These cranberry pumpkin muffins use Libby's pumpkin puree, tart cranberries, orange juice, orange zest, and warm spices - perfect for the fall season or as the perfect pumpkin muffin treat any time of year! Enjoy these pumpkin cranberry muffins for breakfast with plain yogurt or as an afternoon snack.
1 ¼cupsLibby’s canned pumpkin puree, or homemade pumpkin puree, see notes
1 ¾cupsall-purpose flour
2large eggs
1cupgranulated sugar
¼cuporange juice, fresh preferred
1teaspoonorange zest
1cupfresh cranberries, if too large cut into half or quarters
½cupolive oil
¼teaspoonground ginger
⅛teaspoonground cloves
¼teaspoonground nutmeg
1 ½teaspooncinnamon
½teaspoonbaking soda
1teaspoonbaking powder
¼teaspoonsalt
1teaspoonvanilla paste
powdered sugar for serving
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper cupcake liners.
In a large bowl, combine flour, spices, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, and sugar. Add in the pumpkin puree, oil, orange juice, vanilla, and zest. Whisk until combined.
Add the dry to wet ingredients. Fold in the cranberries.
Pour the batter into each muffin liner (I add the batter almost until the top). Bake for about 22 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins, comes out clean.
Let the muffins cool in a muffin tin for 5-10 minutes before removing them onto a wire to cool completely.
Serve with powdered sugar on top.
Notes
Since every oven differs, I recommend checking on your pumpkin muffins after 20 minutes of baking. If the muffins require further baking, but the tops are getting too brown, cover them with aluminum foil for the rest of the baking.
I always prefer to eat these muffins within two days of baking for the best texture and taste, but it can be stored in an airtight container for longer in the fridge.
When I have the time, I prefer to make my own homemade pumpkin puree by roasting it in the oven at 400F until it is soft enough to puree. Making your own pumpkin puree will also produce a better-tasting pumpkin quick bread.
Why are my pumpkin muffins gummy? Excess moisture from pumpkin puree can result in gummy muffins that are wet inside. Ensure you remove any excess liquid from the pumpkin puree before combining it with the rest of the muffin ingredients, especially when making your own pumpkin puree.
How to use fresh cranberries in baking? If you are concerned about the cranberries sinking to the button of the muffin batter, first toss the fresh cranberries in flour and then gently fold them into the prepared batter. This will keep the cranberries suspended in the batter while the muffins bake.