1ounceorange juice(fresh from the orange you zested, or store bought - your choice)
1teaspoonvanilla
Addons
1zestorange
1/2cuppecans(chopped)
1cupfrozen cranberries(or dried if you can't find frozen)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 F and line a muffin pan with muffin cups. I used 10
Place all the dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl, use a dough cutter to mix all together
Add wet ingredients, including the orange juice and mix until just combined
Fold in the orange zest, cranberries and nuts. Do not over mix
Spoon the batter into the baking cups (I fill them almost to the top since I like big muffins). Bake for 22 minutes
Cool in pan for 5 minutes before transferring muffins to a wire rack.
Eat
Smile
Enjoy
Notes
Helpful tips
If you don't have the frozen cranberries this recipe calls for, you can use dried cranberries; just know they will make the muffins a tad sweeter.
If using frozen, it's okay to use the cranberries right out of the freezer, there is no need to defrost.
During the holiday months, I stock up on cranberries because you can keep them frozen and use them year round. If you like infused vodka, try my cranberry version.
When I mix dry ingredients together, I like to use a pastry blender because it breaks up clumps really well.
Whenever you're going to zest citrus, you need to wash your citrus well. Here's how: squirt some unscented natural hand soap in your hand and take the orange and rub the soap on the skin. Next, take a vegetable brush and scrub the skin. Run the orange under cold water making sure all of the soap has washed off.
You can use store bought orange juice or squeeze the juice out of the orange you zested. It's only one ounce but fresh orange juice is so tasty.
Since I love big muffins, I fill the muffin cups all the way to the top. This can cause the muffin to spread out a little. So, if you like muffins that have a dome top, fill the cups 3/4 the way full.