Heat oven to 375 degrees and line a regular size muffin tin with liners.
Whisk all dry ingredients together – flour through baking soda.
In a KitchenAid or separate mixing bowl with hand mixer, combine cottage cheese, milk, lemon juice, eggs, and butter. Pour into dry ingredients and fold together with a spatula.
Dollop muffin batter into muffin liners filling 3/4 full. Bake for 25 minutes or until the top of each muffin rises to a dome and looks golden brown.
If you opt to add glaze to the top – totally optional – while the muffins bake, simmer the sugar and lemon juice together on the stove to make a lemon syrup. When muffins come out of the oven use a pastry brush to coat the top of each muffin and while still warm, sprinkle turbinado sugar.