These cranberry orange muffins are moist, fluffy and bursting with juicy cranberries in every chunk! 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 completely 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 they usually’re bursting with orange taste and tart cranberries in every chunk. The orange cranberry combo is chef’s kiss as my daughter Olivia would say!
It’s the right festive recipe to take pleasure in for breakfast or a snack all season lengthy. It might additionally make for a terrific 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
- Excellent texture – These muffins have the right texture! They’re delicate, moist and fluffy… simply how muffins ought to be!
- More healthy – Most bakery model 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 different.
- Straightforward – With easy elements and easy steps, these muffins come collectively in about half-hour from begin to end.
- Versatile – Get pleasure from these muffins for a fast on-the-go breakfast, afternoon snack or serve them at your vacation brunch. Belief me, everybody will love them!
Elements 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 provides the muffins construction.
- pure maple syrup – naturally sweetens the muffins with a delicate maple taste. No refined sugar right here!
- greek yogurt – to switch among the oil I used greek yogurt, which additionally provides a pleasant enhance of protein. I sometimes use full-fat yogurt, however low-fat yogurt can 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 different for an oil-free choice.
- 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 recent orange anyhow for the zest.
- cranberries – can’t have cranberry muffins with out the cranberries! Both recent or frozen ones work for this recipe. No have to thaw in the event you’re utilizing frozen cranberries.
Discover the total ingredient listing with measurements within the recipe card under.
Recipe Substitutions
- All-purpose flour: You’ll be able to swap in complete wheat flour or complete wheat pastry flour for a lift of fiber, however remember the fact that it would make the muffins a bit denser. If you would like a lighter texture, strive utilizing half complete 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 different in the event you don’t have maple syrup available. Simply know that honey will add a barely completely different taste to those muffins.
- Make them gluten-free: I haven’t tried it, however you must have the ability to substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour mix. Simply remember to use a high-quality model for the very best outcomes.
- Make them dairy-free: Use a dairy-free yogurt as an alternative 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 in the event you do strive both of those within the feedback under!
Learn how to Make Cranberry Orange Muffins
The recipe for these cranberry orange muffins is fairly straight ahead. Right here’s find out how 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 massive 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 utterly.
Brittany’s Suggestions!
- Measure flour appropriately: That is essential to make sure your muffins don’t end up dry or dense. Both use a scale or if utilizing a measuring cup, ensure that to fluff your flour up with a fork or spoon first. Then spoon the flour into your measuring cup and use a knife to degree 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 overlook to cut the cranberries: To be sure to get cranberry in each chunk, remember to pulse them in a meals processor earlier than mixing into the batter.
- Don’t over-mix: One of many key steps to attaining 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 straightforward elimination and fewer mess. Should you don’t have liners, ensure that 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 test in the event that they’re achieved. If it comes out clear or with only a few crumbs, they’re prepared to return out of the oven.
Learn how 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 may as well 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.
Ceaselessly Requested Questions
A microplane zester or high-quality grater works greatest for zesting. Be certain 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 be sure to’re measuring your flour appropriately. Both use a scale when you’ve got one or use a measuring cup. If utilizing measuring cups, ensure that to fluff your flour up with a fork or spoon first. Then spoon the flour into your measuring cup and use a knife to degree it off. Don’t pack your flour down!
Over-baking is one other widespread motive for dry muffins. Be certain to test them a couple of minutes earlier than the prompt baking time as ovens can range. 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 recent cranberries as an alternative. Dried cranberries are chewier and sometimes have added sugar, so the sugar content material will go up in these muffins. Dried additionally gained’t provide the juicy bites of cranberries, that are the very best half, IMO! All that stated, 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 most likely wish to use lower than what’s listed for recent or frozen cranberries. I’d begin with 1 cup and add extra if desired.
Extra Muffin Recipes to Strive
You’ll want to try all of my muffin recipes and the total assortment of breakfast recipes right here on EBF!
Should you loved this recipe, please think about leaving a ⭐ star score and let me know the way it went within the 📝 feedback under.
