The sour cream keeps the crumb incredibly moist and tender, while fresh orange zest and cinnamon add a fragrant, sunny flavor that pairs perfectly with cranberries.
Best of all, this from-scratch recipe is versatile and easily change it up with mix-ins.
The recipe makes 12 fluffy muffins or turn the batter into a beautiful cranberry orange loaf.
Whether you’re baking for breakfast, brunch, or a cozy afternoon snack, these muffins strike the perfect balance between sweet and tangy, with a soft texture that stays fresh for days.
Why You Will Love This Recipe for Cranberry Orange Sour Cream Muffins
- Moist and tender crumb, thanks to sour cream
- Bright citrus flavor from real orange zest and juice
- Perfect balance of sweet and tart with cranberries
- Versatile batter—make muffins or a loaf
- Easy from-scratch recipe with simple pantry ingredients
- Freezer-friendly for make-ahead breakfasts
Cranberry Alternatives or Additions
- Diced Mango
- Chopped Apples
- Diced Fresh Cherries
- Diced Peaches
- Chopped Pears
- Raspberries, Blackberries, Strawberries,
- Chopped nuts
- White chocolate chips
- Raisins
- Sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds for food allergies
- Coconut
- Lemon zest
Tips for making the best Cranberry Orange Muffins
- Mix the dry and wet ingredients separately first
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, not the other way around
- Fold gently with a spatula, not a mixer
- Stop as soon as the flour disappears—small lumps are okay
- Overmixing will cause dense-textured muffins, so resist the urge to keep stirring
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Cranberry Orange Sour Cream Muffin Garnish Suggestions
During the holiday, these were served on Christmas morning breakfast with powdered sugar, giving them a snowy effect.
For Christmas, fresh mint leaves with pistachios and extra cranberries, or just leave plain.
These muffins are delicious, drizzled with cinnamon-flavored icing, orange marmalade, or spread with cinnamon apple jam!
Yield: 12
Cranberry Orange Sour Cream Muffins
Bright, citrusy, and bursting with tart cranberries, these Cranberry Orange Sour Cream Muffins are a bakery-style treat you’ll want to make all season long.
Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 26 MinTotal time: 41 Min
Ingredients
- 1 stick (1/2 cup butter) softened
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup of fresh whole cranberries
- zest of two oranges
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 12-cup muffin pan. (or 9×5 loaf pan; however, this will need more time to bake).
- In a large mixing bowl, place all wet ingredients in the bowl and mix them.
- In another bowl, add all the dry ingredients and whisk to combine evenly.
- Slowly add all the dry ingredients and mix with the wet ingredients until a thick batter is evenly blended. Do not over-mix the batter.
- Fold in cranberries.
- Place batter in a prepared muffin pan.
- Bake in 350 preheated oven until edges are brown and the middle is set, around 25 minutes.
- Use the toothpick method in the middle to check for completed baking.
Notes
Cranberry Alternatives or Additions
- Diced Mango
- Chopped Apples
- Diced Fresh Cherries
- Diced Peaches
- Chopped Pears
- Raspberries, Blackberries, Strawberries,
- Chopped nuts
- White chocolate chips
- Raisins
- Sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds for food allergies
- Coconut
- Lemon zest
Tips for making the best Cranberry Orange Muffins
- Mix the dry and wet ingredients separately first
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, not the other way around
- Fold gently with a spatula, not a mixer
- Stop as soon as the flour disappears—small lumps are okay
- Overmixing will cause dense-textured muffins, so resist the urge to keep stirring
The default measuring system for this website is US Customary. Unit conversions are provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. While we strive to provide accurate unit conversions, please be aware that there may be some discrepancies.
These are all copyright-protected images and content. Do not reprint/reuse this recipe or its images without my written permission.
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