Cranberry Muffins

Breakfast. I am not a huge fan, but I know it’s important. But brunch, I can get behind brunch.  And bacon, always up for some bacon. This is why I go to kickboxing, not so much for the workout, so I can eat bacon. But I digress-these cranberry muffins, they rock. My secret is orange zest, gives them just the faintest of kicks, to get you going for a long day, a slow lazy day, or any day.

 

Cranberry muffins

1 cup whole milk

2 lightly beaten eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract or paste (more on the paste in another post!)

3 1/3 cups all purpose flour

1 cup sugar

1 T baking powder

1/2 tsp kosher salt

half stick unsalted butter cold and cut into small pieces

1 cup frozen or dried cranberries (can also use blueberries if you want)

1 T orange zest

2 T melted butter

1 T raw sugar (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Line muffin tin with papers

In a small bowl, combine milk, eggs, and vanilla. Set aside

In a mixer with paddle attachment, mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt for 1 minute on low speed

Slowly add butter chunks and turn to medium speed until mixture looks like coarse crumbs

Remove 1/2 cup of mixture for streusel

Fold in fruit and orange zest, add milk mixture and mix until just combined

Fill each muffin tin about 3/4 way full of batter

Add melted butter to remaining flour mixture and mix with a fork until combined

Sprinkle on top of muffins.  Add a small pinch of raw sugar on top of mixture for a crunchier top

Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until center comes out clean

Cool and serve

Can be saved at room temperature for three days