Orange Cranberry Breakfast Muffins (Printable)
Zesty orange and tart cranberry flavors combine in moist, bright morning muffins.
# What's Needed:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
04 - ½ teaspoon baking soda
05 - ½ teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
06 - 2 large eggs
07 - ½ cup vegetable oil
08 - ¾ cup buttermilk (or milk with 1 teaspoon lemon juice)
09 - Zest of 1 large orange
10 - ⅓ cup fresh orange juice
11 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Add-Ins
12 - 1½ cups fresh or frozen cranberries (halved if large)
13 - 2 tablespoons coarse sugar (optional, for topping)
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or lightly grease the cups.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly mixed.
03 - In a separate bowl, beat eggs thoroughly. Whisk in vegetable oil, buttermilk, orange zest, orange juice, and vanilla extract until well combined.
04 - Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Gently fold with a spatula until just combined, avoiding overmixing to maintain muffin tenderness.
05 - Evenly fold in cranberries, ensuring they are distributed throughout the batter.
06 - Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups. Optionally, sprinkle tops with coarse sugar for a crunchy finish.
07 - Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
08 - Allow muffins to cool in the tin for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
# Tips for Success:
01 -
- They stay ridiculously moist for days, which means you can actually enjoy them beyond the first morning.
- The tartness of cranberries cuts through the sweetness in a way that feels bright and energizing, not heavy.
- That orange zest lifts everything—it's like a little burst of happiness in every bite.
02 -
- Don't overmix the batter—I learned this the embarrassing way by making dense hockey pucks; lumpy batter is your goal.
- Fresh cranberries work beautifully, but frozen ones are just as good and sometimes more convenient since you can use them straight from the freezer.
03 -
- Use a zester instead of a microplane for orange zest—you'll get bigger pieces that add texture and flavor.
- Room-temperature eggs and buttermilk blend more smoothly and create a more tender crumb.