Last year I heard about a family who makes cranberry orange muffins every Christmas morning. I love to make homemade foods, and although I am horrible at baking, I have a desperate secret desire to get good at just a few recipes. Specifically recipes that I can make a tradition for our family on various holidays, like Christmas.
I decided that I would try the cranberry orange muffins last year, and it was a hit. I think we will make this our new Christmas morning tradition along with our reindeer pancakes!
My recipe is adapted from Two Peas and Their Pod. Its simple, quick and uses pretty common ingredients. Special tip >> I always add a glaze on top of the muffins—a mixture of about 1 cup of confectioners sugar and 3 Tbsp orange juice. Yum!
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 orange (zest)
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp orange juice
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 cup cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F, and grease your muffin tin (or use my favorite silicone muffin liners).
- Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
- Combine sugar and orange zest, by rubbing with your fingers.
- Now grab your mixer's bowl, and beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Then add eggs, vanilla, orange juice, and milk. Mix until combined, then add flour.
- Stir in the cranberries.
- Fill muffin cups about 3/4 full (I like to use a cookie scoop or small measuring cup for this).
- Sprinkle muffins with sugar.
- Bake for 25 minutes.
- Let muffins cool for 5 minutes on a wire rack.
- If possible, eat the warm and fresh after that! (I always add a glaze on top of the muffins—a mixture of about 1 cup of confectioners sugar and 3 Tbsp orange juice. Yum!)
And since I mentioned our reindeer pancakes, I can’t resist sharing a quick picture of those too. WE LOVE MAKING THESE on Christmas morning!!
P.S. Did you know you can freeze cranberries? I like to buy them when they are on sale for $.50 and freeze them to make fresh muffins in the middle of the winter or at another time of year. On another note, these muffins are excellent after frozen too – so make a double batch and freeze some for quick snacks later! 🙂
