Quick Festive Cranberry Orange (Printer View)

Fluffy muffins with tangy cranberries and bright orange zest, perfect for festive breakfasts or snacks.

# What you'll need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

06 - 2 large eggs
07 - 1/2 cup vegetable oil
08 - 3/4 cup buttermilk (or milk with 1 teaspoon lemon juice)
09 - Zest of 1 large orange
10 - 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
11 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Add-ins

12 - 1 1/4 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, halved if large
13 - 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

→ Topping (optional)

14 - 2 tablespoons coarse sugar
15 - 1 teaspoon orange zest

# Method:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease thoroughly.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, vegetable oil, buttermilk, orange zest, orange juice, and vanilla extract until smooth.
04 - Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir gently just until incorporated without overmixing.
05 - Fold in cranberries and nuts if using, ensuring even distribution throughout the batter.
06 - Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups. Optionally, sprinkle coarse sugar and additional orange zest on top.
07 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until muffin tops are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
08 - Allow muffins to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Moist and fluffy texture
  • Tart cranberries combined with zesty orange flavor
02 -
  • Substitute buttermilk with plain yogurt or sour cream for extra moisture
  • Use dried cranberries if fresh are unavailable but reduce sugar slightly as dried are sweeter
03 -
  • Do not overmix batter to keep muffins light and fluffy
  • Halve large cranberries to prevent sinking
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