Description
These Cranberry, Orange, and Pecan Muffins are bursting with festive flavors and make a delightful addition to any breakfast or snack. The combination of tart cranberries, zesty orange, and crunchy pecans creates a perfect balance of sweet and tangy in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 ¼ cups all‑purpose flour
- 1 ⅛ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp kosher salt
Wet Ingredients:
- ½ cup salted butter, softened
- ½ cup + 2 Tbsp packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup whole milk or buttermilk
- 1 tsp orange zest
Additions:
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- ½ cup chopped fresh cranberries
- Optional: 2 Tbsp pecans and cranberries reserved for topping
- Optional: sanding sugar for topping
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 350 °F and line a 12‑cup muffin tin with liners.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla, mix until smooth.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, ginger, and salt.
- Alternate Mixing: Gradually add flour mixture alternating with milk, beat until just combined.
- Add Flavors: Fold in orange zest, cranberries, and pecans.
- Fill Muffin Cups: Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, about ¾ full.
- Add Toppings: Optionally top each muffin with reserved cranberries, pecans, and a sprinkle of sanding sugar.
- Bake: Bake for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool and Serve: Allow muffins to cool in the pan for 5–10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
Notes
- Reserve some cranberries and pecans for topping the muffins before baking for a decorative finish.
- Do not overmix the batter to keep muffins light and tender.
- These muffins freeze well—cool completely and store in the freezer for up to two months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 muffin
- Calories: 175 kcal
- Sugar: 13 g
- Sodium: 173 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
