Fresh orange juice and zest, with chopped dried cherries, flavor these easy-to-make muffins that are a great on-the-go breakfast, afternoon snack….or just because muffins are always yummy. And these muffins are so easy to make. If you have never made homemade muffins before, then take my challenge and get your muffin game on!
I used fresh blood oranges from Melissa’s Produce to flavor my muffins, but any variety of orange can be used. My dried cherries were also from Melissa’s. Looking for a simple swap? Craisins are a great alternative to the dried cherries. Options folks…options!
Orange extract is used to give these even more orange flavor, but vanilla extract can be used instead. Remember? I am all about giving you options. And this recipe is easy and fool proof!
Orange Cherry Muffins
Print RecipeIngredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup white granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- pinch of salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup dried cherries, cut into fine pieces (or Craisins)
- 1 egg, room temperature
- 1 cup whole milk vanilla kefir (I used Nancy's Yogurt), room temperature
- 5 tablespoons canola oil
- 1-1/2 teaspoons orange extract
- heaping 1/4 cup fresh orange juice and the zest from the oranges
- TOPPING:
- 1 tablespoon coarse sugar
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425-degrees and line a muffin tin with 12 cupcake liners. Set aside. In a large bowl place a sifter in the middle of the bowl. Add the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg into the sifter. Sift. Mix in your chopped, dried cherries into your dry ingredients. Set bowl aside.
In a medium sized bowl mix together the egg, kefir, oil, orange juice, orange zest and orange extract. Once ingredients are fully incorporated, pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just barely combined.
Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full of batter and sprinkle coarse sugar on top. Bake in 425-degree oven for 5-minutes. After 5-minutes, leave muffins in the oven, but reduce the oven temperature to 375-degrees and continue baking for an additional 9-10 minutes. Muffins are done when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes back without raw batter on it.
Remove baked muffins from the oven and transfer muffins to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Notes
*sour cream, yogurt or buttermilk can be substituted for the kefir. Muffins can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days or frozen for up to 3 weeks.
Mmmm…who doesn’t love a fresh muffin for breakfast in the morning?! Want more muffin recipes?! Leave me a comment below with a recipe you want to see here on the blog!
XOXO,
Kelly
I have shared this post at the following link parties: Foodie Friday, Meal Plan Monday, Pretty Pintastic Party, The Pin Junkie, Classy Falmingos Party
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22 Comments
pglooney
April 11, 2019 at 9:23 AMcan’t beat that classic orange cherry combo.
Kelly
April 12, 2019 at 6:34 AMThanks Patrick! XOXO
Kelly | Foodtasia
April 11, 2019 at 9:42 AMKelly, these muffins look fantastic! Love the orange and cherry. And the sugar topping adds a lovely crunch!
Kelly
April 12, 2019 at 6:34 AMThank you Kelly!! I love the sugar on top too 🙂 XOXO
GiGi Eats Celebrities
April 13, 2019 at 10:21 PMIf you did not tell me, I would have NEVER known that these were Orange/Cherry flavored! It’s a surprise smack in the mouth! 😀
Kelly
April 18, 2019 at 9:55 AMHehehe thank you! Full of fruity flavor lol 😉 XOXO
Laura
April 15, 2019 at 12:49 PMOooh, I love orange + cherry! Not a combo I’ve ever cooked together, and these muffins look like the perfect marriage for the two! I love the scent of orange in baked goods, so I imagine these are wonderful!
Kelly
April 18, 2019 at 9:56 AMThank you Laura! it was a new combo to me too!! XOXO
Ashika | Gardening Foodie
April 15, 2019 at 2:17 PMLol, I am also on a muffin for breakfast mission…these look amazing Kelly, I am absolutely loving the delicious combination of orange and cherry 🙂
Kelly
April 18, 2019 at 9:56 AMThank you Ashika!! I love muffins for breakfast too 🙂 XOXO
Katherine | Love In My Oven
April 15, 2019 at 3:47 PMI feel like sitting outside in the sunshine eating one of these muffins!! Such a summery muffin, Kelly! I love it! Orange and cherries are soooo good together 🙂
Kelly
April 18, 2019 at 9:57 AMThank you Katherine!! These are definitely perfect for Spring and Summer! 🙂
Maria | kitchenathoskins
April 15, 2019 at 8:00 PMOrange and cherry is such a delicious combo. I love the perfect domed shape on these beauties and that crunchy sugar topping is the finishing touch:)
Kelly
April 18, 2019 at 9:57 AMAwwww thank you Maria!! XOXXOO
Amy
April 16, 2019 at 12:46 PMOh, how yummy! I love blood oranges and with the cherries they sound so delicious together. Looks like I know what I am having 9in the morning for breakfast!
Kelly
April 18, 2019 at 9:58 AMThanks Amy!! I hope you make a batch of these 🙂 XOXO
megha
April 20, 2019 at 4:08 AMvery nice muffins recipe thank you for shearing keep it up.
Kelly
April 23, 2019 at 5:58 AMThank you Megha!!
Nina Newton
April 25, 2019 at 9:21 AMHello Kelly! Just stopping by to let you know that I featured this sweet blog post at the Thursday Favorite Things blog Hop and Linky Party this week. Thanks for sharing at the party! Can’t wait for the opportunity to try this recipe. Stop by and see the other features here:
http://vintagemamascottage.com/2019/04/25/favorite-things-for-a-spring-day/
Nina @ Vintage Mama’s Cottage
Kelly
May 1, 2019 at 8:10 AMAWESOME!!! Thank you for making this one of your features!! 🙂 XOXO
Audrey
April 28, 2019 at 9:44 PMThese muffins sound fantastic. I love orange and the topping sounds so good and simple!
Kelly
May 1, 2019 at 8:11 AMThanks Audrey!! I love a simple sugar topping!! XOXO