Cranberry Orange Muffins Recipe

Cranberries Walnuts and Orange Juice for a Sweet Tender Muffin

Nov 8, 2009 Donna Diegel

Orange juice and zest combine with fresh Ocean Spray cranberries and walnuts for a festive Thanksgiving brunch idea. Quick & easy orange cranberry muffins are delicious.

Fresh and frozen Ocean Spray cranberries are the perfect holiday fruit for baked goods and pastries. Cranberries are easy to use. Just add a few cups of fresh or frozen cranberries to quick breads, pancakes, Thanksgiving turkey stuffing, or these fragrant orange muffins for a festive touch. Not to be confused with Craisins – dried sweetened cranberries – fresh or frozen cranberries add a delightful tart taste to sweet orange muffins.

Orange Cranberry Muffins Recipe

• 3 cups all-purpose King Arthur unbleached flour
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, ground
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 stick butter or margarine, melted (1/2 cup)
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup orange juice, pulp or no pulp
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons pure orange extract
• 1 teaspoon fresh orange orange zest (peel)
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries (If using frozen cranberries, do not thaw them first.)
• 1 cup chopped walnuts, pecan or almonds, optional
• Castor or coarse sugar for sprinkling (Granulated sugar can be used as well.)

How To Make Orange Cranberry Muffins

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line muffin tins with paper cupcake liners, or spray non-stick muffins pans, and set aside.
3. Combine all-purpose flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.
4. In a small saucepan, melt butter and set aside to cool slightly.
5. Whisk milk, orange juice, eggs, orange extract and orange zest together in a large mixing bowl.
6. Add sugar to the milk mixture and beat or whisk well. Add melted butter and mix again.
7. Fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients with a large plastic spatula or wooden spoon, and mix only until moistened and blended. Do not over mix batter or the muffins will be tough.
8. Carefully fold chopped walnuts, pecans or almonds, and fresh or frozen cranberries into batter.
9. Scoop muffin batter 3/4 full into prepared pans. Sprinkle a little coarse sugar on each muffin top.
10. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 25-30 minutes or until muffin tops spring back when touched.
11. Wait 5 minutes until the muffins can be handled, then carefully remove to a wire cooling rack.
12. Let cranberry orange muffins cool completely before storing in air tight containers. Freeze muffins for up to 3 months.
13. Makes 15 regular size muffins. Recipe can be doubled with good success.

Try These Great Muffin Recipes:

Blackberry Muffin Recipe with Fresh Blackberries - Blackberry Muffins with brown sugar & pecan streusel topping. Baked with fresh or frozen blackberries and spices, muffins are quick and easy breakfast pastries and desserts.

Blueberry, Strawberry and Apple Cinnamon Muffins Recipe - Looking for awesome muffin recipes? Blueberry Muffins, Strawberry Muffins and Apple Cinnamon Muffins are loaded with fruit, have a moist tender crumb and they don't need a mixer to make them.

Peach Muffin Recipe With Fresh Ripe Peaches - The smell of warm peach muffins with brown sugar & pecan streusel topping right out of the oven, will make anyone drool!

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Orange Cranberry Muffins