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Perfect Cranberry Orange Christmas Morning Muffins

cranberry orange muffins - featured image
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These tender, golden muffins are studded with tart cranberries and bright orange zest, creating a perfect balance of sweet and tangy. A happy accident turned tradition, they’re quick to make and ideal for holiday gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Zest of 2 large oranges (about 2 tablespoons)
  • 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup (180ml) buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups (170g) fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar (for glaze)
  • 2–3 tablespoons fresh orange juice (for glaze)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (for glaze)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease well.
  2. Zest both oranges and rub the zest into the granulated sugar with your fingers for about 1 minute until fragrant and pale orange.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  4. In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter, eggs, buttermilk, vanilla extract, and the orange-sugar mixture until smooth.
  5. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and fold with a rubber spatula until just combined (a few streaks of flour are okay).
  6. Gently fold in cranberries with 3-4 strokes.
  7. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each about 3/4 full.
  8. Bake for 18-22 minutes, until tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center (avoiding cranberries) comes out clean.
  9. Cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  10. For the glaze: whisk together powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons orange juice, and vanilla extract. Add more orange juice 1 teaspoon at a time until desired consistency. Drizzle over cooled muffins.

Notes

For best texture, do not overmix the batter. Use frozen cranberries straight from the freezer to prevent them from bleeding. Rub orange zest into sugar to release essential oils for maximum flavor. Rotate the pan halfway through baking for even browning.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry orange muffins, Christmas muffins, holiday breakfast, easy muffin recipe, cranberry orange

Find it online: https://lolaspoon.com/perfect-cranberry-orange-christmas-morning-muffins/