Recipe: Vegan Lemon chia Seed Muffins

2 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar

2 Tbsp Chia seeds Iswari

1 Tbsp. lemon zest 

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cardamom

1/2 cup almond milk, room temperature

8 Tbsp. vegan butter, melted and cooled

2 large eggs, room temperature ( for vegan recipe use 1/2 cup egg replacer )

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (juice from 1 lemon)

2 tsp. lemon extract.

Streusel topping

1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup brown sugar

3 Tbsp. unsalted vegan butter cold and cut into small pieces

1 tsp. lemon zest

1/4 cup slivered almonds (optional)

Lemon Glaze

1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 Tbsp. lemon juice

1 Tbsp.  vegan butter, melted

1 Tbsp Chia seeds Iswari

1. Preheat oven to 380°F. Line a cupcake tin with cupcake liners or spray with non stick baking spray. Make the streusel topping first: combine the flour, brown sugar, almonds (optional) and lemon zest in a medium sized bowl. Add the pieces of cold butter into the bowl and use a pastry blender or fork to cut the butter into the mixture until it is the texture of coarse meal. You do not want it to become a cohesive dough. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, chia seeds , baking powder, baking soda, salt, lemon zest and cardamom together.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk the milk, butter, eggs or egg replacement , lemon juice and lemon extract together until smooth. Gently fold in this mixture (10-12 stirs) into the flour mixture until just combined. It will be very light and fluffy & it's OK if it's not all mixed.
4. Use a 1/4 cup measuring cup to scoop batter into each cupcake tin. Then top each muffin with about ~1 Tbsp. streusel topping. Place in oven and immediately turn the oven to 400°F (this helps ensure a dome on your muffins instead of flat muffin tops!) Bake for 15-17 minutes or until you insert a toothpick and it comes out clean.
5. Prepare the glaze : While muffins  cool, make the frosting. Stir together a tablespoon of lemon juice, melted butter, and powdered sugar until smooth. Drizzle over the muffins    once they have completely cooled and garnish with lemon zest and chia seeds 
6. Enjoy!