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Kale and Lemon Muffins

Name: Lemon Kale Muffins
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: 100 g (2 cups), packed raw kale leaves, woody stalks discarded; 150 g (½ cup) unsalted butter, softened; 150 g (3/4 cup) sugar; 2 eggs; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 lemon (zest and juice); 200 g (1 ½ cups) plain (all purpose) flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; ½ teaspoon salt

Published: Feb 12, 2015 · Modified: Jan 28, 2019 by Kate Hackworthy · 33 Comments

These lemon and kale muffins are zingy and delicious. The flavour of the kale fades away beneath the lemon, but leaves behind it’s green goodness.

Kale Muffins

These kale muffins are not only a lovely green colour, but they taste delicious and zingy from the lemon.

The kale flavour fades away so they taste like lemon muffins, but have extra green goodness in them.

These kale muffins are really easy to make. For the kale, you just need to steam or boil it for a few minutes, then puree it. I find that a hand held stick blender is the easiest. If you’re having trouble getting it smooth, just add the lemon juice which should help.

The finer you puree the kale, the greener your muffins will be!

Muffins

I do love a muffin. They’re like the cupcake’s studious big sister who excelled in school and never went off the rails.

The one who really wanted to sneak out of the house at night to meet boys but never did.

The one who never saw the inside of the detention room.

But mostly I like muffins because they’re the acceptable face of cake for breakfast.

Especially when there’s vegetable in that cake. And even more especially when that vegetable is kale, the trendy younger sister who was in a band and hung out with the skaters (sound the 1990s-reference klaxon).

Kale

I hadn’t even heard of kale a few years ago. Then, suddenly, it is my favourite vegetable EVER.

As a massive vegetable lover I don’t say that lightly – even in the run up to Valentine’s day. In smoothies, soups, stews, cold salads, hot salads and… in zingy, lemony muffins!

If you’re also a fan of kale (and you’re on my site, so presumably your are!) then you must try my Apple Kale Cake with Apple Icing, Kale Soup, Kale Soda Bread or Kale Pesto!

Get the Lemon Kale Muffins Recipe

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Thanks for checking out my recipe! I love hearing from my readers. You all allow me to do what I love and write this UK food blog, sharing vegetarian recipes, vegan recipes, vegetable cake recipes, vegan cake and also easy vegan desserts.
Kate x

A tasty lemon and kale muffin close up with lemon and kale in the background.

Lemon Kale Muffins

These lemon and kale muffins are zingy and delicious. The flavour of the kale fades away beneath the lemon, but leaves behind it’s green goodness. A lovely way to eat your greens as a breakfast, snack or dessert.

5 from 5 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Muffin

Cuisine: American, International

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings:

218 kcal

Author: Kate Hackworthy | Veggie Desserts

Ingredients

100 g (2 cups), packed raw kale leaves, woody stalks discarded
150 g (½ cup) unsalted butter, softened
150 g (3/4 cup) sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 lemon zest and juice
200 g (1 ½ cups) plain (all purpose) flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 170C/325F. Line or grease a muffin tray.
Tear the kale leaves into bite-sized pieces and boil or steam for a few minutes until tender. Refresh in cold water, drain and puree (it will still be a bit stringy). Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and then beat in the kale, vanilla, zest and lemon juice.
Sift in the flour, baking powder and salt and stir to gently combine.
Fill the muffin cups ¾ full and bake for 15-20 minutes or until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Allow to cool in the tins for 10 minutes then remove and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.

Nutrition Information

Tried this recipe?Mention @kateveggiedesserts or tag #veggiedesserts!

The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.

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Comments

Isabel Cueva
November 06, 2019 at 4:48 am

I’ve just made the kale lemon muffins, with some variation (honey instead of sugar, olive oil instead of butter, and the whole kale stems and all) and they are absolutely fantastic! Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Reply
Mary K Rusk
October 05, 2019 at 4:55 am

Excellent!!!! I just used my Cuisinart to puree the kale, but that was fine………so very easy to add to the rest of the batter. A real lemon is probably essential (that is what I used anyway) and they are WONDERFUL!
Reply
Diana
March 28, 2019 at 1:46 am

I used finely chopped raw kale and turned out delicious! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Reply
The Free From Fairy
January 13, 2016 at 1:14 pm
These look amazing! I would never think of putting kale in a sweet cake! Brilliant!
Reply
Michelle
March 06, 2015 at 2:19 pm

Thanks for this post and this blog! Honestly, I had no idea that you could put veggies that many different ways into desserts! And your photos are gorgeous as well. Can’t wait to take some of these on!
Reply
Elizabeth
March 01, 2015 at 8:58 am

Oh this sounds amazing! I’d love one for breakfast just now, if I could?! 🙂 Thanks for sharing with Credit Crunch Munch!
Reply
Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours
February 28, 2015 at 12:10 pm
I love these Kate – so pretty and any excuse for Extra Veg!
Reply
Kimberly-Ann
February 24, 2015 at 5:50 pm
I bought a salad mix of baby kale, chard and spinach and used that for the cupcakes and it was awesome. Thank you for putting measurements by weight as I have a Komo flour mill and it is very helpful.
Reply
Kissley
February 22, 2015 at 7:53 pm
Thanks for sharing this recipe. I’m new to baking & I made these today. They tasted more lemony than kale-y & were very dense/heavy. Also, they didn’t get very brown on top. When I added the flour the batter got very gummy – is that normal? I did everything by hand – no electric mixer. Do you have any tips/suggestions? Keen try it again. Thanks!
Reply
Krystle
February 20, 2015 at 4:23 am
I just can’t get on the green smoothie bandwagon. But these muffins look delicious and like the perfect way to get some greens in for breakfast.
Reply
Jen
February 15, 2015 at 6:24 pm
I hated kale when I was a kid and like you resdiscovered it a few years ago and now will quite happily chuck a large handful in most things I cook for dinner I haven’t tried baking with it yet though so that’s one to try this year.
Reply
Jac -Tinned Tomatoes (@tinnedtoms)
February 13, 2015 at 10:45 pm
These look fab Katherine. I love the colour and great photos as ever. I always have kale in the fridge for my smoothies. It’s so good for you.
Reply
Strength and Sunshine
February 13, 2015 at 10:44 pm
Love it! All the kale!
Reply
Emily @amummytoo
February 13, 2015 at 5:32 pm
I hit the Pin It button on this faster than you can blink! Love this idea – will definitely be trying it.
Reply
kellie anderson
February 13, 2015 at 5:30 pm
I really love this clever use of one of my favourite vegetables (okay, favourite vegetable). Because I grow it I do have a lot of ways to use it, but I don’t think I have ever used it in sweet baking. Bookmarking!
Reply
familyfriendsfoodblog
February 13, 2015 at 1:28 pm
I’m not normally one for veg in sweet things but these actually look delicious. May pluck up the nerve to give them a try!
Reply
- Kate Hackworthy
  February 13, 2015 at 4:41 pm
  I’m definitely one for veg in sweet things ;), and with these you can’t taste the kale at all!
  Reply
Kirsten
February 13, 2015 at 1:15 pm
Kate,
My initial reaction was . . . what? But if I have enough sweetener, kale lemonade is delicious, so I’d imagine these muffins are as well.
The look very pretty!
Reply
- Kate Hackworthy
  February 13, 2015 at 4:40 pm
  You can’t even taste the kale, Kirsten! Kale lemonade?? I’m definitely going to try that!
  Reply
laura_howtocook
February 13, 2015 at 1:02 pm
I have loved kale even though it divides people i think it is great, and so are baby kale leaves but I must try it out in these muffins. This recipe sounds like a good way to enjoy kale and the colour of the muffins is so pretty.
Reply
- Kate Hackworthy
  February 13, 2015 at 4:38 pm
  I love the natural food colouring of kale. So green!
  Reply
Christine
February 13, 2015 at 12:02 pm
Never in a million years would I have thought to use kale IN A MUFFIN! And then I scroll down and it’s in the apple pie and the cake…and who knew it would make everything green?! That’s sure to brighten your day a bit and put some pep in your step…of course it could be the added veggies, too.
Reply
- Kate Hackworthy
  February 13, 2015 at 4:38 pm
  Welcome to my world, Christine! You’ll never look at kale the same way again 😉
  Reply
fabfood4all
February 13, 2015 at 10:27 am
I too only discovered Kale recently and would never have dreamed of it going in a sweet muffin or cake. Can you taste any of the kale in the muffin or is it hidden by the vanilla and lemon? Fabulous photography Kate!
Reply
- Kate Hackworthy
  February 13, 2015 at 4:37 pm
  Nope! As with all of my desserts, you can’t taste the vegetable 🙂
  Reply
kittendothroar
February 12, 2015 at 9:36 pm
I was a late comer to kale but now can’t get enough of its lovely greeny goodness! Your muffins look so tasty and yet virtuous – definitely one to add to my kale list!
Reply
- Kate Hackworthy
  February 13, 2015 at 4:36 pm
  So many people have embraced the love of kale!
  Reply
Janice (@FarmersgirlCook)
February 12, 2015 at 7:21 pm
Kale certainly has had a new lease of life. When I was a child it was very unpopular and only included in Scotch Broth! These muffins looks really tasty.
Reply
- Kate Hackworthy
  February 13, 2015 at 4:35 pm
  Ha, it’s come a long way since Scotch Broth, hasn’t it?!
  Reply
Keep Calm and Fanny On
February 12, 2015 at 4:32 pm
Mmmm Kale and lemon, lovely! I love your photo for this one too! Yum…
Reply
- Kate Hackworthy
  February 13, 2015 at 4:35 pm
  Thanks Fanny! They were definitely yum. 🙂
  Reply
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche
February 12, 2015 at 1:59 pm
Oh these look absolutely gorgeous! And I’m with you – I only had kale for the first time last year I think (!) and now it’s one of my favourites!
Reply
- Kate Hackworthy
  February 13, 2015 at 4:34 pm
  Funny how it was sidelined for so long!
  Reply