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Cranberry Orange Muffins Recipe: Easy Homemade with Sparkling Sugar Tops

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These cranberry orange muffins are moist, tender, and bursting with fresh citrus flavor and tart cranberries, finished with a crunchy sparkling sugar top. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or gifting, they come together quickly and deliver nostalgic comfort in every bite.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour (or 1:1 gluten-free blend)
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
  • Zest from 1 large orange
  • 1/2 cup whole milk or buttermilk
  • 1 cup fresh cranberries, coarsely chopped (or frozen, unthawed)
  • 2 tablespoons sparkling sugar (turbinado or demerara)
  • Optional: 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
  • Optional: 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with liners or grease well.
  2. Rinse and coarsely chop cranberries. If using frozen, do not thaw.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together melted butter, eggs, orange juice, milk or buttermilk, orange zest, and vanilla extract if using.
  5. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Stir gently with a spatula until just combined; do not overmix.
  6. Fold in cranberries and nuts if using.
  7. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each about 3/4 full.
  8. Sprinkle sparkling sugar on top of each muffin.
  9. Bake for 18-22 minutes, until tops are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.
  10. Cool muffins in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

For gluten-free muffins, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. For dairy-free, substitute almond milk and coconut oil. Do not overmix the batter for tender muffins. Zest the orange before juicing. If using dried cranberries, soak in warm orange juice for 10 minutes before adding. Muffins freeze well for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry orange muffins, easy muffins, breakfast, brunch, sparkling sugar, holiday baking, citrus muffins, homemade muffins

Find it online: https://atomicbite.com/cranberry-orange-muffins-recipe-easy-homemade-with-sparkling-sugar-tops/