If you’re anything like me, there’s something absolutely magical about biting into a perfectly moist muffin with that gorgeous crackly pearl sugar topping.

These glazed muffins with pearl sugar are seriously next level, and I’m so excited to share this recipe with you today!

I’ve been making these beauties for months now, and honestly, they disappear so fast in my house.

The combination of bright citrus flavors, that sweet pearl sugar crunch, and the surprise lemon curd filling in the middle? Pure heaven.

Let me walk you through exactly how to make these showstoppers.

Why You’re Going to Love These Muffins

First off, can we talk about that pearl sugar? If you’ve never baked with it before, you’re in for such a treat. Those little crunchy bits stay perfectly crispy even after baking, giving you the most satisfying texture contrast with the soft, fluffy muffin underneath.

But what really makes these special is the triple lemon hit. We’ve got fresh lemon zest rubbed into the sugar, lemon extract in the batter, and then that gorgeous lemon curd filling that oozes out when you take a bite. It’s like sunshine in muffin form, honestly.

The pearl sugar technique I use is a bit different from what you might be used to. Instead of just sprinkling it on top, we actually swirl some into the batter first, then add more to the center. As the muffins rise, that sugar spreads outward and creates the most beautiful crystallized top. Trust me on this one!

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Muffins:

100ml sunflower oil
75g melted butter
150ml whole milk
1 large egg
300g self-raising flour
200g caster sugar
3 lemons, zested
1 lime, zested
1 tsp lemon extract
50g pearl sugar

For the Filling and Glaze:

200g lemon curd
100g icing sugar
2 tbsp water

Let’s Make These Gorgeous Muffins

Step 1: Get Your Oven Ready

Preheat your oven to 200°C (392°F) and line a muffin tin with paper liners. Remember to space them out and don’t fill every cavity! This helps them rise beautifully with those perfect domed tops.

Step 2: Infuse That Sugar

In a mixing bowl, add your lemon zest, lime zest, and sugar. Use your fingertips to rub everything together, really massaging it to release all those natural citrus oils. You’ll smell the difference!

Step 3: Mix the Wet Ingredients

Add the sunflower oil, melted butter, whole milk, lemon extract, and egg to your fragrant sugar mixture. Mix until everything is smooth and combined.

Step 4: Add the Flour

Add the self-raising flour and mix until just combined. Don’t overmix! A few lumps are totally fine and will disappear during baking.

Step 5: Fill Those Liners

Fill each muffin cup about 2/3 full with the batter. An ice cream scoop works perfectly for this and keeps them all the same size.

Step 6: The Pearl Sugar Magic

Top each muffin with a small amount of pearl sugar, then use a toothpick to swirl it into the top of the batter. Add more pearl sugar, focusing on the center of each muffin. As they rise, the sugar will spread outward!

Step 7: Bake to Perfection

Lower your oven temperature to 180°C (350°F) and bake for 20 minutes. Start checking at 18 minutes with a toothpick. It should come out clean when they’re done.

Step 8: Cool Down Time

Remove the muffins from the oven and let them cool in the tin for a few minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 9: Add the Lemon Curd Surprise

After cooling for 20 minutes, fill a piping bag with lemon curd. Use a knife to pierce a small hole from the top to the bottom of each muffin. Fill each one generously with that gorgeous lemon curd!

Step 10: Make the Glaze

Combine the icing sugar, lemon extract, and water until you have a thick paste. It should be thick enough to hold its shape.

Step 11: The Final Touch

Fill a piping bag with your icing and pipe a circle on top of each muffin, right over the lemon curd filling. This seals everything in and adds that beautiful glossy finish.

Tips for Perfect Muffins Every Time

The key to getting that incredible citrus flavor is really taking the time to rub the zest into the sugar. Don’t rush this step! You’re breaking down those cell walls and releasing all the natural oils.

When you’re adding the flour, be gentle. Over-mixing creates tough, dense muffins, and we want light and fluffy ones. Mix until you just can’t see any dry flour anymore, then stop.

The pearl sugar placement is super important too. By swirling some in first and then adding more to the center, you get coverage all over the top as the muffin rises. It’s such a simple trick but makes a huge difference!

Storing and Serving

These muffins are absolutely best the day you make them. That’s when the pearl sugar is at its crunchiest and the muffins are at their fluffiest. But honestly, they’re still delicious the next day!

Store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll keep for about 2 days, though I doubt they’ll last that long. The pearl sugar might soften slightly, but the flavor stays amazing.

I love serving these for brunch with friends or just enjoying them with my morning coffee. They feel fancy enough for special occasions but they’re easy enough to make any weekend.

Why This Recipe Works

The combination of oil and butter in the batter is what makes these muffins so incredibly moist. The oil keeps them tender, while the butter adds that rich, delicious flavor. It’s the best of both worlds!

Using both lemon and lime zest gives you a more complex citrus flavor that’s really special. The lime adds just a tiny bit of that tropical brightness that makes people say “wow, what’s in these?”

And that lemon curd center? It’s like finding treasure in the middle of your muffin. Every bite is a little adventure!

Make Them Your Own

Once you’ve mastered this recipe, feel free to play around with it! You could try orange zest instead of lime, or add a handful of blueberries to the batter. Some poppy seeds would be gorgeous too.

The glaze is also customizable. You could add a bit of lime juice instead of lemon extract, or even try a light cream cheese frosting if you’re feeling fancy.

Final Thoughts

There’s something so satisfying about pulling a tray of perfect muffins out of the oven. That golden top studded with sparkly pearl sugar, the amazing citrus smell filling your kitchen, knowing there’s a surprise lemon curd center waiting inside.

These glazed muffins with pearl sugar have become my go-to recipe when I want to impress someone or just treat myself. They look bakery-worthy but they’re actually really simple to make once you know the tricks.

Give them a try this weekend! I promise you’ll love them just as much as I do. Happy baking, and enjoy every single delicious bite!