Each week, opening my weekly organic produce box is like Christmas. I bound up the three flights of stairs to my kitchen taking the steps two by two in order to flip open the box flaps and peer inside. Right on top of the goodies this week was a box of bright red, beautiful cranberries! Because it seems a bit early for cranberry relish and because I can’t STOP BAKING, I made my first ever Cranberry Orange Muffins. They were the best hot out of the oven with oozy, fragrant, tart cranberry pockets.
The delight of these fresh muffins repaired a broken bridge between cranberries and me. Have you walked past The Body Shop in the fall? A few years ago, they introduced a cranberry scent and had it heating in essential oils, burning in candles and perfuming lotions. It was so all encompassing it was completely offensive to my olfactory sensibilities. I hate to say that I actually become prejudice towards poor old fresh cranberries for awhile due to this sniff trauma.
Thank you organic produce box for reminding me why fresh cranberries are so special! I still have half a box of cranberries left. Anyone else have yummy cranberry recipe ideas?
Cranberry Orange Muffins
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2/3 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 teaspoons grated orange zest
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cup fresh cranberries
Preheat oven to 375. Grease muffin cups or line with paper liners. Combine flour, baking powder, baking sode and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk together cooled melted butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, orange and buttermilk in a separate mixing bowl. With a wooden spoon, stir in the flour mixture until just combined. Fold in cranberries. Fill each muffin cup about three-quarters full. Bake until golden and a toothpick comes out clean (20-24 minutes). Let the pan sit for 5 minutes and then turn onto a wire rack to cool.
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November 5th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
I love the combination of cranberry and orange — I always put orange zest in my cranberry sauce and chutneys. Why stop baking? I’d be glad to help with leftovers!
November 6th, 2007 at 3:35 am
I saw some cranberries at the whole foods shop last Saturday and was tempted to pick one punnet up, but had no idea what to do with it. Cranberry orange muffins sound like a delicious solution though!
November 6th, 2007 at 11:21 am
I have a great recipe for acorn squash with cranberries - let me know if you want it!
November 7th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Please mail some of these to APT in Portland NOW!!!
I will take 6 please.
November 7th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
there is nothing wrong with all that baking, mama. xx
November 7th, 2007 at 8:28 pm
These look wonderful. I love cranberry-orange muffins above all other muffins.
November 8th, 2007 at 11:46 am
Cranberry-Orange Muffins, yum! These seem like the perfect November treat. I’m off to the kitchen to make some right now! (Wonder if you could do something similar with pomegranate? Perhaps a pomegranate spread for Orange Muffins? Oh, oh, my creative baking juices are flowing. I better get to work!)
January 3rd, 2008 at 5:05 pm
I was looking for a cranberry muffin recipe with some zing .. this looks like the one. Will try and keep you posted, the critics will be myself and the senior boys basketball team - will be making many
January 4th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Delfina - can’t wait to hear what that group of critics thinks - probably an honest and tough crowd!