Low fat blueberry lemon cornmeal muffins

« What I cook when I have no time to cook

Low fat blueberry lemon cornmeal muffins

8 July 2012 by Aimee@clevermuffin

These are my new favourite muffin. To date I have over 20 muffin recipes on this blog and these are now my favourite. That says something.

They have an awesome amount of blueberries in them (check), get a good amount of tang from the lemon (check), and the cornmeal and yogurt make them moist and heavy WHILE being low fat (check and CHECK!!).

Blueberries are one of those super foods that contain anti-oxidants. I realise, as I write this, that considering I just splurged on a face serum yesterday due to its promise of anti-oxidant goodness, I should really know why that’s a good thing.

A quick google tells me blueberries are cancer fighting, they lower cholesterol, are an anti-inflammatory, reverse the signs of ageing (so do I still need the face serum, now I’m just confused), as well as a bunch of other health benefits.

We all know how I fell about cornmeal (otherwise known as polenta) from my post on lemon polenta cookies where I went a bit nuts over them.

And lemons are great. Especially with tequila.

Case closed.

Now I best be off to rehearsals, we’re less than a week from opening. For those interested in that other part of this Clever Muffin’s life, you can see the photo blog on that here.

Ingredients
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup fine cornmeal (polenta)
1 cup sugar
2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
Grated zest of 1 lemon
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature*
60 grams of butter, melted
1/3 cup natural yogurt
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup blueberries

*If you don’t have buttermilk add a tablespoon of lemon juice to 1 cup normal milk. No biggie.

Method

Preheat oven to 180 C. Grease a 12 cup muffin tin or line with patty cases and spray with cooking oil.
Grate your lemon rind and make buttermilk if needed.
Place flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in bowl and mix together.
Now add your lemon rind, eggs, buttermilk, melted butter, natural yogurt, vanilla essence and blueberries.
Mix until just combined (don’t over mix!)
Spoon into the prepared muffin tin and bake for approx. 20 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean and they bounce back to touch. Cool on wire rack. Makes 12.

Source: Hungry Cravings

Healthy? 206 calories a muffin. And they’re filling too.

Gluten free? These muffins are so dense and moist they’d convert really well with a gluten free flour alternative. I plan to make them for a GF friend soon and will report back.

Storage: They freeze well, otherwise best eaten within a couple of days. Store in airtight container.

Posted in Gluten free adaptable, Low fat, Muffins | Tagged blueberry, blueberry lemon cornmeal muffins, blueberry muffin, cornmeal, food, humor, lemon, low fat, muffin recipes, muffins, recipe | 26 Comments

26 Responses

on 8 July 2012 at 11:18 am | Reply Just A Smidgen

Sold! Or, er, I find the plaintiff “not guilty” Case closed.. a wonderful light treat!!
- on 8 July 2012 at 11:18 am | Reply Aimee@clevermuffin
  
  Thanks smidge! So I’ll put you down for one muffin and one tequila then :p
on 8 July 2012 at 11:29 am | Reply Food Follower

These sound really good, and I’m sure the cornmeal adds an interesting texture!
- on 9 July 2012 at 8:23 am | Reply Aimee@clevermuffin
  
  It does – just a bit more heavier and filling
on 9 July 2012 at 7:12 am | Reply Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide

I love using cornmeal in baked goods. Great muffins!
- on 9 July 2012 at 8:25 am | Reply Aimee@clevermuffin
  
  Definitely a mutual love of ours! My original polenta post links back to your explanation of the lovely grain.
on 9 July 2012 at 7:16 am | Reply Amy

It’s hard to find a good, low-fat muffin that doesn’t stick to the muffin wrapper…so bravo! Love the combo of lemon and blueberry too. Yum
- on 9 July 2012 at 8:26 am | Reply Aimee@clevermuffin
  
  Too true! Nothing more depressing than having to eat your baked good off the wrapper.
on 9 July 2012 at 5:01 pm | Reply Sawsan@ Chef in disguise

I tried some cornmeal waffles the other day and they were amazing, I can’t wait to try these
- on 13 July 2012 at 12:14 pm | Reply Aimee@clevermuffin
  
  Cornmeal waffles! Yum – now that I have to try
on 9 July 2012 at 11:09 pm | Reply Kristy

These remind me of a muffin my sister would make when we were kids. I love them lemon and blueberry combo!
- on 13 July 2012 at 12:14 pm | Reply Aimee@clevermuffin
  
  They are very homely tasting.
on 10 July 2012 at 3:28 am | Reply frugalfeeding

Looks so good, Aimee! IT is saying something that these are your favourite – very impressive
- on 13 July 2012 at 12:15 pm | Reply Aimee@clevermuffin
  
  Thanks! Glad to see my opinion have some weight
on 10 July 2012 at 3:45 am | Reply sarah k @ the pajama chef

i’ve seen alot of savory cornmeal muffins, but never a sweet one. this sounds great!
- on 13 July 2012 at 12:16 pm | Reply Aimee@clevermuffin
  
  True – I have two savoury cornmeal muffin recipes but this is the first sweet.
on 10 July 2012 at 6:29 am | Reply Courtney

Mrs. Muffin, these do look as good as promised – and I totally believe they’re good for you.
- on 13 July 2012 at 12:16 pm | Reply Aimee@clevermuffin
  
  Lol – Mrs Muffin indeed. :p
on 11 July 2012 at 1:15 am | Reply Geni - Sweet and Crumby

Oooooh! These look so summery and fabulous! We are definitely on the same page right now. I just posted a cornmeal cake with berries. Good luck with the play Aimee!
- on 13 July 2012 at 12:17 pm | Reply Aimee@clevermuffin
  
  Cornmeal cake with berries!!! And I was just thinking I should make a cake today. Hoping over now…
on 13 July 2012 at 4:39 am | Reply Stefanie

These look wonderful! Lemon and blueberry is such a great combo, and cornbread muffins are delish, so I can see why these are your new fave! Good luck with rehearsals!
- on 13 July 2012 at 12:18 pm | Reply Aimee@clevermuffin
  
  Thanks! Lemon and blueberry do do wonders together.
on 15 July 2012 at 4:15 am | Reply birgitlikes

Thanks for this recipe. I am trying to loose weight (22 kilograms so far since Janurary) and I´m always looking for low-fat, yet delicious recipe. Baking these definitely is on my To-Do List!
- on 15 July 2012 at 8:14 am | Reply Aimee@clevermuffin
  
  Wow – that’s an amazing effort! Well done. If you want to make them healthier again switch all the butter out for natural yoghurt.
  - on 15 July 2012 at 4:53 pm birgitlikes
    
    Good advice! Thank you very much!
on 17 July 2012 at 3:17 am | Reply The Hook

Another beautiful job! I wish I had more time to visit and sample your blogging wares….