Easy Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 (18 1/4 ounce) package lemon cake mix
1 (3 1/2 ounce) package vanilla instant pudding mix (4-serving size)
4 eggs
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup poppy seed
2 teaspoons lemon zest, grated
1/4 cup sugar

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350*.
Prepare muffin tins: grease or paper line one 12-cup and one 6-cup tin.
Combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, ricotta, oil, poppy seeds and lemon zest in a large mixing bowl.
Beat on medium speed with electric mixer for 2 minutes.
Spoon batter into prepared muffin tins.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until tops spring back when touched lightly.
Sprinkle tops with sugar, if desired.
Note: For a variation, you may omit the poppy seeds, and substitute with 1 cup chopped almonds. You may also use an equal amount of yogurt as a substitute for the ricotta cheese.