Cranberry Orange Muffins
Are you ready for one of the BEST muffins you’ll ever taste? Cranberry Orange Muffins are spectacular and certainly one of my favorite comfort foods. These sweet muffins are filled with loads of fresh cranberries, pecans, orange juice and orange zest. The streusel topping has pecans and brown sugar, then the glaze includes powdered sugar and more orange juice. These fruity, juicy muffins are moist and delicious, and so worth making. Not only that, they have humongous muffin tops, plumping up and puffing up so beautifully–not caved in or flattened out due to too much sugar or improper baking temperatures. They are so special.
For years, I never bothered making muffins or cupcakes. I made lots of sweet breads and lots of cakes, but never the smaller version. I’m not sure why. But I’ve been fixated on making muffins for the past year and a half ever since I finally found out the key to making muffins that raise properly. Since then, I’ve posted over 30 different kinds of muffins, much to my own enjoyment. And, hopefully to your enjoyment, too, blogging friends and fans.
For this lovely recipe, I started with an old favorite: Cranberry Fruit Nut Bread. I wanted to make it in muffin form. This one had a whopping 2 cups of sugar contrasted with 3 cups of flour. I knew they would fall flat if I baked them that way, so I decreased the sugar in the muffin and added a little back to the streusel and glaze to keep them sweet enough. I also started the temperature at 425 for 5 minutes. Then I reduced the heat to 350 for the remainder of baking time. That allows the muffins to raise beautifully, then they hold their shape while cooking at the reduced temperature. Topping it off, I added a simple pecan streusel and orange glaze that really made these muffins pop with flavor and texture.
I will admit I love a really high topper on a muffin. I also enjoy making muffins in my extra large enameled muffin tins, too. That makes for one substantial muffin. Certainly enough for any breakfast. The nice thing about these muffins is they can easily be frozen until you need them (which is what I did). I like to make muffins in advance of when I need them to give away to friends, family or folks I’m taking a meal to. If you choose to make the muffins in the larger tins, you won’t have quite the yield as with the regular sized muffin tins, but they’re so substantial one will be enough!
If you want a spectacular, festive and beautiful muffin for the holidays, then look no farther than Cranberry Orange Muffins. I guarantee you’ll want and eat more than one!
My husband’s not a huge muffin fan, but he enjoyed these because they were moist due to all the fruit.
Combine UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour (bleached flour toughens baked goods), remaining sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
Bake at 425 for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 and bake an additional 15-19 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Cranberry Orange Muffins are so beautiful and festive. Perfect for the holidays.
Here’s the recipe.
CRANBERRY ORANGE MUFFINS
(My own concoction)
Prep time 25 mins
Cook time 24 mins
Total time 49 mins
These lovely muffins have super humongous muffin tops and are incredibly festive and beautiful. Filled with cranberries, orange juice and zest and pecans, with a delightful streusel and orange glaze, they make an amazing holiday breakfast.
Author: Teresa Ambra - my own creation Recipe type: Breads, Rolls and Muffins Cuisine: American Serves: 18
Ingredients MUFFINS:
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- 2 tbsp. freshly grated orange peel
- 12-oz. bag fresh or frozen Ocean Spray cranberries, rinsed
- 3 cups Gold Medal UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour (bleached flour toughens baked goods)
- 1 cup sugar (divided use)
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. baking soda
- 2 tbsp. cold unsalted butter or coconut oil
- 1 cup Tropicana orange juice
- 2 eggs, well beaten
- ½ cup Gold Medal UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup finely diced pecans
- 4 tbsp. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, cold
- 1 ½ cups Imperial powdered sugar
- 3 tbsp. orange juice
Instructions MUFFINS:
- Preheat oven to 425°.
- Wash and rinse cranberries.
- Place in large bowl.
- Add nuts, orange peel, and ½ cup sugar.
- Stir well to combine.
- Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl combine flour, remaining ½ cup sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.
- Cut in butter with pastry blender.
- Add orange juice, eggs, and cranberry mixture.
- Stir with wooden spoon to combine.
- Grease muffin tins very generously to avoid sticking.
- Pour muffin batter into prepared muffin tins to the top.
- Add streusel topping.
- Bake at 425° for 5 minutes.
- Reduce heat to 350° and bake muffins an additional 15-19 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
- Cool muffins in pans about 10 minutes before removing to wire rack.
- Drizzle glaze over top.
- Yield: 18 muffins.
- Combine flour, brown sugar and pecans in a mixing bowl.
- Cut in butter with a pastry blender.
- Sprinkle streusel topping evenly over each muffin.
- Press down lightly with fingers so topping adheres to batter. Bake as directed above.
- Combined powdered sugar and as much orange juice as needed to make a glaze.
- Drizzle glaze over top of each muffin when cool.
3.3.3077
Cranberry Orange Muffins are great to make for Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s Day breakfasts when fresh cranberries are in season.
Every bite of Cranberry Orange Muffins will have you drooling!
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