These festive Christmas Muffins are a perfect blend of holiday flavors and cheer. They are filled with warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, and have bursts of dried cranberries and orange zest that evoke the taste of the season. The muffins are soft, moist, and topped with a crunchy cinnamon-sugar crumble. They make a great addition to any holiday breakfast spread, or as a sweet treat to enjoy with a cup of coffee by the fire. Easy to make and full of holiday spirit, these muffins are sure to become a family favorite.
Ingredients:
For the muffins:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- 1 cup dried cranberries
For the cinnamon-sugar topping:
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tbsp melted butter
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a muffin tin with paper liners or grease with non-stick spray.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Prepare wet ingredients: In another bowl, mix the melted butter and brown sugar until well combined. Add in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract, buttermilk, orange juice, and orange zest.
- Combine: Slowly mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until just combined. Fold in the dried cranberries.
- Fill the muffin tin: Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tin, filling each cup about 3/4 full.
- Make the topping: In a small bowl, mix the granulated sugar and cinnamon. Brush the tops of the muffins with melted butter and sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture over them.
- Bake for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool the muffins in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Enjoy these delicious Christmas muffins with a hot cup of cocoa or coffee for a festive morning treat!
