Cranberry Muffins

These cranberry muffins are everything you want in a festive, bakery-style treat—vibrant, citrusy, and wonderfully tender. The batter comes together quickly with simple pantry ingredients, but the combination of fresh cranberries, orange zest, and a sweet citrus glaze gives them a bright flavor that feels special enough for holiday mornings or winter gatherings. The tart berries burst as they bake, creating pockets of juicy flavor that contrast with the warm spices and buttery crumb.

They’re also incredibly versatile. You can use fresh or frozen cranberries, swap in different spices, or leave off the glaze for a more traditional breakfast-style muffin. The sour cream keeps the texture moist for days, and pecans add warmth and crunch, making every bite feel festive. Whether served warm from the oven or drizzled with glaze for a brunch dessert, these muffins are an easy but impressive bake.

What You’ll Like About This Recipe

• Bright holiday flavor. Fresh cranberries provide tart pops of flavor that balance the sweetness of the batter, while orange zest and juice give the muffins a clean, citrusy lift that makes them taste fresh and lively.
• Bakery-style texture. Sour cream enriches the batter and keeps the crumb tender, moist, and soft even after a day or two. The high heat at the start of baking helps the muffins rise tall with slightly domed tops.
• Warm spice profile. Cinnamon and cardamom add gentle warmth without overpowering the citrus and cranberry notes, making the muffins fragrant and well-rounded.
• Flexible ingredients. Frozen cranberries work just as well as fresh, and the pecans can be swapped with walnuts, omitted entirely, or replaced with white chocolate chips for a sweeter variation.
• Finishing touch glaze. The simple orange glaze adds sweetness and shine, enhancing the citrus notes and giving the muffins a bakery-quality appearance.

Ingredient Notes

• Cranberries – Fresh or frozen cranberries both work well. If frozen, thaw and pat dry to prevent excess moisture. If the berries are particularly large, you can roughly chop them to help distribute their flavor.
• Sour cream – Full-fat sour cream provides richness and ensures a moist crumb. Greek yogurt can be used in a pinch, though it results in a slightly denser texture.
• Orange zest and juice – Zest adds aromatic oils for intense flavor, while the juice brightens the batter. Bottled juice works, but freshly squeezed offers the best fragrance.
• Pecans – Toasting the nuts enhances their flavor and adds a subtle crispness. Walnuts, almonds, or pistachios are good alternatives, depending on your preference.
• Warm spices – Cinnamon and cardamom complement cranberries beautifully, adding depth without overshadowing the citrus. Cardamom is especially lovely here for its floral, slightly sweet aroma.

Steps to Make Cranberry Muffins

1. Prepare the muffin tin with parchment liners so the muffins release cleanly and develop nicely shaped sides. The high initial baking temperature promotes a taller rise.
2. Whisk the dry ingredients to evenly distribute the leavening and spices. This prevents clumps and ensures the batter rises uniformly.
3. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy; this incorporates air and contributes to a tender crumb. Add the eggs one at a time to maintain the emulsion.
4. Mix in the sour cream, vanilla, and orange zest to create a smooth, fragrant base. Fold in the dry ingredients and orange juice just until combined to avoid overmixing.
5. Gently fold in the cranberries and pecans. The batter will be thick, which helps suspend the fruit and prevents sinking during baking.
6. Fill the muffin cups fully for tall bakery-style muffins. Start at a higher oven temperature to encourage doming, then lower the heat to bake the muffins through without over-browning.
7. Cool completely before glazing so the icing sets into a smooth, glossy finish instead of melting into the warm surface.

Pro Tips

• Dry the berries – Extra moisture from thawed cranberries can make the batter streaky. Pat them dry to keep the crumb even.
• Don’t overmix – A thick batter is normal. Stir gently once the flour goes in to prevent tough or dense muffins.
• Use room-temperature ingredients – Butter, eggs, and sour cream blend more smoothly when not cold, giving the muffins better lift.
• Toast the nuts – Toasting pecans intensifies flavor and helps them stay crisp even after baking.
• Glaze when cool – The orange glaze should be thick but pourable. Let the muffins cool fully to avoid melting or soaking in too much glaze.

Recipe Variations

• White chocolate cranberry muffins. Fold in white chocolate chips instead of pecans for a sweeter, dessert-like muffin that complements the tart berries beautifully. A vanilla glaze works well in place of orange for this variation.
• Cranberry-almond muffins. Replace the pecans with sliced almonds and use almond extract in place of some of the vanilla. The almond flavor pairs naturally with the citrus and berries.
• Spiced holiday muffins. Increase the cinnamon and add a pinch of nutmeg or allspice for a warmer, more traditional holiday muffin with deeper spice notes.
• Cranberry-orange crumble muffins. Top the batter with a simple streusel of butter, flour, sugar, and orange zest before baking for a bakery-style crunchy topping.
• Glaze-free breakfast muffins. Skip the glaze and sprinkle the tops with coarse sugar before baking for a lightly sweet, everyday breakfast option.

How to Store

• Refrigerate leftover muffins in an airtight container for up to 5 days. The glaze will firm up but the muffins remain moist thanks to the sour cream in the batter.
• Freeze unglazed muffins for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature and add the glaze after thawing for the best texture and appearance.
• Reheat briefly in a low oven or microwave to refresh the crumb. Warming enhances the citrus aroma and softens the muffins without drying them out.

Cranberry Muffins

Diana Rattray

Get ready for the holidays with these mouthwatering cranberry muffins. Made with fresh or frozen cranberries and a sweet orange glaze, they’re a festive treat!

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Servings 12 servings

Calories 313

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Course Muffins

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  

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Muffins

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1/2 cup sour cream, full fat
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, (220 grams)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons orange juice
• 1 1/2 cups cranberries , fresh or frozen, thawed and patted dry
• 1/2 cup pecans, toasted chopped

Glaze

• 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 2 to 3 tablespoons orange juice, or enough for desired consistency

Instructions

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• Heat the oven to 400 F and line a muffin tin with parchment paper liners.
  
• Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cardamom in a bowl; whisk to blend.
•  Combine the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer for 2 to 3 minutes or until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, then the sour cream and vanilla. Add the orange zest, dry ingredients, and 4 tablespoons of orange juice with the mixer on low. Mix just until combined. Use a spatula to fold in the cranberries and pecans.
  
• Fill greased or parchment paper-lined muffin cups until full. Bake in the preheated oven for 5 minutes, then reduce to 350 F and continue baking for 18 to 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into a muffin comes out clean.
  
• Remove the muffins from the pan to a rack to cool completely.
  
• Combine the glaze ingredients and drizzle over the muffins.
  

Nutrition

Calories: 313kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 4gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 57mgSodium: 300mgPotassium: 93mgFiber: 1gSugar: 29gVitamin A: 370IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 46mgIron: 1mg

Disclaimer:

Our nutritional information is based on a third-party application that analyzes the ingredients list to determine the values. The information is meant to be helpful, but should be considered an estimate. Values may differ depending on measurements, brands, serving variations, and database availability.

Keyword cranberry muffins, cranberry orange muffins, holiday muffins

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