Orange Cranberry Muffins

Name: Fluffy Cranberry Orange Muffins
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 256 g all-purpose flour (2 cups); 150 g granulated sugar (3/4 cup); 2 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/2 tsp fine salt; 2 tbsp orange zest; 1 cup plain full-fat Greek yogurt (room temperature); 2 large eggs (room temperature); 1/3 cup neutral oil; 1/4 cup fresh orange juice (about 1 medium orange); 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1 1/2 cups fresh whole cranberries

↓ Jump to Recipe

Pin the Recipe

These orange cranberry muffins are an easy bake that is perfect for busy mornings or a casual weekend treat. They turn out moist and fluffy, with just enough tang from the cranberries and orange to keep things interesting without being overpowering. It's a simple, no-fuss recipe that delivers solid flavor and bakery-style results at home.

Close up of the inside of a cranberry orange muffin stacked on top of another muffin on a rack.

I know a lot of you might not typically frolic to cranberries due to their tartness, but just like in my cranberry galette, the tartness of the cranberries are balanced with the sugar and the orange juice. Plus, they burst as they bake, minimizing the tart flavor.

TL; DR Summary - Orange Cranberry Muffins

👩🏼‍🍳 Bake Level: Easy/Beginner
⏱️ Bake Time: 20-22 minutes
📖 Dietary Info: Gluten, dairy, sugar
😋 Taste: Tart, sweet, tangy, moist, zesty.
💖 Why You'll Love: They're bright with citrus and tangy flavor from the cranberries, while having that bakery-style feel. Greek yogurt adds more flavor and moisture.
🍽️ Best Paired With: These are great for an on-the-go breakfast item along with an easy green smoothie or a batch of protein banana pancakes. If you're making a batch of muffins for a brunch, balance out the sweet with a savory broccoli quiche.

Summarize and save this content on

ChatGPT

Google AI

Grok

Jump to:

TL; DR Summary - Orange Cranberry Muffins
Key Tips and Muffin Reminders
The Main Ingredients
Muffin Recipe Swaps and Substitutions
How to make orange cranberry muffins
Cranberry Orange Muffins FAQs
Love muffins? Here are some other delicious muffin recipes
Fluffy Cranberry Orange Muffins

Key Tips and Muffin Reminders

Switch from the whisk when mixing the batter to a spatula as you fold in the flour. A whisk is intended to whisk volume to the eggs, and over-whisking or mixing can cause the batter to get gummy. A spatula does a better job and combining the ingredients without over-mixing.
Prior to folding in the cranberries, toss a little bit of the flour into the cranberries so that they do not sink into the bottom of the muffin tin when they bake.
Leave room in between the muffins in the muffin tin itself. That will mean using more than one muffin tin to bake with. This gives the muffins some room to rise up higher and fluffier when they bake.
USE A SCALE! I highly recommend investing in a good quality kitchen scale. Measuring in grams versus a regular measuring cup yields such different and varying results when you bake. Baking is science, so using a scale will give accurate measurements every single time.

The Main Ingredients

Ingredients to make orange cranberry muffins.

Cranberries add bursts of tart flavor that balance the sweetness of the muffins.
Orange juice provides moisture and a mild citrus flavor that ties the batter together.
Orange zest boosts orange flavor without adding extra liquid.
Sugar sweetens the muffins and helps them brown as they bake.
Greek yogurt keeps the muffins moist and gives them a soft, tender texture. Make sure that the greek yogurt is room temperature when mixing!
Eggs bind the ingredients and help the muffins rise properly.
Oil adds moisture and keeps the muffins from drying out.
Vanilla extract rounds out the citrus flavors and adds subtle warmth.
All purpose flour gives the muffins structure so they hold their shape.
Baking soda and baking powder work together to help the muffins rise and stay fluffy.

Be sure to check out the recipe card at the end of this post for more information about quantities, measurements, and specific cooking instructions.

Muffin Recipe Swaps and Substitutions

Add in a scoop of your favorite protein powder for added protein. I always recommend my favorite Ancient Nutrition Multi Collagen Protein Powder.
Swap out the flour for your favorite gluten free flour. I suggest using a 1:1 cup flour like Bob's Red Mill 1:1 Cup GF Flour.
You can omit the greek yogurt and sub in sour cream instead for a similar tangy and moist flavor.

How to make orange cranberry muffins

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375°. Line two 12-cup muffin tins with liners. In a large bowl, combine the orange zest and the cane sugar together by gently rubbing the zest and sugar together with your fingers. This releases the oils from the orange and gives the muffins a vibrant citrus flavor.

Step 2: To the sugar and orange zest, whisk the wet ingredients (greek yogurt, eggs, sugar, oil, fresh orange juice, and vanilla) until smooth and uniform.

Step 3: Pour in the all purpose flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Fold the cranberries into the dry mix. Gently fold with a spatula until just combined. The batter should be slightly lumpy; do not over mix.

Step 4: Divide batter evenly among 12 cups, then bake for 20-23 minutes, rotating the pan once front-to-back at 10 minutes for even color. Muffins are done when tops are golden and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs (no batter).

Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then move to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Cranberry Orange Muffins FAQs

How can I store these cranberry orange muffins?

You can store these muffins in an airtight container right on your counter for up to 45 days.

Are these muffins freezer-friendly?

Yes! You can definitely add these muffins to the freezer as long as you store them in plastic food storage bags with minimal to no air in them, lay them flat, and thaw right on the counter for up to 30 minutes and they will be good to serve.

Do I need to use greek yogurt?

I made these muffins using Greek yogurt as Greek yogurt is a great ingredient to keep the batter moist and as it bakes the crumb inside, the muffin is very soft and tender. Be sure when you are using the Greek yogurt to bring it to room temperature so that it doesn't break as you whisk into the wet ingredients..

Can I top these muffins with anything?

You can make a simple orange glaze by mixing 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon half and half, and 2 tablespoons orange juice together and drizzling this over the top of the muffins. You can also make a simple streusel by following the steps to make a streusel using my apple cinnamon muffins recipe.