Cranberry Orange Muffins With Streusel Topping
Cranberry Orange Muffins With Streusel Topping are a delightful breakfast treat combining the tartness of fresh cranberries, the bright zest of orange, and a buttery, crunchy streusel topping. These moist and tender muffins with a golden streusel finish are perfect for morning gatherings or a cozy weekend snack, offering a vibrant flavor and satisfying texture with simple, wholesome ingredients.
- Author: Lucas
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 12 muffins 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Standard
Muffin Batter
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries
Streusel Topping
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
- Prepare the Streusel: Begin by mixing the cold butter, brown sugar, and flour in a bowl until the mixture forms coarse crumbs. Set this aside in the refrigerator while preparing the batter, ensuring it stays cool and crumbly to achieve the perfect crunchy topping.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This distributes the leavening agents evenly and promotes a consistent rise in the muffins.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, beat the softened butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Incorporate the buttermilk, orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and fragrant.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined to avoid overmixing. Carefully fold in the fresh cranberries, distributing them evenly without crushing to maintain their texture.
- Fill Muffin Cups and Add Streusel: Divide the batter evenly into a greased or lined muffin tin. Sprinkle a generous amount of the chilled streusel topping over each muffin to create a sweet, crunchy finish.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the streusel topping is golden and crisp.
Notes
- Use fresh cranberries for better texture and tartness; if using frozen, thaw and drain well.
- Do not overmix the batter to avoid dense muffins; fold ingredients gently until just combined.
- Keep the streusel ingredients cold before baking to ensure a crumbly, crunchy texture.
- Use room temperature eggs and butter for smooth batter blending and even rising.
- Start checking muffins for doneness around 20 minutes to prevent overbaking and drying out.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 muffin
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: cranberry muffins, orange muffins, streusel topping, breakfast muffins, berry muffins, citrus muffins