Cranberry Orange Muffins

This Cranberry Orange Muffin recipe is so festive and flavorful! Made with fresh cranberries, orange zest, and a hint of rosemary, they are perfect for the holiday table! Vegan and GF adaptable.

It’s hard to believe, but these delicious, festive Cranberry Orange Muffins made with fresh cranberries are not only vegan, they can also be gluten-free! Created by my friend Alison over at Boots Bakery and Lounge, they offer lots of fresh, bright flavor. The orange glaze and rosemary bring them over the top, a tasty treat for the holiday season.

Why You’ll Love This!

1. Vegan and gluten-free. If you’re looking for a tasty treat to serve during the holidays that is both free of eggs and dairy and gluten-free, this is it!
2. Ingredients you recognize. These muffins are made with simple, healthy ingredients that you know and love—and likely already have on hand.
3. Easy, yet impressive recipe! With only a few simple steps these muffins are incredibly easy to make, but the orange glaze over top makes these muffins look quite impressive!
4. Perfect for holiday treats. Bring these bakery-style muffins to any special holiday occasion. They are delicious and make for a beautiful display.
5. Bursting with fresh flavor. These vibrant muffins have so much fresh flavor from the fresh cranberries, orange, and rosemary. Plus, they will make your home smell delicious!

Cranberry Orange Muffin Ingredients

• Gluten-free flour: use a gluten-free flour blend, like Bob’s Redmill one-to-one blend. Of course, you can use regular all-purpose flour!
• Gluten-free oats: Add a subtle nutty flavor and a bit of texture to the muffins. They also contribute to the overall moisture and tenderness. Feel free to sub more flour.
• Cane Sugar and Brown Sugar: Provide sweetness to the muffins and helps to enhance the flavors of the tart cranberries and orange. It also helps to achieve a light and tender texture.
• Baking soda: A leavening agent that helps the muffins rise and become fluffy. It reacts with the acidic ingredients in the batter, such as the orange zest, juice and apple cider vinegar, to create light pockets of air.
• Salt: Enhances the flavors of all the ingredients and helps to balance the sweetness in the muffins.
• Fresh Orange: We use the zest and the fresh orange juice to add a bright orange flavor to the muffins.
• Chopped rosemary: Adds a subtle earthy and pine-like flavor to the muffins. It pairs well with the cranberries and orange, creating a unique and festive taste.
• Fresh cranberries: Add a burst of tartness and color to the cranberry muffins. Feel free to use frozen cranberries, but do not thaw them first.
• Olive oil: Adds moisture to the muffins and helps to keep them tender. It also contributes to the overall richness and flavor. You can sub avocado oil or melted coconut oil.
• Pure vanilla extract and Cinnamon: add warming flavors to the muffins.
• Plant-based Milk: Oat, soy, cashew or almond milk al work great.
• Apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar reacts with the baking soda to create bubbles, which helps the muffins rise. It also adds a very subtle tanginess to the flavor.
• Orange Glaze: Freshly squeezed orange juice adds a tangy and bright citrus flavor and is combined with powdered sugar to create a sweet and smooth glaze that is drizzled over top of the muffins!
• Garnish: Rosemary and fresh orange zest add a decorative touch to the muffins. They provide a burst of fragrance and visual appeal when sprinkled on top.

How to Make Cranberry Orange Muffins

1. Preheat Oven to 400 F 
2. Spray a 12-cup nonstick muffin pan with olive oil spray, or use cupcake liners.
3. In a large bowl, mix all dry ingredients together, including rosemary, zest and cranberries.
4. In a separate medium bowl, mix wet ingredients together.
5. Pour wet mixture into the flour mixture and fold it together mixing until combined.
6. Fill the greased muffin pan to just below the rim. Lower heat to 350F.  Bake 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. 
7. Make the glaze: In a small bowl, mix orange juice with powdered sugar until smooth and combined. Drizzle over muffins.
8. Garnish with rosemary and orange zest!

Expert Tips

1. Toss cranberries in gluten-free flour. To prevent the cranberries from sinking to the bottom or sticking together, toss them lightly in a little flour before mixing everything together.
2. Don’t use an electric mixer. Mix the ingredients together in a bowl. Otherwise the texture may become too dense.
3. Resist the urge to open the oven door! This can affect the baking time and result in the muffins deflating. Use your oven light to keep an eye on the muffins.
4. Use a toothpick to check if they are done. When the muffins are done baking, place a toothpick in the center of the muffin. If it comes out clean then the muffins are ready. Internal temp should reach 200F.

More Favorite Muffin Recipes!

Pumpkin Muffins

Morning Glory Muffins

Blueberry Muffins

Rhubarb Muffins

If you make these Cranberry Orange Muffins, let us know how you like them in the comments below!

xoxo

Sylvia

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