These cranberry orange muffins are moist, fluffy and bursting with juicy cranberries in every chew! They’re made with healthful elements and naturally sweetened with maple syrup.
When brainstorming new vacation recipes to share this 12 months I knew I wanted to develop a recipe for wholesome cranberry orange muffins.
And let me let you know, after testing 4 totally different variations, I feel I nailed this recipe. These are the very best cranberry orange muffins I’ve ever had, if I don’t say so myself!
These muffins are SO fluffy and moist and so they’re bursting with orange taste and tart cranberries in every chew. The orange cranberry combo is chef’s kiss as my daughter Olivia would say!
It’s the right festive recipe to get pleasure from for breakfast or a snack all season lengthy. It will additionally make for an incredible addition to your Christmas brunch alongside my make-ahead breakfast casserole, air fryer breakfast potatoes, fruit salad and apple cider mimosas.
Why You’ll Love These Muffins
- Good texture – These muffins have the right texture! They’re delicate, moist and fluffy… simply how muffins needs to be!
- More healthy – Most bakery fashion muffins are made with white sugar, butter or vegetable oil, however not these ones! These cranberry orange muffins are made with greek yogurt, heart-healthy olive oil and maple syrup, making them a more healthy various.
- Simple – With easy elements and simple steps, these muffins come collectively in about half-hour from begin to end.
- Versatile – Take pleasure in these muffins for a fast on-the-go breakfast, afternoon snack or serve them at your vacation brunch. Belief me, everybody will love them!
Components Wanted
- all-purpose flour – I used all-purpose flour for these muffins to maintain them completely delicate and fluffy.
- baking powder and baking soda – these work collectively to assist the muffins rise completely.
- floor cinnamon – provides a heat, cozy contact that enhances the intense citrus taste and tart cranberries.
- eggs – helps bind all the pieces collectively and offers the muffins construction.
- pure maple syrup – naturally sweetens the muffins with a delicate maple taste. No refined sugar right here!
- greek yogurt – to switch a few of the oil I used greek yogurt, which additionally provides a pleasant enhance of protein. I sometimes use full-fat yogurt, however low-fat yogurt may even work.
- olive oil or applesauce – to maintain these muffins further moist I sometimes use olive oil or avocado oil, however applesauce is a superb various for an oil-free possibility.
- orange juice and orange zest – two must-have elements for this recipe! For the very best orange taste I counsel utilizing freshly squeezed orange juice. Plus, you’ll want a contemporary orange in any case for the zest.
- cranberries – can’t have cranberry muffins with out the cranberries! Both contemporary or frozen ones work for this recipe. No must thaw should you’re utilizing frozen cranberries.
Discover the total ingredient record with measurements within the recipe card under.
Recipe Substitutions
- All-purpose flour: You may swap in entire wheat flour or entire wheat pastry flour for a lift of fiber, however needless to say it’d make the muffins a bit denser. If you need a lighter texture, strive utilizing half entire wheat and half all-purpose.
- Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt provides a bit of additional protein and a pleasant creaminess, however any yogurt will do the trick, attempt to keep away from yogurts with added flavors or sugars.
- Maple syrup: Honey is a superb various should you don’t have maple syrup readily available. Simply know that honey will add a barely totally different taste to those muffins.
- Make them gluten-free: I haven’t tried it, however you must be capable of substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour mix. Simply be sure you use a high-quality model for the very best outcomes.
- Make them dairy-free: Use a dairy-free yogurt as a substitute of greek yogurt.
- Make them egg-free: I haven’t tried it, however you can strive a vegan substitute like chia eggs or flax eggs. Let me know should you do strive both of those within the feedback under!
The best way to Make Cranberry Orange Muffins
The recipe for these cranberry orange muffins is fairly straight ahead. Right here’s the right way to make them:
Step 1: In a medium bowl, combine collectively your flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
Step 2: In a separate giant mixing bowl add your eggs, maple syrup, greek yogurt, oil, orange juice, orange zest and vanilla. Whisk collectively till easy and mixed.
Step 3: Add your flour combination to the moist elements and blend collectively till simply mixed. Don’t over combine!
Step 4: Gently stir within the chopped cranberries.
Step 5: Divide the batter evenly between your muffin pan.
Step 6: Bake for 20-22 minutes, or till a toothpick inserted comes out clear. Let the muffins cool for a couple of minutes, then switch to a wire rack to chill fully.
Brittany’s Suggestions!
- Measure flour accurately: That is necessary to make sure your muffins don’t prove dry or dense. Both use a scale or if utilizing a measuring cup, be sure to fluff your flour up with a fork or spoon first. Then spoon the flour into your measuring cup and use a knife to stage it off. Don’t pack your flour down!
- Zest earlier than juicing: It’s a lot simpler to zest your orange earlier than juicing!
- Don’t neglect to cut the cranberries: To ensure you get cranberry in each chew, be sure you pulse them in a meals processor earlier than mixing into the batter.
- Don’t over-mix: One of many key steps to reaching fluffy, tender muffins is to keep away from over-mixing the batter. Stir till simply mixed for the very best texture. It’s okay if there are nonetheless a couple of flour streaks seen, particularly because you’ll be mixing the batter as soon as once more whenever you add the cranberries.
- Use silicone or paper liners: These make for simple removing and fewer mess. When you don’t have liners, be sure to completely grease the muffin tins. These are my favourite silicone muffin cups.
- Take a look at for doneness: Insert a toothpick into the middle of a muffin to examine in the event that they’re achieved. If it comes out clear or with just some crumbs, they’re prepared to come back out of the oven.
The best way to Retailer Muffins
These muffins retailer very well. Retailer them in an hermetic container at room temperature for 2-3 days or within the fridge for 4-5 days.
You can too freeze these for longer storage. I like to recommend utilizing a freezer-safe container and storing them for as much as 3 months. Thaw within the fridge or at room temperature earlier than having fun with.
Often Requested Questions
A microplane zester or nice grater works greatest for zesting. Be sure that to solely grate the outermost orange layer of the peel (the zest), avoiding the white pith, which may be bitter.
Including an excessive amount of flour can lead to dry muffins, so ensure you’re measuring your flour accurately. Both use a scale when you’ve got one or use a measuring cup. If utilizing measuring cups, be sure to fluff your flour up with a fork or spoon first. Then spoon the flour into your measuring cup and use a knife to stage it off. Don’t pack your flour down!
Over-baking is one other widespread cause for dry muffins. Be sure that to examine them a couple of minutes earlier than the instructed baking time as ovens can fluctuate. Take away them from the oven as quickly as a toothpick comes out clear.
Whereas you should use dried cranberries, I’d extremely advocate sticking to frozen or contemporary cranberries as a substitute. Dried cranberries are chewier and sometimes have added sugar, so the sugar content material will go up in these muffins. Dried additionally received’t provide the juicy bites of cranberries, that are the very best half, IMO! All that mentioned, if you wish to use dried cranberries I’d rehydrate them first by letting them soak in heat water for 10-Quarter-hour, then pat dry then combine into the batter. You’ll additionally in all probability need to use lower than what’s listed for contemporary or frozen cranberries. I’d begin with 1 cup and add extra if desired.
Extra Muffin Recipes to Strive
Make sure to take a look at all of my muffin recipes and the total assortment of breakfast recipes right here on EBF!
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