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Best Christmas Morning Cranberry Orange Muffins

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These tender, sweet muffins feature whole cranberries that burst with tartness in every bite, brightened with orange zest and juice. A Christmas morning tradition that’s quick, easy, and absolutely delicious.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • ¾ cup buttermilk, shaken
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil (or avocado oil)
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar (for cranberry mixture)
  • 1½ cups fresh or frozen cranberries (if frozen, do not thaw)
  • Zest of 1 large orange (about 1 tablespoon)
  • ¼ cup fresh orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted (for glaze)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice (for glaze)
  • ½ teaspoon orange zest (for glaze)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
  2. In a small bowl, combine cranberries with ⅓ cup sugar and orange zest. Stir and let sit while preparing batter.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, remaining ¾ cup sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt for about 15 seconds.
  4. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together buttermilk, oil, egg, vanilla extract, and fresh orange juice until smooth and emulsified.
  5. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Stir with a rubber spatula using broad, gentle strokes just until no streaks of flour remain (12-15 strokes). Do not overmix.
  6. Fold in the cranberry mixture (including any syrupy liquid) with 5-6 gentle folds until evenly distributed.
  7. Divide batter evenly among 12 muffin cups, filling each about ¾ full. A cookie scoop works well.
  8. Bake for 15-18 minutes, rotating pan halfway through, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Tops should be golden and spring back when pressed.
  9. Let muffins cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  10. While muffins cool, make glaze: whisk together powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons orange juice, and ½ teaspoon orange zest until smooth. Drizzle over warm (not hot) muffins.

Notes

Do not overmix the batter; a few lumps are fine. Room temperature ingredients help muffins rise higher. The sugar-cranberry rest is essential for flavor. For best results, use fresh baking powder. Muffins can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://cookluma.com/best-christmas-morning-cranberry-orange-muffins/