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Cranberry Orange Muffins Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 74 reviews

These Cranberry Orange Muffins are a delightful blend of tart fresh cranberries and zesty orange flavor, perfect for a cozy breakfast or a sweet snack. Soft, moist, and topped with a tangy orange glaze, they’re easy to bake and bring a festive touch to any table.

Ingredients

Scale

Muffins

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp orange zest
  • 2 cups fresh cranberries

Orange Glaze

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tbsp fresh orange juice

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners to prepare for baking.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Set this mixture aside for later use.
  3. Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk the granulated sugar, eggs, vegetable oil, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and thoroughly combined.
  4. Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture into the wet mixture, whisking gently just until combined. Avoid overmixing to keep muffins tender.
  5. Add Flavor and Fruit: Gently fold in the fresh orange zest and fresh cranberries until distributed evenly throughout the batter.
  6. Fill Muffin Cups and Bake: Fill each muffin cup about two-thirds full with the batter. Bake in the preheated oven for 22 to 25 minutes, or until the muffin tops are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  7. Cool Muffins: Remove muffins from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the tin before removing. Cooling fully is important before glazing.
  8. Prepare Orange Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and fresh orange juice until smooth and slightly thickened. If the glaze is too thin, add additional powdered sugar one spoonful at a time until desired consistency is reached.
  9. Glaze and Serve: Drizzle the orange glaze over the cooled muffins. Let the glaze set for a few minutes before serving to enjoy the full flavor combination of tart cranberries and bright orange zest.

Notes

  • Use fresh cranberries for the best tart flavor; frozen can be substituted but thaw and drain them first to avoid excess moisture.
  • Be careful not to overmix the batter to prevent dense muffins.
  • For a dairy-free version, substitute milk with almond or oat milk and ensure the glaze uses a juice-based sweetener.
  • Orange zest adds essential bright citrus notes; avoid the white pith to prevent bitterness.
  • Allow muffins to cool fully before glazing to prevent the glaze from melting off.

Keywords: cranberry orange muffins, orange glaze, berry muffins, breakfast muffins, holiday muffins, moist muffins, quick baking

Find it online: https://tastybella.com/cranberry-orange-muffins-recipe/