it low-carb! These keto blueberry muffins with crumb topping are everything.
• Trade in the sweet for savory with these easy smoked salmon and dill egg muffins! One of my breakfast favorites. Dairy-free, too.

If you give these a try, let me know! Drop a comment below, leave a five-star review, or tag @stemandspoon on Instagram! I love to see what you create.

you might also love...

• Pumpkin almond flour muffins. I'm all for pumpkin being a year-round flavor. 😉
• This easy keto lemon curd recipe. It makes such a good topping for these coconut flour muffins. Or this cake trifle. Or even this pavlova.
• Keto buttermilk biscuits are super easy to make and go great with any meal!