Glazed Cranberry Orange Muffins - The Best Holiday Muffins

Indulge in the delightful taste of these moist and flavorful Cranberry Orange Muffins! Packed with the tangy sweetness of cranberries and the bright citrus notes of orange... These muffins are the perfect treat for any occasion!

These Cranberry Orange Muffins are the perfect pick-me-up, whether you're fueling up for a busy day or treating yourself to a mid-afternoon delight.

Just like my Cranberry bread with Orange glaze... The combination of whole wheat flour, fresh cranberries, and zesty orange creates a wholesome and delicious treat that's perfect for the whole family. So bake up a batch of these irresistible muffins!

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love These Cranberry Orange Muffins
• Tips for Perfect Muffins
• Simple Ingredients
• How to Make Cranberry Orange Muffins
• Recipe Card
• Glazed Cranberry Orange Muffins

Why You'll Love These Cranberry Orange Muffins

1. A Burst of Flavor: The perfect blend of sweet and tart, these muffins offer a delightful taste of citrus especially in the winter. The tangy cranberries and zesty orange create a flavor explosion that will leave you craving more!
2. Moist & Delicious: These muffins are incredibly moist and tender, thanks to the perfect balance of wet and dry ingredients. They're the ideal breakfast treat or afternoon snack.
3. Easy to Make: With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, these muffins are easy to whip up, even for novice bakers!

Tips for Perfect Muffins

• Don't Overmix: Overmixing can lead to tough muffins. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
• Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Room temperature ingredients combine more evenly.
• Don't Overfill the Muffin Tin: Filling the cups too full can lead to misshapen muffins.
• Don't Open the Oven Door Too Often: Opening the oven door too frequently can cause the muffins to lose heat and take longer to bake.

Simple Ingredients

The recipe calls for simple, wholesome ingredients like whole wheat flour, fresh cranberries, and zesty orange.

• 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour (180 grams). OR YOU CAN ALSO USE ALL PURPOSE FLOUR.
• 1.5 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup milk
• 1 orange - zest (divided) and ⅓ cup + 1.5 tablespoons juice from one large orange
• 7 tablespoons butter, melted
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 ½ cups fresh cranberries, sliced in half
• 1 tablespoon flour to dust cranberries

For The Orange Glaze

• 1 cup of powdered sugar
• ½ the zest and 1.5 tablespoons juice from the orange above

How to Make Cranberry Orange Muffins

Before you get started, Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. and move the oven rack to the center position.

1. Prep the Cranberries: Slice the cranberries in half, then toss them with 1 tablespoon of flour. This helps prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the batter;)
2. Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, sugar, eggs, orange zest, and orange juice until well combined.
3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the muffins tough.  

1. Add Cranberries: Gently fold in the floured cranberries.
2. Prepare Muffin Tin: Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners. This helps prevent the muffins from sticking and makes them easier to remove.

1. Fill Muffin Tin: Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups, filling them about two-thirds full.
2. Bake: Bake in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
3. Cool: Let the muffins cool in the tin for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
4. Make the Glaze: While the muffins are cooling, whisk together the powdered sugar, orange zest, and orange juice until smooth.
5. Glaze the Muffins: Once the muffins are completely cooled, use a spoon to drizzle the glaze over the tops of the muffins. Tip: For a more dramatic drizzle, hold the spoon a little higher above the muffin and let the glaze drip down the sides.

Recipe Card

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