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Cranberry Sauce Muffins with Pumpkin and Streusel Topping Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 130 reviews

These moist and flavorful Cranberry Sauce Muffins combine the natural sweetness of pumpkin puree with tart cranberry sauce, topped with a crunchy cinnamon streusel. Perfect for fall breakfasts or holiday treats, these muffins feature a tender crumb with a delightful balance of spices and fruit. The recipe yields either tall bakery-style muffins or smaller standard-sized muffins, offering versatility for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

Muffin Batter

  • ½ cup canned pumpkin puree (120 grams)
  • ⅓ cup avocado oil
  • ⅓ cup milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • ½ cup granulated sugar (100 grams)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (120 grams)
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp pumpkin spice (optional)
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ⅓ to ½ cup whole berry or smooth cranberry sauce

Streusel Topping

  • 2 TBSP unsalted butter (28 grams), melted
  • ⅓ cup all-purpose flour (40 grams)
  • ¼ cup brown sugar (50 grams)
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ⅛ tsp salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 400℉ to ensure it reaches the right temperature for baking the muffins properly.
  2. Prepare muffin tin: Line a 6 or 12 cavity muffin tin with tulip-style parchment paper liners for tall bakery muffins or with 8-9 standard parchment paper liners for smaller muffins, then set aside.
  3. Bring ingredients to room temperature: Set out the milk, egg, and cranberry sauce so they come to room temperature, helping the batter mix more evenly.
  4. Make the streusel topping: Start by melting the butter. In a small bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Pour melted butter over the mixture and mix with a fork until small crumbly pieces form. This step is done first to allow the streusel to dry out slightly during the preparation time.
  5. Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree, egg, avocado oil, milk, vanilla extract, and granulated sugar until well combined.
  6. Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, cinnamon, pumpkin spice (if using), baking powder, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute all ingredients.
  7. Combine wet and dry mixtures: Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir gently with a metal whisk until the mixture is just combined. The batter will be thick and may have small lumps; avoid overmixing.
  8. Optional resting: For extra tall and tender muffins, let the batter rest for 15-20 minutes before baking.
  9. Fill muffin cups: Using a spoon, scoop batter into the prepared muffin liners—about a little over ¼ cup for 6 tall muffins or around 3 tablespoons for 8-9 smaller muffins.
  10. Add cranberry sauce layer: Spoon cranberry sauce onto the top of each muffin gently, spreading it evenly across the batter surface.
  11. Top with streusel: Sprinkle the prepared streusel mixture evenly over each muffin.
  12. Bake muffins: Place the muffin tray on the center rack of the preheated oven. Immediately reduce heat to 350℉ once the door closes. Bake 24-26 minutes for tall muffins or 22-23 minutes for smaller muffins. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  13. Cool: Let the muffins cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. The flavor improves as they cool. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

  • Allowing the batter to rest before baking helps develop taller muffins with a better crumb structure.
  • Using room temperature ingredients aids in even mixing and better texture.
  • You can use either whole berry or smooth cranberry sauce based on your preference.
  • For a dairy-free option, substitute milk with almond or oat milk and use a vegan butter alternative for the streusel.
  • Store muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
  • Freeze cooled muffins for longer storage; thaw at room temperature before serving.

Keywords: cranberry muffins, pumpkin muffins, fall baking, streusel topping, holiday muffins, pumpkin spice, cranberry sauce recipe

Find it online: https://frommamamaya.com/cranberry-sauce-muffins-with-pumpkin-and-streusel-topping-recipe/