Extraordinarily soft, fluffy muffins with pockets of tangy cranberry, sweet white chocolate and a divine drizzle of rich white chocolate glaze, these cranberry white chocolate muffins are the perfect accompaniment to your breakfast or brunch.
It would appear that I am two steps behind (or two steps ahead, depending on how you look at it) the seasonal-foods trend. Between my sweet potato recipe last week and now cranberries today, my palate has, for some reason, been in fall-flavors mode (though I can assure you my mind is nowhere near that season… were it up to me summer would reign forever).
I couldn’t help it, though. I bought frozen cranberries on a whim after finding them steeply discounted at my grocery store and have been toying with different ideas on how to use them for several weeks now. I did not expect upon buying them that they would find their home inside muffins, but here we are.
And, suddenly, every other idea I’d had for using them was clearly unsatisfactory. These muffins are utterly, irresistibly fluffy (the addition of an extra egg white and a combination of butter and oil rather than solely butter helps to make this possible), each bite packed with an array of flavors– from warm notes of vanilla to the subtle, almost indiscernible hint of almond, surprise pops of tangy cranberry coupled with sweet kernels of white chocolate strike an exquisite balance (and, of course, the glaze is likely to be half-devoured before it even makes its way to the muffin tops).
I had to get these muffins out of my house as soon as I possibly could for fear of single-handedly eating the whole batch.
If you’re not prepared for cranberry, if you only eat strictly seasonably, I respect that. But please, please bookmark this recipe for a crisp autumnal day and you’ll be glad you did (you may also regret having waited so long to try them).
White Chocolate Cranberry Muffins
Ingredients
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter melted (55 g)
- 1/4 cup canola oil 60 ml, vegetable oil would also work
- 1 cup granulated sugar 200 g
- 1 egg lightly beaten, + 1 egg white
- 1 tsp vanilla extract 5 ml
- 1/4 tsp almond extract 1 ml, optional
- 3/4 cup buttermilk (or 3/4milk + 2 1/4 tsp vinegar stirred together and allowed to sit 5 minutes), 177 ml
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 281 g
- 2 tsp baking powder 10 g
- 1/2 tsp salt 2.5 g
- 1 cup heaping frozen cranberries 150 g
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips 85 g
Glaze
- 1 cup white chocolate chips 170 g
- 1/4 cup heavy cream 59 ml
- 2/3 cup powdered sugar 83 g
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F (205 C) and line 12-count muffin tin with cupcake liners
- In large bowl combine melted butter, oil and granulated sugar. Stir well.
- Add lightly beaten egg, egg white, and vanilla and almond extracts. Stir well.
- Add in buttermilk and stir until combined.
- Stir in cranberries and white chocolate.
- In separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt.
- Gradually, carefully add in flour mixture, stirring until just combined (there still may be some flour mixture visible, this is OK just do not over-mix)
- Evenly divide into prepared muffin tin.
- Bake on 400F (205 C) 20-25 minutes (until toothpick inserted in center comes out mostly clean with few crumbs)
Glaze
- In micro-wave safe bowl, combine white chocolate chips and heavy cream. Microwave at 10 second intervals, stirring every 10 seconds until chocolate is melted and heavy cream and chocolate are combined.
- Stir in powdered sugar.
- Using a spoon drizzle over muffins (muffins should be allowed to cool 5-10 minutes before being drizzled with glaze).
Nutrition
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Lyn says
I’m curious why no corn starch? Just wondering why it is sometimes used (i.e. blueberry muffins) and not other times.
Sam says
It sometimes depends on the recipe. This muffin recipe was developed 5 years ago, though, before I unlocked the secret of cornstarch in baking. I’m happy with this recipe as it is written, but if I update it and re-publish I may end up working some cornstarch into the batter.
Rachel says
Hi there! Can I use fresh cranberries instead of frozen ones?
Sugar Spun Run says
Hi, Rachel! Yes, that will be fine. I hope that you enjoy the muffins! 🙂
Brandy Reinecke says
Can you use dryed cranberries instead of frozen ones?
Sugar Spun Run says
Hello, Brandy! You can substitute with dried cranberries, however, I don’t recommend it. The juices from the cranberries really add a lot of flavor to the muffins. I hope that you enjoy the cranberry white chocolate muffins. 🙂
Mary says
Is there baking soda missing in this recipe? Thank you.
Sam says
Nope, you will not need baking soda.
Brittany says
I think I did something wrong. The edges and bottom burned, but the chips didn’t melt on the inside. It also came out kind of dense. 😭
I tried the double chocolate chip and those were just wonderful.
Sam says
Hi Brittany! The chocolate chips shouldn’t melt inside the cupcakes. In regards to the edges and bottom being burned, is your oven temperature accurate? It sounds like the temperature may have been a little higher than it should causing the edges to crisp up a little bit. I hope this helps. 🙂
Kira says
Can these be made with dried cranberries instead?
Sam says
Hi, Kira. That would work just fine. 🙂